By JAMAL THALJI and JOHN C. COTEY
Published November 19, 2004
It's always a big deal when St. Petersburg Catholic and Clearwater Central Catholic meet.
You name it - bragging rights, playoff positioning, emotional well-being - it's usually on the line.
Tonight, in the game of the year in Pinellas County, the rivals meet a second time this season. Tonight, they meet in the playoffs for the first time.
The winner of tonight's 7:30 region final at Joe Paul Stadium advances to next week's state semifinals, and there awaits a berth in the Class 2B state championship Dec.11.
So, to sum up: This is big.
Bigger than it has ever been in the matchup's 29-year history.
"This one here is do or die," SPC coach Dan Mancuso said. "That's what makes this bigger."
Do the playoffs elevate the rivalry to a new level?
"I think that's about as big an understatement as you can come up with," CCC coach Mike Jalazo said. "St. Petersburg Catholic-Clearwater Central Catholic is just a bitter, nasty rivalry game."
The Barons camp (7-1) seems less emotional about this game, stressing the region title more than beating the Marauders. Again.
"We already had our rivalry game," said SPC receiver/running back/kick returner Jock Sanders. "This is just another playoff game we have to win."
The CCC camp (6-3) wants to advance in the playoffs, too, but doesn't hide its excitement, or feelings, about this game. "This is one of those games where you don't need to coach emotion," Jalazo said. "These kids are fired up. They're ready to go."
Added CCC wideout/safety/kick returner Riley Cooper: "We wanted to play them again. I can't wait to play them."
The Marauders admit their 24-16 loss Oct.15 fueled their desire for a rematch, a game they still talk about. Up 3-0 in the first quarter, Cooper intercepted SPC quarterback Billy Tapp at the goal line and ran it back 97 yards. But the Marauders were flagged for a block in the back.
Instead of being up 10-0, the ball was spotted at the 34 and CCC went backward. Quarterback Andrew Nowels was sacked by Joey Yanchunis on fourth down. On SPC's next play, Rashad Etheridge broke two tackles and ran 60 yards to go up 7-3.
A 67-yard touchdown reception by Cooper made it 24-16 with three minutes left, but otherwise the Barons defense shut down the Marauders. It was the start of a five-game win streak for SPC.
Tapp, Sanders, fullback Carl Teague and receivers Andrew Harris and Ryan Batty lead a Barons offense that has outscored their past four foes 217-20 and averaged 60.3 points against the last three. That is why Sanders said his team is much, much better than the one that beat the Marauders.
"We're more focused this time; we weren't focused the first game," he said. "We didn't play our best game."
Well, CCC points to the SPC loss as the wake-up call that saved its season. Afterward the team parted ways with some players and has gone 3-1 since.
"I think we're tackling better, we've gotten a little bit more focused," Jalazo said. "We had some kids out there who maybe weren't of the character or who brought the kind of heart we needed and a couple of those kids are gone now."
Refocused CCC rallied to beat Fort Pierce John Carroll 18-15 last week, as Cooper caught a 22-yard TD between three defenders late in the fourth.
"We didn't really play as a team in the SPC game," Cooper said. "We've definitely started to play more as a team now."
So, to sum up again: SPC-CCC II. Big game. Huge.
"They call it the Holy War," Jalazo said, "and it's going to be that."
