Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
Springstead's Monday game against Citrus was postponed, but that didn't mean a night off for coach Bill Vonada.
He hiked north to Crystal River, getting a rare chance to see an opponent in person days before playing it.
"There's nothing quite like seeing something for yourself," Vonada said. "I thought they looked like a pretty decent football team."
Take note, that's a 1-3 Pirates team. Yet Monday, they beat Groveland South Lake 6-0, the same team that gave the Eagles fits for a quarter Friday.
"Crystal River's going to be a unique challenge for us. Shutting down South Lake, they must be doing something right defensively," Vonada said.
The game against the Hurricanes likely will not be rescheduled.
FRIDAY NIGHT BLUES: After Central's 22-3 loss to Clermont East Ridge on Friday, Monday couldn't come fast enough.
Just a week ago, Central coach John Wilkinson was lamenting the grind of playing three games in eight days with East Ridge on Friday, at Lecanto on Monday and home against River Ridge on Friday. However, he changed his tune after a depressing bus ride back from Clermont, where the Bears watched their shot at the playoffs all but slip away with their second district loss.
After a weekend of rest, the Bears climbed back on a bus Monday evening and traveled to Lecanto to reclaim some lost glory. They defeated the Panthers 21-8.
"I was glad we had that game on Monday to get that bad taste out of our mouths," Wilkinson said. "Of course, if we had lost on Monday, it would not be so good."
HOME SWEET HOME: Nature Coast Tech has had enough long nights crammed in tiny bus seats, and it is sick of staring at the miles and miles of nothing that line I-75 and Tamiami Trail.
Oh, yeah. And they're sick of losing.
The Sharks (1-3) aren't expecting the upcoming game against Cocoa Space Coast to be easy. But at least it will be in comfortable territory.
"We're just glad to be home for a change," Nature Coast coach Jamie Joyner said. "We've traveled 900-something miles in three weeks."
Since their home game against Shorecrest Prep on Sept. 10, the Sharks have played (and lost) at Frostproof, North Port and Naples Golden Gate.
"I don't think the first two games affected us, but the third game, we really felt it," Joyner said. "We've gotten a little road weary."
ETC: Central junior lineman Andy Leavine sustained a concussion at East Ridge and sat out the Lecanto game. He is expected to return Friday. ... Springstead lineman Chris Schaefer saw limited duty last week with a slight ankle sprain but is also expected to return Friday.