Pasco open to any options that spark offense

Pasco, hoping to get its rushing game on track after managing 9 yards in a loss to Wesley Chapel, could have its top offensive players dabbling at different positions in Friday's Class 3A, District 9 district showdown with Zephyrhills.

That could include the county's leading passer, Cory Filley, working at fullback, and the county's top receiver, Johnny Peyton, getting the ball more with some action at tailback.

"Don't be surprised if you see Peyton at tailback or Filley at fullback," said coach Dale Caparaso, whose team needs a win against the Bulldogs if it wants a return trip to the playoffs.

Caparaso reiterated that the positional moonlighting "isn't going to be a permanent thing," but something he wants to do for at least five to seven plays.

Such sudden changes the week of a major game could backfire, but Caparaso said he wanted to do something to get his offense in the best position to win.

"It's stuff that's been bothering us for a while," he said. "It gets the ball into Johnny's hands and Cory's hands, and it gives us a few more options."

When Filley shifts to fullback, Kyle Hobbs would step in at quarterback, and Caparaso said he is willing to have Filley pass fewer times if it improves his running game.

"We're not doing anything to get people off (leading rusher Donte O'Neal), and people have been able to double up on Peyton and still take away Donte," he said. "We have to come up with something to help out. We feel by making some adjustments, we can spring some stuff up."

It could be a smokescreen, something new for Zephyrhills to think about as it prepares for a game that likely will send one team to the playoffs and the other home without a postseason. The Bulldogs say they won't change their approach either way.

"It doesn't matter," said coach Tom Fisher, whose team has won the past two meetings with Pasco. "We defend formations, down and distance, that kind of thing. Whatever number is at that position, that's who we'll defend against."

HIGH PRAISE: Caparaso continued to praise Wesley Chapel and its play in Thursday's 33-14 victory, saying the Wildcats showed much of the precise, mistake-free play he wants from his players.

"They're fundamentally solid. They're at a point right now that we would like to be at in a year or so," he said. "Our (defensive backs) are still bouncing around, not taking their backpedal steps, and our linebackers are still in a stance where they look like the guy standing on the foul line when it's a two-shot foul."

Caparaso has run the same Wing-T offense for years and said Wesley Chapel's execution was impressive, especially the offensive line, which opened holes for 243 rushing yards and held the Pirates to a single sack.

"I've run his offense for a long time, and that offensive line put a challenge to any from my state championship teams in terms of execution and picking up blitzes," he said.

NO LETUP HERE: Wesley Chapel cannot help or hurt its playoff standing with its remaining three games, which come against teams with a combined 8-13 record. A win at Gulf on Friday can give the Wildcats at least a share of the Sunshine Athletic Conference crown, and coach John Castelamare said he wouldn't be resting players or letting up in his remaining games.

"You're not going to see us keep players out, wait for the playoffs, that kind of stuff," Castelamare said. "We've got three games to go, and we have to play three tough teams and get better with each game."

One thing the Wildcats can keep an eye on is the county rushing title, which Wesley Chapel's Tyrone Tomlin won in each of the past two seasons. If junior Nigel Bryant wants to keep that title on campus, he'll have to catch Ridgewood's Mike Galizia, who has the county lead with 862 yards, 160 yards ahead of Bryant.

The Rams (0-7) finish the season with three tough games, facing Dunnellon (5-2), Land O'Lakes (3-4) and Zephyrhills (6-1).

THE HUMP: One game below .500 with three games left, a winning season is still in sight for Land O'Lakes. But the Gators, who already have secured the Class 4A, District 7 title and a home playoff game, must win out - making Friday's game at Ocala Forest (4-3) a must win.

"Hopefully we can end the season at 6-4," coach John Benedetto said. "It's better than 5-5 or 4-6."

The Gators, though, traditionally have struggled against Marion County teams. Land O'Lakes ended a four-game postseason losing streak to that county's teams with last year's 14-7 playoff win over Ocala Vanguard.

Benedetto said teams like Belleview, Vangaurd and Forest seem more mortal this season, so maybe a struggling Land O'Lakes team has a decent shot at a big road win.

"The team that plays well will win the ballgame," Benedetto said. "The only thing I don't like is that we have to travel an hour and a half. But we really need this win. We're going to try and turn things around and try to finish the season on an upbeat (note).

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