TAMPA - The 10-point difference may have been a little closer than expected by some, but for Jefferson it was more than enough. The Dragons' 20-10 victory over Jesuit last Friday earned them the Class 3A, District 10 championship and set them up to begin the state playoffs at home.
Jefferson has spent this season routinely thrashing its opponents, district foes included. Besides a hiccup against Armwood (a 35-14 loss), the closest game the Dragons had played all season was their 17-9 win against district rival Robinson. And while Jefferson bested Jesuit by more than one score, the game was closer than indicated by the scoreboard.
"We definitely anticipated a tough football game," Jefferson coach Mike Simmonds said. "Jesuit is one of the best programs in Hillsborough County. I'm just proud of our team and that we were able to put the nail in the coffin when we had to."
That's exactly what Jefferson did.
Leading just 13-10 for much of the fourth quarter, Jefferson stopped a Jesuit drive, limiting the Tigers to eight yards on a crucial fourth-and-nine play with a little more than a minute left in the game. Taking over on downs, Jefferson sealed the game three plays later on a 41-yard Kevrick Brown touchdown run.
Jefferson opens up the playoffs at home Nov. 14 against Pasco but travels to face longtime 5A rival Hillsborough tonight in the regular season finale.
"We've got one more game and we'll compete to win," Simmonds said. "Then we'll start getting ready for the second (playoff) season."
In other games tonight, Sickles plays at playoff-bound Alonso, Chamberlain gets ready for the postseason by hosting East Bay, Wharton is at Freedom, and Leto hosts Gaither. All games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
SICKLES (4-5 overall, 2-3 in Class 5A, District 8) at ALONSO (7-2, 4-1 in 5A-8)
LAST WEEK: Sickles beat King 21-6; Alonso beat Leto 48-0.
LAST YEAR: Sickles beat Alonso 38-8.
THE SKINNY: How does this sound? The playoff-bound Alonso Ravens. Sickles came into the year thinking it could be the surprise team of 2003. Surprise, Gryphons, it was the Ravens.
THE EDGE: The improved Gryphons will fall to the vastly improved Ravens.
EAST BAY (5-4, 3-3 in 5A-7) at CHAMBERLAIN (6-3, 4-1 in 5A-8)
LAST WEEK: East Bay beat Tampa Bay Tech 28-21; Chamberlain beat Wharton 23-14.
LAST YEAR: East Bay beat Chamberlain 14-13.
THE SKINNY: East Bay has had Chamberlain's number the past two regular-season meetings. However, Chamberlain won its contest in last year's playoffs.
THE EDGE: The Chiefs could already be looking toward the first round of the playoffs and could take the Indians lightly. They could, but won't. Chiefs win.
WHARTON (4-5, 3-2 in 5A-8) at FREEDOM (1-8, 0-4 in 3A-10)
LAST WEEK: Wharton lost to Chamberlain 23-14; Freedom lost to Robinson 42-13.
LAST YEAR: First-ever meeting.
THE SKINNY: The Wildcats won't be returning to the playoffs after last week's loss to Chamberlain. They'll take it out on lowly Freedom.
THE EDGE: Wharton wins big.
GAITHER (3-6, 1-4 in 5A-8) at LETO (1-8, 0-5 in 4A-10)
LAST WEEK: Gaither lost to Hillsborough 49-0; Leto lost to Alonso 48-0.
LAST YEAR: Gaither beat Leto 28-13.
THE SKINNY: Gaither closes out a disappointing season while Leto ends another dismal campaign.
THE EDGE: The Cowboys need one more victory to equal last year's four-win total, and the Falcons are the perfect tonic.
JEFFERSON (8-1, 4-0 in 3A-10) at HILLSBOROUGH (7-2, 5-0 in 5A-8)
LAST WEEK: Jefferson beat Jesuit 20-10; Hillsborough beat Gaither 49-0.
LAST YEAR: Jefferson beat Hillsborough 13-10.
THE SKINNY: This meeting has no district implications or playoff positioning. But it's one of the most anticipated contests each season. Two of the area's best teams year-in and year-out always put on a show.
THE EDGE: Hillsborough remembers last year's loss - one of three in its last four games last season. The Terriers don't want to head into the playoffs on a downer again. Advantage Hillsborough.
