The girls showed it could be done. Countryside and Palm Harbor U. dominated their region so much that both are playing for one trip to the state semifinals.
This week, the boys have the same setup. Half of the teams from Class 5A, Region 3 are from this county: Seminole, PHU, Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Three of the four have been state champions during the past three seasons.
The chances not only look good for one to win the region, but a state title.
"I would be willing to bet that someone from Hillsborough or Pinellas County will win the state title," PHU coach Juan Pablo Pinzon said.
All eyes are on Seminole (20-5-4), the defending champ trying to hold together a talented but sometimes inconsistent team.
The Warhawks lost a dominating midfielder and reliable goalkeeper from the 2003 team, but plenty of talent returned, including seniors Kyle Urquhart and Morgan Riley and juniors Richard Legg and Joey Brown.
Seminole coach Rick Masi said the team hit a peak last month, winning the Hurricane Watch tournament, but has started to lag a little.
"If they can pick up the pace, we should be a year's more experienced and year better going into (the playoffs)," Masi said.
At least the Warhawks have taken the first step in repeating, getting back to the playoffs. Clearwater, which won the state title in 2001, didn't do that the next season. PHU lost just once in winning state in 2002 but last season fell in the region semifinal.
Being the defending champions makes you a target for everyone, but two teams have marked Seminole for other reasons, losing to it more than once. PHU and St. Petersburg did so and would welcome a rematch in the region final.
St. Petersburg might have the least to lose. The last time the Green Devils reached the state semifinals was 1990. Friday, they lost a third time to Seminole, the most physical meeting between the two yet with Green Devil midfielder Charlie Smith breaking his leg.
St. Petersburg (11-5-4) has four four-year starters in Will Criswell, Mac Smith, Drew Ford and Des Keane, who coach Dave Williams said are passionately leading the team.
"I think they're going to want to finish this season with some glory," Williams said.
Clearwater (10-3-2) could be the sleeper, a team that can play unorganized one night and look unstoppable the next. If the Tornadoes can keep it together for a full 80 minutes with players such as Brain Shriver and Patrick Carter, they could be dangerous.
The Hurricanes are on the rise. They faltered a bit at midseason, being humbled by Seminole with their first loss after 10 games, and had a tough stretch during a holiday tournament. But PHU (16-4-3) has regrouped and refocused.
The Hurricanes easily defeated Clearwater to win the district tournament after beating East Lake in penalty kicks in the semifinals. Pinzon said the momentum is with his team.
"They've improved. They've gotten better each game," Pinzon said. "We're on a roll right now."
