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Another challenge awaits Sickles: Jesuit
By ROD GIPSON ROBINSON(0-3, 0-1 in Class 3A-8) at ALONSO (1-2 overall, 0-1 in Class 5A, District 6) Last Week: Wharton defeated Alonso 56-16. Last Year: Robinson defeated Alonso 56-0. The Skinny: Alonso's Kevrik Brown managed 125 total yards and a touchdown last week against a tough Wharton defense and will get plenty of opportunities tonight. The Edge: Robinson is struggling on both sides of the ball and could wind up as the Ravens' next victim. CHAMBERLAIN (2-1, 1-0 in Class 5A-6) at WHARTON (3-0, 1-0 in Class 5A-6)Last Week: Chamberlain defeated Gaither 41-0, Wharton defeated Alonso 56-16. Last Year: Chamberlain defeated Wharton 35-3. The Skinny: Chamberlain has shaken off its opening week loss and is regaining its midseason form of a year ago. The Chiefs' offense is clicking with running back Mike Ross and wide receiver Greg Lee. Wharton has an impressive offense of its own with quarterback Ross Corcoran and tailback Larry Edwards. The Edge: Offense vs. offense. The team with the ball last could win this one, but Chamberlain's experience in big games may be an advantage over Wharton being at home. LETO (0-3, 0-1 in Class 5A-6) at GAITHER (1-2, 0-1 in Class 5A-6)Last Week: Leto lost 27-14 to King, Gaither lost 41-0 to Chamberlain. Last Year: Leto won by forfeit. The Skinny: The Falcons' offense showed signs of life last week as J.B. Bailey led the team to 192 of their 269 yards in the second half. Gaither has averaged 10 points a game thus far. The Edge: It's about time Leto's talented athletes played a complete game. Why not against a struggling Cowboys team that had 114 yards of offense last week? PLANT (1-2, 0-1 in Class 4A-8) at JEFFERSON (2-1, 1-1 in Class 4A-8)Last Week: Jefferson defeated Canyon (Ca.) 44-6 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Last Year: Plant defeated Jefferson 35-20. The Skinny: The Dragons' needed to refocus after their loss to Armwood and that's just what their romp against visiting Canyon helped them accomplish. Coach Mike Simmonds shuffled his offensive lineup a bit and it appears to have worked. Jefferson is hitting on all cylinders as it goes into this huge matchup against its district rival. The Edge: Both teams are desperate for a district win after each has already lost to current 4A-8 front-runner Armwood. However, Jefferson may be a little more desperate -- and talented. JESUIT (2-0, 1-0 in Class 3A-8) at SICKLES (2-1, 1-1 in Class 4A-8)Last Week: Sickles defeated Brandon 10-7 in overtime. Last Year: Jesuit defeated Sickles 35-0. The Skinny: The new-look Gryphons are riding high on the program's first two-game win streak ever. Jesuit, meanwhile, answered plenty of questions about its' lofty ranking (No. 2 in Class 3A) last week by trouncing a solid Bradenton Southeast team by 22 points. The Edge: There is no doubt that Sickles has improved, but it hasn't reach Jesuit's level yet. The Tigers should control this one.
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From the Times Marlene Sokol |
