Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
Either North Marion or Citrus will face an uphill battle with a loss.
By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 18, 2002
INVERNESS -- As the old saying goes, you are what you are.
In other words, a team only is a good as its record.
Most of the time.
North Marion is the exception. The Colts' 2-4 mark is deceiving. They feature three legitimate Division I-A prospects and their losses are to teams with a combined record of 18-6.
Belleview beat North Marion by one. Dunnellon beat the Colts by two after capitalizing on six turnovers.
"We were one or two plays away in three of the games we lost," North Marion coach Craig Damon said. "We easily could be 5-1 or 6-0. We're not a 2-4 team."
No, but the Colts are a desperate team. A loss tonight at Citrus and a trip to the playoffs would be unlikely because North Marion is 0-1 in Class 3A, District 3. The Colts' poor non-district record makes an at-large berth unrealistic.
"This is a must-win situation," Damon said.
Ditto for Citrus.
The Hurricanes (5-1, 1-0 in 3A-3) are in better shape than North Marion, but losing would severely damage their playoff hopes. Citrus has district games remaining against Dunnellon (6-0) and Crystal River (4-2), and plays Ocala Forest (6-0).
"We have to play a game with no mistakes," Hurricanes quarterback Casey Snyder said.
North Marion went 8-3 in 2000 and 2001, Damon's first two seasons.
But because the Colts are typically one of the region's most athletic and physical teams, Damon said, putting together a schedule is difficult. That is why North Marion played teams from Tallahassee and Daytona Beach.
"Nobody really wanted to play us," Damon said.
Although his team's record has taken a hit, Damon thinks playing tougher opponents has made the Colts, well, tougher.
"I've been preaching to the kids that we're a good football team," Damon said. "We just haven't gotten any breaks early on. We've tried to keep them as positive as possible and they've listened."
Senior Mike West (6-foot-1, 200 pounds), a threat at tailback and safety, leads the Colts with 950 rushing yards. He has scholarship offers from Central Florida, Louisville and Southern Mississippi. Florida State, Kentucky and North Carolina State are interested, Damon said.
Senior tailback/cornerback Jermaine Thomas (6-2, 195) and junior wide receiver Greg Carr (6-6, 175) are the Colts' other top players. Carr has six touchdown catches.
"I feel good going into this game," Damon said. "The kids have a great attitude and know they still control their own destiny."
North Marion won last year 56-21, but Citrus, which went 1-9, gave the Colts a battle for three quarters. This Hurricanes team appears to be better at nearly every position and has more athleticism.
But the Hurricanes enter on a low.
After opening 5-0, they lost to previously winless Springstead last week 25-3 at home.
Citrus was held to 156 yards and nine first downs, both season-worsts. And sophomore tailback R.J. Cobb, one of the North Suncoast's leading rushers, had 19 yards on 11 carries.
"After the game, everybody was like, "What just happened?"' Snyder said. "We were looking past Springstead to (tonight's game). We were 5-0 and they were 0-5, and we thought we'd blow them away."
Instead, Citrus got a wake-up call.
The non-district defeat could prove costly with at-large berths on the line.
To have a chance against North Marion, all Citrus cylinders have to click. The defense has improved every week, but now the offense must put things back together.
Citrus moved the ball well on the ground in its first five games, but likely will have to diversity tonight to have success. That could mean more plays involving Snyder (21 of 51, 284 yards, 4 interceptions) and a group of inconsistent receivers.
One thing is certain: Citrus will not take North Marion lightly.
"We've definitely got the heart," tight end/defensive end Steve Strong said. "We want it."