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Tonight's games: Pinellas

Football region quarterfinals begin tonight with 13 county teams competing in 12 games. Staff writer John Schwarb discussed the matchups with a number of area coaches. All games start at 7:30 and admission is $6.

By JOHN SCHWAR
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 15, 2002

Boca Ciega (5-5) at Clearwater (5-5)

LAST MEETING: Clearwater 18, Boca Ciega 15 (Oct. 25).

THE SKINNY: Six weeks ago, these two were afterthoughts, now one will be a region semifinalist. Bogie is the south county Cinderella, making the playoffs for the first time under Jean Gordon by going 5-2 down the stretch. Clearwater won five straight after an 0-4 start. One of those wins was a thriller against the Pirates, as Ryan Gregg kicked his fourth field goal with 18 seconds left for the win. Bogie turned the ball over three times. Don't be at all surprised to see the rematch come down to a turnover or a field goal.

PINELLAS PARK COACH LUKE KADEMOFF ON BOTH TEAMS: "That's the game I'm going to, I think it's the toughest game to call of all of them. I think if Clearwater gets the passing game going it could be hard to stop them, they both can pass but I give Clearwater the edge. (Clearwater wideout) Chris Carter's hard to stop, if they try to guard him man they're in trouble."

NEXT: The winner hosts Northeast or travels to Naples.

Northeast (7-3) at Naples (8-1)

LAST MEETING: Naples 58, Northeast 28 (2001 playoffs).

GETTING THERE: Interstate 275 to I-75 south. Take CR-896 (exit 16) and merge right onto Pine Ridge Road. Take a left at Airport Pulling Road N. Turn right onto Golden Gate Parkway.

THE SKINNY: Being an at-large team is no bargain in this bracket, especially when your first-round draw is the defending state champion. That's what the Vikings face with a trip to face a Golden Eagles team that reloaded after graduating the majority of its starters from last year. Junior running back Danny Dunford (1,257 yards, 12 touchdowns) and quarterback Josh Greco (9 passing touchdowns, 11 rushing) lead Naples' offense, while the defense might be even better than last year. Behind a good effort from quarterback Josh Harris, Northeast played Naples to a 28-28 tie in the first half last year, then the Golden Eagles dropped 30 unanswered in the second half.

OSCEOLA COACH GEORGE PALMER ON THE VIKINGS: "They've got five or six really talented players. The problem they're going to have, I saw when Naples played Seminole last year, when the Naples defense came off the field, all 11 kids came off. They two-platoon. I think some of that kicked in in the second half (last year) against Northeast. It will be hard for Northeast to match up the entire football game, but if they can get into the fourth quarter they've got a chance."

NEXT: Northeast would travel to Boca Ciega or Clearwater.

Fort Myers Dunbar (6-4) at CC Catholic (5-5)

LAST MEETING: None.

THE SKINNY: CCC is in the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year and on a better note than last year, when injuries decimated the team and it entered the postseason losing five of six. This Marauders team won three straight after a 2-4 start, though they'll have to continue on without two-way threat LeRue Rumph. The senior safety/wideout reaggravated a leg injury that sidelined him for most of last season, and he will not play again unless CCC plays into December.

BERKELEY PREP COACH FRANK SULLIVAN ON THE MARAUDERS: "CCC's got a strong team, they probably play the toughest 2A schedule that I've seen. They'll have to play well on defense, I think a lot of that falls on (linebacker Nick) Capogna. (Rumph) is a big part of their team, but any team's that playing as well as they are has to have some depth, so they should be okay."

NEXT: CCC would host Avon Park or travel to Pahokee.

Dunedin (9-1) at Lakeland Lake Gibson (8-2)

LAST MEETING: None.

GETTING THERE: Interstate 275 to I-4 to Lakeland exit 18 (U.S. 98). Go north to Marcum Road, take a right and stadium is on the right.

THE SKINNY: Sheesh, this is what 9-1 gets you? Dunedin almost certainly will not see another home game, but after a 15-year playoff absence, coach Mark Everett's team would have played in a parking lot in Pensacola if that's what the bracket said. Lake Gibson ended two area teams' seasons last year, beating Tarpon Springs and Lakewood.

