Fixer-uppers

It's been a rough first-half of the season for Gulf, Hudson and River Ridge, who are a combined 1-13 and at the bottom of the conference and district standings. But there's still time for them to cure what ails them and turn their seasons around.

By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 11, 2002

RIVER RIDGE: Cutting back on mistakes would make a world of difference to the 1-4 Knights.

NEW PORT RICHEY -- River Ridge coach Mike DeGennaro knows it's the little things that count -- against his team, that is.

A missed block here. A wrong step there. A blocker running into the back. A penalty.

These are the kinds of details that have led to another disappointing 1-4 start and the end of the program's reign over west Pasco County.

But at the same time, that also means the Royal Knights should be that much closer to putting it all together.

"When we watch film, it's always one guy missing a block," safety David Onorato said. "We've yet to come together as a team for one whole game."

It is on offense that River Ridge has struggled the most, scoring just 38 points, second-worst in the county. The Royal Knights' offensive line does not get a consistent push off the ball, and missed blocks by the backs in the Wing-T compound the problem. And when the team does move into the red zone, it pushes itself right back out.

"It's one missed assignment here, one missed assignment there," DeGennaro said. "We move the ball all the way down the field and get a penalty, then miss a block. Instead of it possibly being third-and-3, now we're facing second-and-13.

"We're not able to break out of that hole yet. We're not confident enough to do it yet. We need to get some confidence and that's what we're working on."

That's why the coaching staff will sometimes go with a new Power-I offense, and will also rely more on the passing of quarterback Ryan Mistal. The team's receivers -- Alex Wilson, Danny Grant and Chris Malone -- could pick up the team where the backfield has not.

"Ryan's a competitor," DeGennaro said. "Ryan wants the ball, whether it's running or throwing."

But someone still has to block.

"We're not getting a great push from the offensive line and the running backs are not stepping up to block blitzing linebackers," DeGennaro said. Which means teams are just going to blitz Mistal even more. "Why wouldn't you?" the coach said.

Until the offense can rebound, the Knights can rely on a tough defense and solid special teams.

DeGennaro is unhappy with his defense's performance in last week's 21-3 loss to Mitchell, but is still proud of a unit that held Pasco to 20 points and kept Hudson out of the end zone twice on the goal line to hold onto a 3-0 overtime win.

Jahmaal Osbourne is one of the county's most dangerous kick returners. Kicker Matt Baker and punter Steve Bamber have been surprises as well.

"I think the hope is that the kids haven't quit," DeGennaro said. "They're still working hard every day in practice. They want to do what's right. They're watching film to try and learn what they're doing right and wrong.

"The kids are frustrated. I think they realize they're a block here, a step inside instead of outside, a dropped pass, a penalty away.

"I think they're that close from turning the corner. We've just got to put it all together."

The 0-5 Buccaneers are hoping to find some red-zone success to keep them from a winless season.

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Gulf's new Spread-I offense has succeeded in its mission of moving the Buccaneers downfield quickly.

Between the 30-yard lines, that is.

An inability to reach the red zone, an anemic ground attack, youth and inexperience on defense, and the usual slate of injuries have taken their toll.

That's why the Bucs have stumbled to an 0-5 start despite quarterback Jeff Blanchette's hot start. Blanchette has thrown for for 610 yards and two touchdowns and is on pace for a 1,000-yard season.

But Blanchette has thrown nine interceptions and the defense is the only unit in the county to give up 200 points.

Then there's raw youth to deal with. Coach Keith Newton's young squad -- the team started the year with 18 juniors and the new starting linebacker is a freshman -- desperately needs varsity experience.

"We haven't been able to put the ball into the end zone as many times as we've been down there," Newton said. "Defensively, we're getting better each week but we have to continue to get better."

The loss of strongside linebacker Tim Tracy to a season-ending shoulder separation doesn't help.

Freshman Joe Brandau moves into the weakside linebacker position, while Jordan Stewart moves to the strongside. Nose guard Hakija Halilic is still out with a broken foot, replaced by defensive end Clint Beckley, who was replaced by Ken Dunkelberger. Wideout C.J. McLeod replaces suspended defensive tackle Cameron Neptune.

"We're just trying to find the right combination of people on defense," Newton said.

A lack of tight ends helped convince Newton to use the Spread-I, designed by volunteer coach, Gulf alum and former Florida lineman Jimmy Watson.

But the team lacked fullbacks, too. Which is why it went to a one-back, four-wideout set. But inside the 20, with less room to work, that has left less room to run in, too. Which is why the quarterback, Blanchette, leads the team with 227 rushing yards off the option.

Newton has found fullbacks in Brandau and Stewart, and hopes they can line up in an I-formation and give the running game that extra push up front.

"We have moved the ball well," Newton said. "Jeff has moved the ball running and throwing, but we have not made the key play near the goal line. A number of our touchdowns have been long passes that we broke free.

"Getting inside the 20, it shortens the field as far as the passing game. We've got to be able to establish that running game to go along with our passing game, and it can't just be Blanchette."

But whether Gulf can avoid a winless season, Newton said, depends on how fast this group matures.

"Experience-wise, 75-percent of both the offense and defense are juniors," Newton said. "They don't have much varsity experience. They're getting better, though. The attitude has been great and the effort has been great.

"We just need to get the game experience under our belts and cut down on the number of mistakes we've made.'

Injuries, player defections and close losses have plagued the Cobras

HUDSON -- The Cobras have endured some tough lessons, but coach Terry Voyles said his team has yet to learn its toughest lesson: How to win.

"We've got to learn how to win," he said. "We've had opportunities to win three games and I think that the kids are trying hard enough."

But in the end, not hard enough to avoid an 0-4 start. Consider:

Against Ridgewood, Hudson led 12-7 with 1 minute, 25 seconds left in the first half but couldn't capitalize on two interceptions and lost 20-12.

Against River Ridge, a dropped touchdown pass sent the game into overtime. The Cobras had two shots at the end zone in overtime, but were stopped at the goal line twice in a 3-0 loss.

Against Hernando, two dropped touchdown passes, two missed field goals and a missed extra point resulted in a 14-13 loss.

Then there was that 41-7 rout at the hands of Zephyrhills.

The departure of players, including Kenny and Shannon Eva, has hurt. Injuries have sapped a traditionally undersized and thin squad as well. Voyles, in his fourth season, was concerned that parents called for his job last week.

But Voyles is sticking with his team, and he hopes that these experiences have made it stronger. Hernando was the first foe the Cobras faced after the player defections, and Voyles said it was as good an effort as he has seen this season.

"I'm telling you, I was really impressed how we played together," he said. "We played a team that had a lot more athletic ability, but our kids really pulled together and played like a family."

Confidence and unity abound.

"I'll tell you what," quarterback Josh Bunting said. "This is the best 0-4 team you can hope to have. I mean, I don't feel like we're 0-4."

Linebacker Walter Truzack said they have the ability to make plays, but don't click on the big ones.

"Whenever we have a big play coming up or something big should happen," he said, "we have dropped passes or fumbles or something like that. We're always shooting ourselves in the foot when we're in the red zone."

But Voyles' biggest concern is Hudson is not strong in any single area. Not running the ball. Not throwing the ball. And not while playing six sophomores.

"That's our problem, we don't have one strength," Voyles said. "We don't have one part of the game that is way above the rest. We have to have players play better across the board.

"That's the only chance we've got."

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