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NEW PORT RICHEY - Shortly after River Ridge's spring football game Wednesday, assistant coach Mike Marlin brought up the difference in enthusiasm and energy on the field in May and in September.
The Knights have talked the talk in past years, he reminded them, but come fall this still is a program whose victories have dropped from seven in 1999 to five in 2000, three in 2001 and two last season. Optimism and confidence now are valuable only if they're kept alive all summer and into the 2003 season, and that's the challenge facing River Ridge.
"We've stressed being aggressive," head coach Mike DeGennaro said. "The intensity all spring was good, but we've gotten a little aggressive, and there was some good hitting tonight. It was the final time to pop, and I'm happy with the way things went."
There were positives in the Purple squad's 14-7 win against the Silver. Starting quarterback Ryan Mistal threw for 132 yards, 30 on a touchdown to Chad Kleinatland for the winner in the fourth quarter. He also hit speedy Jahmaal Osbourne for two 32-yard gains down the sideline, and the two seniors are aware this fall will be their last chance to shine.
"It's put up or shut up, pretty much," Mistal said. "The last few years we've talked about how we're going to be great, but we never really were. This is it now for us."
The biggest plays Wednesday were passes, but the running game flashed big-play potential. Anthony Daugherty went 14 and 13 yards on his first two carries, the second for a touchdown, and the team's other likely backfield starter, Michael Dix, had runs of 12 and 13 yards.
Defensively, Chris Wilson had a sack and forced fumble on the game's first play, Daugherty had a sack on Silver's first play and James Gibson recovered a fumble on the second. Daugherty added a sack and Clinton Betts also recorded one for Purple.
DeGennaro said he was so pleased with the scrimmage that he was looking forward to watching tape of the game. What matters most is harnessing his team's spirit Wednesday and keeping it around for when other teams are on the field with the Knights.
"We have to carry it over to the fall," he said, "or it doesn't mean a thing."
KEEP AN EYE ON: Rising junior Sam Bell, who played on the junior varsity last season, rushed five times for 37 yards on Silver's second drive, including a 10-yard run for the team's touchdown.
"Sam Bell looked good tonight," said DeGennaro, who also was pleased with Kleinatland, the JV's leading receiver last year, who beat Zach Gossett for the go-ahead touchdown on a long pass down the left sideline.
Mistal is entrenched at starter, but Randy Grueneberg and Phil Petrini impressed DeGennaro while splitting snaps for the Silver team. Grueneberg, who likely will be Mistal's top backup, had a 42-yard pass to Jordan Hoolihan, and Petrini, the likely JV starter as a sophomore, looked quick on two long option runs.
UP NEXT: River Ridge will compete in a jamboree with Wesley Chapel, Gulf and an unnamed fourth team at Gulf on Aug. 28 before opening the regular season Sept. 5 at Hudson. The Knights' two noncounty opponents are Central at home Oct. 10 and St. Petersburg Catholic on the road Oct. 24.