TARPON SPRINGS COACH DON DAVIS ON THE FALCONS: "(Quarterback Aaron) Ford makes that option. He's awful good. I think they can put some points on the board. But when you start getting eight, nine men in the box, he's going to have to throw. Ford hasn't had to throw the ball in a situation like this."

NEXT: Dunedin would host Countryside or travel to Armwood.

Countryside (6-4) at Armwood (8-2)

LAST MEETING: None.

GETTING THERE: Interstate 275 to I-4 to McIntosh Road exit (exit 14). Turn right onto McIntosh and then right on U.S. 92.

THE SKINNY: Three of the four new coaches in the county have their teams in the playoffs, and John Davis' effort at Countryside may be the most impressive. The defense is far better than a year ago and junior running back Isaiah Gwyn leads an offense coming off 38- and 34-point games. Armwood, though, boasts Hillsborough County's best defense, which is saying something. The Hawks, state semifinalists in 2000, handed highly-touted Jefferson its only loss.

DIXIE HOLLINS COACH MIKE MOREY ON THE COUGARS: "Davis usually likes to throw, but this year with the young quarterback (Harrison Beck) he's been pretty safe, throwing a lot of screens and things. Gwyn, you watch a lot of tape and he doesn't look fast, he's just real smooth."

NEXT: Countryside would travel to Dunedin or Lake Gibson.

Eagle Lake Lake Region (7-3) at Lakewood (8-2)

LAST MEETING: None.

THE SKINNY: With apologies to Seminole, the Spartans probably have the most talent on the field. They didn't always play like it early. The past four weeks, however, have showed Lakewood's potential: four wins by a combined 159-40. Last year's team won a playoff game for the first time, now more is expected.

TARPON SPRINGS COACH DON DAVIS ON THE SPARTANS: "The thing that makes Lakewood different is they have an offensive line. Their offensive and defensive line is their strength, it used to be their athleticism. Those two elements have caught up. (Quarterback) Pat Carter and that running back (Marcus Anderson), they can put a lot of pressure on people in the playoffs."

NEXT: Lakewood would host Lakeland George Jenkins or Jefferson

East Lake (5-5) at Bradenton Manatee (6-4).

LAST MEETING: None.

GETTING THERE: Interstate 275 to U.S. 19 south (exit 5). U.S. 19 becomes U.S. 41. Turn right onto Manatee Ave., then left onto 32nd Street W.

THE SKINNY: The Eagles are in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, but even more significant was last week's game, when they beat Tarpon Springs for the first time. Last year, East Lake was blanked by Tarpon at home, then listless in a 28-0 loss to Northeast. Now the Eagles have confidence, a must for this trip. The Hurricanes' four losses (Sarasota Riverview, Lakewood Ranch, Naples and Bradenton Southeast) were all to playoff teams, and none by more than eight points.

PINELLAS PARK COACH LUKE KADEMOFF ON THE EAGLES: "I thought they had a good line, big and strong up front. Quarterback (Dan Gale) is good under pressure. They're a running team and they've gone back to that, earlier in the year they tried to go with the double-wing stuff and weren't having success, coach Keeler went back to what they knew, back to the I-formation, hammering a little with the fullback and running the veer option. Any time you can run the ball, you've got a chance."

NEXT: East Lake would host Naples Gulf Coast or travel to Seminole.

Naples Gulf Coast (4-6) at Seminole (10-0)

LAST MEETING: None.

THE SKINNY: Like Northeast, the Sharks' at-large berth is not much of a blessing, with a trip to face another outstanding Seminole team. The Warhawks turned in a second perfect regular season in three years under coach Sam Roper and expect nothing less than a third consecutive region final appearance. Last week's game at Clearwater was Seminole's first test in a few weeks, and they aced it with 570 total yards (including a season-high 226 passing from quarterback Greg Wehr) and a 54-28 win. Gulf Coast will have to rely on its defense to stay in the game, as the team's leading running back (Jason Perry) has only 600 yards and quarterback Kellen Madden has 16 interceptions and just four touchdown passes.

