Preps
'This is pretty much our season'
Largo and Dixie Hollins meet tonight in a Class 4A, District 9 matchup critical to the postseason hopes of both.
By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
Published October 16, 2003
Largo coach Rick Rodriguez calls every game on his schedule a big one.
Tonight's game, though, is the biggest.
In all likelihood, the Packers (4-2, 1-1 in Class 4A, District 9) must win at Dixie Hollins to make the postseason as a runner-up.
"The playoffs are on the line," Rodriguez said. "We'll need a lot of help if we lose this one."
Dixie Hollins (5-1, 1-1) also has a lot at stake. A win tonight and next week against Tarpon Springs secures the Rebels' first playoff berth since 1997.
That point is not lost on Dixie coach Mike Morey, who held out five injured starters, including the entire offensive backfield, in last week's victory against Palm Harbor University so they would be ready tonight.
"This is pretty much our season," Morey said.
The Rebels' calling card is a punishing running game that controls the clock. Quarterback Mike Martin (260 yards rushing) and running back Dan Puckett (469) are the workhorses who have allowed Dixie to dictate the tempo and take early leads in five of six games.
Morey plans to use the same formula against a Packers defense that is fourth-worst against the run.
If the Rebels can grind their way to a lead, Largo quarterback Fred Marshall will have to air it out against a defense that has 12 interceptions, three returned for touchdowns. "Dixie has some good players and a big line," Rodriguez said. "They like to run the ball, and we need to stop it. That's a big matchup."
Rodriguez said he knows his defense will have to play better to avoid falling behind. The Packers have experienced growing pains adjusting to new defensive coordinator Matt LePain's system.
But after allowing more than 300 yards of total offense in its first four games, Largo has yielding a combined 213 against Lakewood and Tarpon the past two weeks.
"I knew it would take some time, and the guys on defense are starting to adapt to everything," Rodriguez said. "Hopefully, they keep it up."
The Packers don't have as many problems on the other side of the ball. Marshall is the only quarterback in the county who has thrown for more than 1,000 yards and leads an offense that averages 30 points a game.
"We'll rely on Fred to make some plays running and throwing," Rodriguez said. "He's been doing that all year."
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