Land O'Lakes to play it safe

LAND O'LAKES -- Gators coach John Benedetto cancelled the annual Blue-Gold game Thursday night.

Instead, the Gators will scrimmage today and Thursday between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. to close out four weeks of spring practices.

Reluctant to risk injury to star quarterback Drew Weatherford coming off knee surgery, and pointing out that most positions are locked up, Benedetto decided Tuesday to cancel the annual spring game for the first time since 1997.

"I'm not going to take a chance having a game among ourselves when it's not absolutely necessary," Benedetto said.

"All we're trying to do is get better with the kids we've got. We don't want to ruin the chemistry we've got going."

Benedetto acknowledged his players would prefer to play but said, "It's not their call. They'll get over it in a few days."

Land O'Lakes has made the playoffs for the past five seasons and is 1-10 in the postseason. The Gators went 7-4 last year and lost 7-6 to Ocala Forest in a Class 4A quarterfinal.

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