New QB is ready to pass test

Brian Dawsy is the man of the hour at Lecanto.

With star Phil Reed out for the season because of a broken bone in his left shoulder, the senior has stepped in at quarterback. Dawsy also starts at safety and has been a key contributor in recent seasons.

But now the fate of the offense, not to mention the team, rests somewhat on his shoulders.

The Panthers (2-1) have Jarvis Patterson, the area's leading rusher, and don't pass much to begin with. But if they can't keep opposing defenses honest by presenting other options, the offense will become predictable and could flutter.

Pressure? Oh, just a little.

"I'm not really worried or thinking about the pressure," Dawsy said. "I'm just thinking about playing the game. I'll do fine."

Dawsy intercepted a pass and returned a kickoff 40 yards last week. But behind center, where he took over after Reed left midway through the first quarter, Dawsy was 1 of 8 with two interceptions.

Still, teammates have faith.

"We believe in Brian," senior Nate Edwards said. "He's kind of always been the little guy, but now we've got to get behind him and support him. As long as we get behind him, he'll get it done."

A key for Dawsy: composure.

"He just needs to calm down," Panthers center Jimmy Sudlow said. "If he does that, he can do anything. I don't think he was scared last week. I just think he was nervous."

At practice, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound Dawsy got some extra coaching this week from Reed. For Lecanto to beat Springstead and continue on an upward path, Dawsy will need to play big. The same goes for his teammates.

"Everybody is going to step up," senior Bruce Emberley said.

Everybody will have to.

THE LITTLE THINGS: Casey Snyder's passing statistics don't jump off the page (12 of 24 for 165 yards and 3 interceptions), but make no mistake, the Citrus junior is playing well.

Hurricanes coach Larry Bishop has been impressed with Snyder's ability to run the offense, not to mention run the ball.

Because of Snyder's experience, coaches allow him to change plays at the line of scrimmage, and Bishop said Snyder almost always makes the correct change.

He also has provided a spark on quarterback keepers. Snyder has 133 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on 20 carries. Against Lecanto, he had four attempts for 24 yards, including a 13-yarder on third-and-12 with 5:05 left and Citrus clinging to a 10-0 lead.

ANXIOUS BEARS: Crystal River's 17-14 win over Dixie County last year was memorable because of the way it ended.

Will Bleakley's third-quarter field goal provided the final margin, but a holding call against Dixie with less than two minutes to play wiped out an 11-yard gain to the Pirates' 8. Two plays later, the Bears turned it over on downs. Game over.

"I know we were the better team tonight," Bears coach Brent Wilkerson said after the loss. "I'm not saying we are week in and week out, but tonight we were the better team.

"No doubt in my mind. If it wasn't for the officials on every crucial play helping Crystal River stay in the ball game, we win."

ODDS AND ENDS: Citrus kicker Keith Zigler is 1 of 4 on field goals, but each of his misses came from outside of 45 yards. ... Springstead trailed Land O'Lakes 46-3 at the half last week en route to a 60-10 loss. The Eagles had five turnovers. ... Dixie County reached the second round of the Class 2A playoffs last year and the third round in 2000. ... Citrus senior Isaiah Webb averages one touchdown every 7.5 times he touches the ball on offense.

-- Keith Niebuhr can be reached at 860-7337 or niebuhr@sptimes.com.

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