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Tonight's games

By Times staff writers
Published August 25, 2005

MITCHELL (0-0) AT RIDGEWOOD (0-0)

WHERE: Rams Booster Stadium.

SERIES: Tied at 2.

NEED TO KNOW: Ridgewood coach Chris Taylor has told his offensive line all week how physical and quick Mitchell's defensive front looked in its 7-0 preseason loss to Sickles. The Rams also have to keep an eye on middle linebacker Joe Brandeau, who always seems to be around the ball. With its spread offense, Mitchell presents a significantly different look for Ridgewood than Lecanto, which passed four times in the Rams' 26-6 preseason win. Ridgewood will be shorthanded in the secondary with reserve Freddy Vasques out with an ankle sprain. Mitchell coach Scott Schmitz said Ridgewood, led by three sophomores - quarterback Charley Minichino, running back Byronell Arline and linebacker Ben Perry - looks like a different team than the one the Mustangs beat 40-8 a year ago. Mitchell has a new look of its own after Alex Wilson was named starting quarterback and Tate Humphrey was moved to halfback. Tackle Dempsey Tavo (5-foot-11, 235 pounds) could develop into a force on both sides of the ball for the Mustangs.

FRANK PASTOR'S PICK: Mitchell

IZZY GOULD'S PICK: Mitchell

STEVE LEE'S PICK: Ridgewood

WESLEY CHAPEL (0-0) AT GULF (0-0)

WHERE: W.D. "Des" Little Stadium.

SERIES: Wesley Chapel leads 5-0.

NEED TO KNOW: Wesley Chapel, which moved up two district levels and again was hit hard by graduation and numerous replacements, gets tested in a road game. But compared to Gulf, the Wildcats have it made. Bucs quarterback Alton Voss is being tested for mononucleosis, a half-dozen players are injured and half the team has the flu. New Gulf coach Jay Fulmer calls it a nightmare and said playing a day earlier than scheduled will not make any difference. Cody Clem, Shawn Williamson and Eric Greenleaf took snaps at Wednesday's practice and if Voss can't go, one or a combination of that trio will run Gulf's power-I attack. As always with a team coached by John Castelamare, Wesley Chapel's fortunes rest on the wing-T.

PASTOR'S PICK: Wesley Chapel

GOULD'S PICK: Wesley Chapel

LEE'S PICK: Wesley Chapel

HUDSON (0-0) AT RIVER RIDGE (0-0)

WHERE: James Valentine Stadium.

SERIES: River Ridge leads 11-3.

NEED TO KNOW: Combine Hudson's 33-0 victory over Citrus with River Ridge's 26-0 setback to Pasco in last week's preseason classics, and things don't look good for the Royal Knights. Hudson has perhaps the county's most dominant offensive line, anchored by 6-foot-4, 335-pound Robert Allen and 6-1, 300-pound Allen Wynn, and a backfield, featuring quarterback Kyle Hatcher and running backs Vince Ferlita and Ryan Attaway, to take advantage of it. Meanwhile, River Ridge managed 3 yards of offense, losing 18 on the ground, threw six interceptions and was sacked seven times against Pasco. A new spread offense spearheaded by quarterback Phil Petrini and an offseason points system - in which players had to accumulate points by attending weightlifting and conditioning sessions for the right to try out for varsity - are steps in the right direction for the Royal Knights, but they'll fall well short against the Cobras.

PASTOR'S PICK: Hudson

GOULD'S PICK: Hudson

LEE'S PICK: Hudson

FINAL 2004 STAFF PICKS

Name Record

Steve Lee 34-8

Frank Pastor 31-11

Bob Putnam 29-13

[Last modified August 25, 2005, 01:23:19]