Wesley Chapel and Land O'Lakes have locked up their district titles, but everybody else still has work to do.
By GREG AUMAN
Published October 19, 2003
Two of the county's four playoff spots are spoken for, and in the next two weeks the other two will be claimed.
Wesley Chapel and Land O'Lakes have clinched district titles, meaning both will be home for the playoffs. What remains to be seen is which teams join them in the postseason as runners-up.
Of the nine county teams, only Ridgewood has been eliminated. Here's the playoff picture for the other eight, starting with Class 3A, District 9:
WESLEY CHAPEL (7-0): The Wildcats will host the District 10 runner-up, which looks to be Robinson (5-2), a loser to district leader Jefferson on Thursday. If Jesuit (2-3) can upset Jefferson (6-1) on Oct. 31, Jesuit could force a three-way tie atop its district, which leads to a district shootout.
Robinson was ranked sixth in the Times' Tampa Bay Top 10, one spot ahead of Wesley Chapel, entering this week's games, but the two teams likely will flip spots after the Wildcats' win and the Knights' loss.
ZEPHYRHILLS (6-1) AND PASCO (5-2): Either can clinch their district's second playoff berth by winning its two remaining district games. They go head-to-head Friday in Dade City, and Pasco can clinch a playoff spot Friday with a win and a Wesley Chapel win against Gulf.
Zephyrhills, even with a win against Pasco, would need to beat Hudson on Oct. 31 to be sure of a playoff spot. The only certainty for the Bulldogs: If they lose to the Pirates and Cobras, they won't make the playoffs, even with a 7-3 record.
HUDSON (3-4): If the Cobras can beat Zephyrhills on Halloween, they can still make the playoffs, though they likely would have to also win a shootout to get in. It's in Hudson's best interests for Zephyrhills to win this week against Pasco.
GULF (4-3): Even at 0-2 in the district, Gulf is alive. The Bucs need upsets against Wesley Chapel and Pasco and to have Zephyrhills lose one of its district games, and even then Gulf would have to win a shootout.
It's simpler in Class 4A, District 7:
LAND O'LAKES (3-4): For all their early struggles, the Gators are not only in the playoffs but open the postseason at home, facing the runner-up from the seven-team District 8. That's likely Lake Gibson (4-2) or Haines City (3-3), who entered the weekend a half-game behind Auburndale (5-1). One of those likely will head to Land O'Lakes, and another will host the Gators' district runner-up.
MITCHELL (2-5) and RIVER RIDGE (3-4): Forget their records: Whoever wins between the Mustangs and Knights on Halloween takes the district's second playoff berth. It's as simple as it gets, even if it likely means a sub-.500 county team is in the postseason for the second year in a row.
