Preps
Tonights games: Hillsborough
Chamberlain at Jefferson
By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 12, 2003
LAST MEETING: Chamberlain 45, Jefferson 14 (1998).
THE SKINNY: The dream meeting . . . two years ago. You could have sold out Raymond James Stadium to see these teams go at it in 2001. Now you'd be lucky to sell out Sam Horton Stadium. Chamberlain's air game will run into a good Jefferson secondary, but if they can stop the Dragons' rush, the Chiefs will look good.
Purks: Chamberlain Readling: Chamberlain Nipps: Jefferson
Armwood at Tampa Bay Tech
LAST MEETING: Armwood 56, TBT 20 (2002).
THE SKINNY: Tampa Bay Tech employs the "Bulgarian Bomber" (kicker Ilia Petrov). Armwood has no bombers (as far as we know) but it has everything else needed to win this game.
Purks: Armwood Readling: Armwood Nipps: Armwood
Wharton at Brandon
LAST MEETING: Wharton 20, Brandon 0 (2002).
THE SKINNY: Hoo boy! Just when you think Wharton's magic has dispersed to various colleges around the country, the Wildcats go out and beat East Bay. East Bay! The Indians never lose the first game. Can Wharton go 2-0? Better yet, can Brandon?
Purks: Brandon Readling: Brandon Nipps: Wharton
Alonso at Gaither
LAST MEETING: Gaither 47, Alonso 34 (2002).
THE SKINNY: This is a lettuce puddle game. You know, when you clean your refrigerator you always have puddles of what used to be lettuce leaves? Gross, huh? That's what picking a winner here is like. Gaither should be experienced enough to win but Alonso is going to surprise some people this season. This could be one of those surprises.
Purks: Alonso Readling: Alonso Nipps: Gaither
Middleton at Hillsborough
LAST MEETING: Middleton 20, Hillsborough 7 (1970).
THE SKINNY: Middleton seems to be on the brink of being a really good team. Really good is a point Hillsborough passed a long time ago - right about the time it started making the playoffs nine out of the past 10 years. Middleton will be good. Hillsborough has already established that it is good.
Purks: Hillsborough Readling: Hillsborough Nipps: Hillsborough
Plant at East Bay
LAST MEETING: East Bay 42, Plant 7 (2002).
THE SKINNY: What in the world happened to the Indians? They hadn't lost a season-opener since 1997 when Leto beat them 12-0. East Bay then won its next six and finished 8-3. Plant wants to turn that enigma into a streak.
Purks: East Bay Readling: East Bay Nipps: East Bay
Durant at Blake
LAST MEETING: None.
THE SKINNY: Durant is one of the strongest teams in the county. There is no question about that. The question here is how good is Blake? The Yellow Jackets could be very good but they struggled against Jefferson. Those struggles probably continue this week.
Purks: Durant Readling: Durant Nipps: Durant
Freedom at Bloomingdale
LAST MEETING: None.
THE SKINNY: Pick Bloomingdale! How often do you get to advise that? The Bulls are improved (insert joke here) and Freedom is still evolving.
Purks: Bloomingdale Readling: Bloomingdale Nipps: Bloomingdale
Cambridge at Temple Heights, 4 p.m.
LAST MEETING: None.
THE SKINNY: Finally, Cambridge can stop the nervous shakes and get down to business. The Lancers' first game is here. This could be the beginning of a long anticipated rivalry for the Eagles.
Purks: Temple Heights Readling: Temple Heights Nipps: Temple Heights
Riverview at King
LAST MEETING: None.
THE SKINNY: Picking this game is like love. The more you know about it the harder it is to get right. Riverview ran for nearly 400 yards against Jefferson in the preseason. Repeat after me . . . preseason. The offenses have similar capabilities, the defenses are close . . . I give up. Take your pick.
Purks: Riverview Readling: King Nipps: Riverview
Newsome at Leto
LAST MEETING: None.
THE SKINNY: Every team will encounter a must-win game at some point during the season. This is Leto's. Lose to Newsome in the Wolves' second game ever and you may as well pack up your program and go home.
Purks: Leto Readling: Leto Nipps: Leto
Plant City at Lake Region
LAST MEETING: None.
THE SKINNY: This is not good: On first and goal from the 7, Plant City managed to rack up a net loss of 59 yards thanks to penalties and sacks on the next three plays. That's fourth and goal from their own 34! Kinda takes away the quarterback sneak, huh? The Thunder rolls tonight.
Purks: Lake Region Readling:Lake Region Nipps: Lake Region
Sickles at Robinson
LAST MEETING: Robinson 37, Sickles 12 (1998).
THE SKINNY: People in the know say they think Robinson is one of the most improved teams around. They point to the fact that the Knights didn't lose anybody from last season and continuity has to count for something. Sickles is going to run the ball all night. Can the Gryphons run to a win?
Purks: Robinson Readling: Robinson Nipps: Robinson
Evangel Christian at Tampa Catholic
LAST MEETING: None.
THE SKINNY: Evangel Christian won last week 12-0. TC lost to Berkeley Prep 28-0. Still, picking the winner - and watching the entire game for that matter - is like finding a rhyme for orange. Really, really hard.
Purks: Evangel Christian Readling: Tampa Catholic Nipps: Tampa Catholic
Berkeley Prep at Archbishop Carroll
LAST MEETING: None.
THE SKINNY: Yes, we realize Purks' headshot looks like a Crest Whitestrips ad and it's probably distracting you from this capsule so we'll try to end it in a hurry. Archbishop Carroll is home and that's a long way from Berkeley. That can't help the Bucs.
Purks: Berkeley Prep Readling: Archbishop Carroll Nipps: Berkeley Prep
- All games at 7:30 unless noted.
RECORDS THRU WEEK ONE:
Purks 9-5
Readling 9-5
Nipps 8-6
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