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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 10, 2002
The best teams in Hillsborough County the past two years have been -- without a doubt -- the Scott Purkolators and the Readling Rampage.
That's because the Purkolators and Rampage assemble their teams without worry of school zones, recruiting violations, classifications or the Florida High School Activities Association.
They just pick the best players and go with it.
Based on the season's first half, Times Tampa Sports Editor Scott Purks and staff writer Mike Readling held their third annual draft Wednesday with only a few rules: Don't get specific with positions (that is, no tackles, guards or centers, but simply offensive linemen), and go with a 3-4 defense because the county is stacked at linebacker. They also went with three running backs. The coin flip went to the Rampage, giving Readling the first pick. The Purkolators followed and then it was on, back and forth for 50 picks.
The Purkolators, having a shrewd general manager, hired staff writer Emily Nipps, a recruiting/talent expert, to assist in this year's draft.
To which Readling replied: "I don't care who's picking against me, they're going to lose."
Wrong. Readling said the same thing the first two years, and those games ended in a tie.
RAMPAGE -- Andre Caldwell, Utility, Jefferson: The cool thing about Caldwell is he can play anywhere. If the Rampage didn't make another pick, it would just have Caldwell snap the ball to himself and run around until he scores.
2. PURKOLATORS -- Ronnie McCullough, LB, Hillsborough: Leads the team in tackles (54), rushing (585 yards) and scoring (7 touchdowns). He's also the Terriers' all-time leading rusher with 2,370 yards.
3. RAMPAGE -- Trae Williams, Wingback, Durant: With 650 yards and 10 touchdowns on 67 carries, the Cougars senior is averaging 9.7 yards per carry.
4. PURKOLATORS -- Rashaun Grant, Wingback, Jefferson: If Caldwell is lightning in a bottle, Grant is severe shock in a can.
5. RAMPAGE -- Sidney Bryant, QB, Chamberlain: He might not have the best passing stats, but he's consistent, and when it comes to crunch time (see last year's playoff run by the Chiefs) the Rampage wants experience.
6. PURKOLATORS -- Stephen Reaves, QB, Plant: He has the genes (his dad is former Florida, USFL and NFL star John Reaves), he has the arm and has thrown a county-high 127 passes for 736 yards.
7. RAMPAGE -- Josh Balloon, LB, Jefferson: The Rampage retains the rights to Balloon, who it took with the 20th pick last year. Injuries have slowed him, but a Balloon at 80 percent is better than most.
8. PURKOLATORS -- Donnie Woods, OL, Jefferson: One of the most sought after offensive linemen in the country, Woods is a key to Jefferson's high-powered offense. He's also a great sport.
9. RAMPAGE -- Maurice Crum, LB, Tampa Bay Tech: Head coach Mike Bradley said Crum was more valuable than any coach on his coaching staff. Including himself. When he graduates, the Rampage will offer Crum a job as a special assistant.
10. PURKOLATORS -- Aaron Fryer, RB, Jesuit: Fryer is the Tigers' workhorse on offense, carrying 81 times this season for 552 yards and eight touchdowns. A punishing runner, he had 239 yards against Southeast.
11. RAMPAGE -- Joslin Shaw, RB, Plant City: The county's leading rusher with 739 yards and he fell this far? The Rampage jumped on this. Might be overlooked because Plant City is 0-5.
12. PURKOLATORS -- Mike Brewster, Utility, King: He won national speed skating races in his youth and now he's shocking people with how he can stay on his feet. Don't ever count him out.
13. RAMPAGE -- J.B. Garris, P, East Bay: Okay, this is more than just a punter pick. Yes, Garris does punt, but his speed, arm and smarts make him one of the most versatile athletes around.
14. PURKOLATORS: Garrett Rivas, K, Jesuit: Rivas' most exciting kicks might be the ones he misses. That's because they come from so far, yet come so close. He has barely missed 56- and 58-yarders, although he routinely makes them during practice. Committed to Michigan.
15. RAMPAGE -- Evalio Harrell, DB, Jesuit: Harrell had four interceptions against Bradenton Southeast, setting the school record in Week 3. Worse yet, he dropped No. 5 in that same game.
16. PURKOLATORS -- Corey Brown, WR, Plant: How does four catches for 108 yards against King sound? That's 27 yards per catch and that's darn good. That's also pretty typical for Brown.
17. RAMPAGE -- Cedric Maxwell, DL, Tampa Bay Tech: Maxwell, Crum's cousin, plays with an attitude and it has shown in his six sacks. He also has 10 tackles for a loss.
18. PURKOLATORS -- George Kearse, DL, Blake: TBT coach Mike Bradley said if it wasn't for Kearse's vicious pass rush and tackling, his team might have beaten Blake and remained undefeated. Instead, the Titans lost 9-7.
19. RAMPAGE -- Kevin Lin, WR, Leto: Lin was expected to be the Falcons' top threat and he hasn't disappointed. In fact, he has turned into the county's receiving leader with 20 catches.
20. PURKOLATORS -- Shane Robinson, DB, Jesuit: Need a big third-down carry? Hand it off and watch him slice and dice to a first down. Need an interception? Let him float. Kickoff returns, punt returns ... on and on and on.
21. RAMPAGE -- Joe Clermond, LB, Chamberlain: When Ollie Hoyte graduated and headed for North Carolina State, Clermond snatched up the No. 22 jersey. Big shoes to fill, but Clermond has performed admirably.
22. PURKOLATORS -- S.J. Green, DB, Brandon: Fleet of foot and hands that stick, Green is the perfect anchor for the Purkolators defensive backfield. More known as a receiver, he had three interceptions in the season opener against King.
