Preps

Flowers to throw, not catch

Central coach John Wilkinson knew a talent such as Jeremy Flowers could electrify his passing game but did not figure it would be like this.

Flowers caught four passes for 61 yards in the Bears' opener, but now he's going to be the one throwing them with Shane Collard out for the season with a broken left arm.

Collard sustained the injury in the first quarter at Citrus yet finished the game at quarterback and free safety.

"The game's going to go on, so we have to be ready," Wilkinson said.

Flowers, a junior, transferred to Central from Jefferson, where he played quarterback on the junior varsity and was called up to the varsity late last season.

Anthony Gaynor will move to Collard's spot at free safety. Jeff McNair will fill Gaynor's cornerback slot.

Another Bears starter, tight end Mike Noyes, has a left arm ailment but is expected to play with a chipped bone. He'll likely wear a soft cast.

INJURY REPORT: Linebacker Andres Lawson, Hernando's leading tackler last season, is doubtful for tonight with a sprained elbow sustained in the first quarter last week.

Lawson missed the remainder of the game and was kept out of all contact during practice this week.

Springstead should get a boost from the return of defensive back Tom Hopkins (ankle sprain) and linemen Eric Bruscino (ankle sprain) and Broc Olejniczak (stinger).

All were injured Saturday at Hernando but returned to practice Monday.

TOUGHEN UP: Springstead pounded away at the middle of the Hernando defense last week, rushing 54 times for 208 yards.

How do the Leopards prevent that from happening again? Well, forget any fancy new defense or other scheming.

"Adjustments, there's not too many more you can make," Hernando coach Bill Browning said. "You just have to get tougher. Springstead came right at us. They kept the ball from us with some success."

COACHSPEAK: Browning marveled at Springstead being penalized once for 5 yards last week.

"I don't think I've ever been in a high school game ever that I can remember where a team only had 5 yards in penalties," Browning said. "Very unusual. It's just unusual, that's all. They must have played a perfect game, especially this early in the season.

"But I'm not here to criticize anyone."

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