OSCEOLA COACH GEORGE PALMER ON THE WARHAWKS: "Seminole's offensive line does a great job, especially the center. They do a good job with the wing-T, everybody knows you have to stop No.4 (running back Joey Fabrizio), but that's difficult to do when the offensive line's dominating people. Their kids have won a lot of football games, you just feel like something good's going to happen. The kids feel that."

NEXT: Seminole would host East Lake or Manatee.

SP Catholic (6-4) at Fort Myers Bishop Verot (9-1)

LAST MEETING: Bishop Verot 28, SPC 14 (1988).

GETTING THERE: Interstate 275 south to I-75, then take SR 884 exit. Turn right onto Colonial Boulevard, then left on Summerlin Road. Turn right on Matthew Drive. School is at 5598 Sunrise Drive.

THE SKINNY: Certainly, every Baron would agree that this is better than last year, when SPC was on probation and ineligible for the playoffs. Hopefully they will still feel that way after playing the Vikings, who were region finalists last year and should be again considering they have already beaten both potential second-round foes Clewiston and Sarasota Cardinal Mooney.

BERKELEY PREP COACH FRANK SULLIVAN ON THE BARONS: "They're strong defensively, (safety) Matt McKenna and (linebacker Eliot) Ramsberger are two of the better defensive players in 2A. (Deondrea) Lindsey's a good running back, you'll keep him in check and all of a sudden he'll have a 70-yard run on you."

NEXT: SPC would travel to Clewiston or Cardinal Mooney.

Fort Myers Evangelical Chr. (9-1) at Admiral Farragut (8-2)

LAST MEETING: Admiral Farragut 41, Evangelical Chr. 9 (2000).

THE SKINNY: Someone botched the schedule at Farragut, where homecoming was last week and a 42-0 drubbing at the hands of Jacksonville Trinity Christian, the No.4 team in Class A. For eight weeks prior, the Blue Jackets destroyed everyone in sight, but alas no homecoming then. Hopefully most of those fans will come back along with the Blue Jackets' offensive firepower.

NORTHSIDE CHR. COACH BOB DARE ON THE BLUE JACKETS: "I think that's a good matchup, Evangelical's very good from the double-tight double-wing. I don't think Farragut's seen anything like that this season. Farragut has some pretty tough kids on defense, their skill players are very good and their linemen are good enough for them to win."

NEXT: Farragut would host Moore Haven or travel to Fort Meade.

Shorecrest (6-4) at Lakeland Evangel Chr. (7-3)

LAST MEETING: None.

GETTING THERE: Interstate 275 to I-4 to exit 45B. Merge onto FL-33 S., turn right on CR-582 N. and follow for 2 miles.

THE SKINNY: No county school is as dependable for the postseason as Shorecrest, which plays its 10th region game in 11 years. Don't rule out a chance for a sixth semifinal appearance, as the other Chargers (that's Evangel too) have not showed much since a 49-0 loss to Fort Meade in Week 7.

NORTHSIDE CHR. COACH BOB DARE ON THE CHARGERS: "Shorecrest has a better draw than Farragut, as the runner-up. I don't think Evangel is disciplined enough to defend the wing-T, they have a lot of good athletes, but when it comes to defending the wing-T you have to get your reads and even then you might not make the play."

NEXT: Shorecrest would host Keswick Chr. or travel to Glades Day.

Keswick Chr. (4-6) at Belle Glade Glades Day (9-1)

LAST MEETING: None.

GETTING THERE: Interstate 275 south to I-75 south to the SR 80/Palm Beach Boulevard exit toward Fort Myers. Go left off the ramp to Palm Beach Boulevard, which becomes SR 80. After 45 miles, take a slight right to U.S. 27 south, and after 25 miles, turn left onto FL-80 east. After 5 miles turn right to Gator Boulevard.

THE SKINNY: This is unquestionably the "uh-oh" game of the week. The Gators are No.2 in Class A and beat Farragut 72-7 last year.

NORTHSIDE CHR. COACH BOB DARE ON THE CRUSADERS: "I can remember my last trip to Belle Glade, they brought the alligator out before the game, we had to pull balls out of the sugarcane after PATs. It could be interesting for them at least. Glades Day is just smash-mouth football."

NEXT: Keswick would travel to Shorecrest or Evangel Chr.

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