Hernando rail

Friday Night Frights

Don't bother visiting a county football stadium tonight. Nobody will be there. Not unless the places are haunted. Central and Hernando played Thursday, and Springstead is at Mitchell. We have a Pasco County in-service day to thank. As a public service, we offer this list of spine-tingling, holiday-themed alternatives: 1. Decorate your house for Halloween.

2. Shop for Halloween candy.

3. Find a Halloween costume.

4. Visit a haunted house.

5. Rent a horror movie.

6. Plan a Halloween party.

7. Carve a pumpkin.

8. Visit a cemetery after dark.

9. Share ghost stories.

10. Watch the Springstead-Mitchell game (and you thought 1-9 were scary).

THE NUMBERS

1: Pasco County in-service days that caused the change

2: Mitchell victories, twice as many as a year ago.

2: County teams that won last Friday.

1: Times that has happened this season.

THE GAME

Springstead (1-5) at Mitchell (2-4)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

LAST YEAR: Springstead 29, Mitchell 3.

THE SKINNY: The Eagles caught fire this time last season, winning their final five games after a 1-4 start. Springstead closes with the same teams, but the Eagles are younger than they were last year and Mitchell and Ridgewood (3-3) are not the cakewalks they might have been. The Mustangs' defense allowed an average of 19.4 points in its first five games before yielding 42 to Wesley Chapel last week. Springstead was scorched for 35.8 points per game before limiting Citrus to a field goal in last Friday's upset win. If timing is everything, you have to like the Eagles' chances.

THE MATCHUP

Comparing Springstead and Mitchell:

BEST NICKNAME: Eagles? Mustangs? MITCHELL.

BEST VENUE: Booster Stadium? Mustang Stadium? MITCHELL.

BEST WIN: Citrus (25-3)? River Ridge (21-3)? SPRINGSTEAD.

WORST LOSS: Land O'Lakes (60-10)? Wesley Chapel (42-0)? SPRINGSTEAD.

BEST TOWN: Spring Hill? New Port Richey? SORRY, NOT GOING THERE.

WINNER: DRAW.

THE QUOTE

"The guys played well, but there's always room for improvement. We've got to play better than we did if we want to win this week. Are we satisfied with that, or are we still hungry?"

-- Springstead coach Bill Vonada, on last week's shocking 25-3 victory over previously unbeaten Citrus.

THE PREQUEL

Trailing by a field goal late in the first quarter, Springstead had an 81-yard touchdown pass from Brian Bolcar to Jeff Hill nullified because of a clipping penalty. Seven plays and 21/2 minutes later, Bolcar and Hill connected on the same play -- a lob pass down the right sideline. The 47-yard TD sparked a 22-point second quarter, as the Eagles beat Mitchell 29-3 last season to claim their first Class 4A, District 6 victory.

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