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TONIGHT'S GAMES
CENTRAL (2-1) AT EAST RIDGE (3-0)
WHEN: 7:30. LAST YEAR: East Ridge 20, Central 16.
THE SKINNY: A Class 4A, District 6 game. It doesn't seem fair that a team could be all but eliminated from playoff contention in the fourth game of the season, but that's what the Bears would be looking at without a win here in Clermont. The Knights have shown few signs of weakness so far, winning three contests handily. Central had a nine-point lead on East Ridge last year with just over four minutes remaining yet lost. Oh, to have a similar situation develop tonight.
SCHWARB'S PICK: East Ridge.
NIPPS'S PICK: East Ridge.
SOUTH LAKE (0-3) AT SPRINGSTEAD (3-0)WHEN: 7:30. LAST YEAR: South Lake 19, Springstead 18.
THE SKINNY: A 4A-6 game. Both teams appeared eerily similar at the start of the season, with plenty of experienced skill players but youth in the trenches (to boot, both are Eagles). But they don't appear similar now, with Springstead off to its best start in the Bill Vonada era and South Lake winless, including a district loss to Leesburg.
SCHWARB'S PICK: Springstead.
NIPPS'S PICK: Springstead.
CITRUS (1-1) AT HERNANDO (1-3)WHEN: 7:30. LAST YEAR: Hernando 22, Citrus 19.
THE SKINNY: A 3A-8 game. Gotta go back a few years to find out the last time Hernando gave up as many points as in last week's 62-6 debacle at Pasco. In 2001, believe it or not, the Leopards lost at home 65-28 to Lecanto. The Hurricanes come in hot and confident after a 28-0 win over rival Crystal River on Sept. 17, though they could be rusty after last week's game was canceled.
SCHWARB'S PICK: Citrus.
NIPPS'S PICK: Citrus.
NATURE COAST (1-2) AT GOLDEN GATE (1-3)WHEN: 7:30. THE SKINNY: With this 200-plus mile trip to play a Naples independent, the Sharks will have traveled some 450 miles in 15 days for games. And talk about seeing it all - tonight's opponent throws some 70 percent of the time, a rarity in high school. Doesn't seem like it's been working the past three games (14 total points scored, zero wins), but the Sharks' defensive backfield is banged up.
SCHWARB'S PICK: Golden Gate.
NIPPS'S PICK: Golden Gate.
HCA (0-3) AT OVIEDO MASTER'S ACAD. (2-0)WHEN: 7:30. THE SKINNY: Wins can wait, really. The Lions are younger than young, a new program. Heck the sod probably still is settling at their new home field. But c'mon, how about some points? Three games and the Lions haven't dented the boxscore. Immortality awaits the first HCA footballer to do it.
SCHWARB'S PICK: Master's.
NIPPS'S PICK: Master's.
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