Pasco: Pestana's impact felt by opponents and record books

Pestana's impact felt by opponents and record books

By JAMAL THALJI

LAND O'LAKES -- What is left to be written about a player for which virtually everything has already been written?

For the Godfrey Pestana story is the story of Pasco County football the past three seasons. It's a story that ended in Land O'Lakes' 38-14 loss to Groveland South Lake in the Class 4A playoff opener on Nov. 17.

But every story -- even one told as often as this one and even one with this many chapters -- needs an ending. The senior running back's remarkable, record-breaking career deserves an epilogue.

This is it.

Since his elevation from an undefeated junior varsity squad to the varsity in 1997, Pestana has starred in the Gators' backfield and has been the offensive catalyst for Pasco County's most successful team the past four seasons, helping lead Land O'Lakes to a 32-11 record.

The Sunshine Athletic Conference title in 1999. The district titles in '98 and '99. Coach John Benedetto's first undefeated 10-0 regular season in '99. The four consecutive playoff appearances. Would any of it be possible without Pestana? Without his 4,057 career rushing yards, a new school record? Without his three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons?

Without him rewriting the school's record books with spectacular play after play, without 100-yard game after game?

What is it about Pestana?

Is it the constant churning of his legs? His ability to change his center of gravity on the fly? How does he render tacklers ineffective, powering through their grasp? Or bouncing off their arms? Or slipping by their outstretched hands? Or simply outrunning them on the way to the end zone?

Is it his field vision? His shiftiness? His speed? His competitive zeal? Or is it likely all of the above, as he calls upon any number of natural gifts to bob and weave his way to the end zone?

His athletic ability manifested itself in any number of feats over the past three seasons. Whether he was taking his usual position in the backfield, returning punts and kickoffs, or even lining up at cornerback, many teams saw their chances of victory evaporate thanks to Pestana.

Pestana was the No. 1 target for all Land O'Lakes foes the past three seasons. Those teams that beat Land O'Lakes had trouble with him. Those that actually contained the marked man happily congratulated themselves.

He has won every important honor a football player can in Pasco County. He was named the Florida Association of Athletic Coaches District 8 Offensive Co-Player of the Year this season. Twice he has been named the Sunshine Athletic Conference's Offensive Player of the Year.

He was named to the first team of the Times All-Suncoast football team in '99 as a utility player. That season he was the state's 15th-leading rusher while leading his 10-1 team to a No. 8 ranking in the Class 4A poll on the program's 25th anniversary. He was also the Times Pasco County Offensive Player of the Year last season as well.

This season, the Gators finished 7-4, the district and conference runner-up, and the team needed every yard from Pestana just to get that far. He rushed 243 times for 1,641 yards and 21 touchdowns, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. He also caught 11 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown.

Which is why this season, Pestana was named again to the first team of the Times' All-Suncoast football team, this time as a running back. And it goes without saying, for the second-consecutive year, he is again the Times Pasco County Offensive Player of the Year.

The end.