23. RAMPAGE -- Ryan Watts, RB, Armwood: Watts is a quarterback in the Hawks' offense but he's also probably the best open-field runner on the team. He has been converted to fit into the Rampage's three-back set.
24. PURKOLATORS -- Mike Ross, RB, Chamberlain: A bulldog of a runner who conjures up memories of former record-breaking Gaither back Lydell Ross. He bulls into a pile and somehow comes dancing out the other side.
25. RAMPAGE -- Jason Henika, LB, Sickles: Someone has to be leading the Gryphons' charge toward becoming one of the most surprising teams this season. Henika is the man.
26. PURKOLATORS -- Joey Bailey, DB, Leto: Another "take the best athlete pick." He plays quarterback but he's also one of the county's best DBs.
27. RAMPAGE -- Josh Johnson, DL, East Bay: The Rampage prefers big and quick linemen. Johnson is 6-4, 225 pounds, gets to the quarterback with ease and recovered a fumble Friday.
28. PURKOLATORS -- Jonathan Bailes, OL, Jefferson: The Purkolators stole Bailes off the Rampage's 2001 roster, and for good reason. Lined up next to Donnie Woods, these guys are a nightmare.
29. RAMPAGE -- Greg Lee, WR, Chamberlain: The county's leader in receiving touchdowns, Lee has finally come into his own. And you want tough? How about the fact he played two games last year with a broken hand?
30. PURKOLATORS -- Steve Smith, WR, Brandon: A nice complement to Eagles teammate S.J. Green. Smith is a long-distance scoring threat, averaging almost 15 yards a catch.
31. RAMPAGE -- Brian Hyde, OL, Hillsborough: The 6-1, 245-pound senior graded out as the Terriers' top lineman two of the five weeks. He is one of the backbones of Hillsborough's new and potent "Dawg Bone" offense.
32. PURKOLATORS -- Larry Edwards, LB, Wharton: Labo, as he is known by his friends, does whatever you need -- play linebacker, run the ball, knock somebody silly. Whatever.
33. RAMPAGE -- Wayne Lawton, DB, Plant: At 5-6, Lawton's just a wee little football-playing tyke, but this Panther will put a hurting on an offense.
34. PURKOLATORS -- Alan Davisson, LB, Armwood: Collected three sacks and intercepted a pass in a Week 2 24-0 upset of then-nationally ranked Jefferson. Davisson hasn't slowed a bit since then.
35. RAMPAGE -- Bobby Payne, OL, Wharton: The Wildcats are a team to be reckoned with and the O-line and Payne are a major reason why. 36. PURKOLATORS -- George Shivers, DL, Hillsborough: His name is pronounced Shy-vers but this big fella (6-0, 215) makes offensive linemen and many a quarterback shiver.
37. RAMPAGE -- Sean Dixon, DB, Chamberlain: Dixon is hard to beat because he can close on a ball quicker than almost anybody. He might be most threatening as a field goal and punt blocker.
38. PURKOLATORS -- Reshard Hicks, DB, Robinson: Hicks is a perfect fit for a Purkolators cornerback. He can run and jump like nobody's business, clearing 6-9 in the high jump.
39. RAMPAGE -- Cody Chajkowski, OL, Jesuit: Six feet, three inches and 295 pounds of power. A big reason the Tigers average more than 210 yards a game on the ground.
40. PURKOLATORS -- Jermaine Lemons, DL, Jefferson: There's a new Lemon Law at Jefferson and it says don't try to run at or away from this 6-3, 225-pound senior. He'll get you. Purkolators say getting Lemons this low is the steal of the draft.
41. RAMPAGE -- Andrew Colborne, K, Hillsborough: It seems this senior has been in high school for about eight years. That's because since he was a freshman, Colborne has been one of the most active and accurate kickers in the county.
42. PURKOLATORS -- Ryan Conley, OL, East Bay: Coach Brian Thornton calls him perhaps the best center he has ever coached. That made the Purkolators perk up and take notice.
43. RAMPAGE -- Reggie Doby, DB, East Bay: Doby is the prototypical two-way player. Against Riverview, he rushed seven times for 65 yards and a touchdown. He later returned an interception for a touchdown.
44. PURKOLATORS -- Antonio Mills, OL, Hillsborough: When Terrier coaches have graded out their linemen at the end of the week, Mills was named the best one twice. That's not easy to do in Terrier country.
45. RAMPAGE -- Jamesly Jean, OL, Jefferson: Against Plant two weeks ago, Jean caught a pass, then carried four Plant tacklers on his back for nearly 10 yards.
46. PURKOLATORS -- Mike Cummings, OL, Jesuit: At 320 pounds, Cummings is the heaviest player on the Tigers roster. He's also one of the most effective.
47. RAMPAGE -- John Thomas, OL, Chamberlain: Thomas goes both ways and plays with more heart than almost anybody. The lone holdover from last year, he has taken on a leadership role.
48. PURKOLATORS -- Thomas Elliott, P, Wharton: Consistent and long. Elliott averages more than 40 yards a punt, and we're talking high punts as well.
49. RAMPAGE -- Jermaine Jackson, DL, Riverview: A cool name is one thing, but this 5-10, 250 pounder is a force on defense. He also plays fullback. That's right, a 250-pound high school fullback.
50. PURKOLATORS -- Ryan Patneaude, DL, Jesuit: In typical lineman fashion he's often overlooked but far from unappreciated by the Purkolators. A great choice with the final pick.