Sports

Citrus / Hernando

A whole new ballgame

District shakeups remove perennial powerhouses such as South Sumter and East Ridge from the area mix, giving Citrus and Hernando county teams title hopes.

By DAWN REISS
Published August 26, 2005

---

Hernando football coach Matt Smith remembers all too well the Leopards' game against South Sumter two years ago. Hernando was in a must-win situation to remain in playoff contention.

Antonio Brown scored on 73-yard run and on a 91-yard pass to Heath Hensley on Hernando's first two plays for a quick 14-0 lead. The Raiders scored 21 in the fourth for a 42-24 win.

"South Sumter had so much depth they just took it away," Smith said.

That same night Springstead's playoff hopes died in a 35-14 loss at Clermont East Ridge.

But that won't happen this year. District domination by the powerhouses has ended, allowing for more evenly matched districts. Hernando, Crystal River, Citrus and Lecanto won't have to worry about a district game against South Sumter - a team that has gone to eight consecutive playoffs and was a state semifinalist in 1994. To top it off, the Raiders had a 9-0 season last year - beating Lecanto 70-13, Crystal River 49-6, Hernando 49-12 and Citrus 56-14 (outscoring all four schools 224-45). The Raiders have posted two sub .500 seasons since 1984.

"Any time you move the University of South Sumter out of the district you have a better chance," Lecanto athletic director Dick Slack joked.

The feeling is mutual when it comes to East Ridge.

"(East Ridge) was the top dog in the district, and dominated it," Central coach Greg Bigham said.

Despite being a young program, the Knights quickly elevated East Ridge to prominence. Many in the district felt overmatched by the Knights' ever growing population. The Florida High School Athletic Association agreed, leapfrogging East Ridge from Class 4A to 6A this season. But not before East Ridge knocked Springstead out of playoff contention in 2003 and advanced to the region semifinals without a loss in the district.

After losing the district championship to East Ridge, the Eagles made Springstead history last year by becoming the first team to win in the postseason.

Like their counterparts in Hernando and Citrus counties, Central and Springstead have a more balanced district with newcomers Tarpon Springs, River Ridge and Ridgewood. Tarpon Springs went to the playoffs 10 times from 1989-2001 but has failed in the past three seasons, going 3-7 in 2002 and 2003. River Ridge finished 2-8 and Ridgewood 1-8.

"I've never seen it this balanced," said Crystal River athletic director and former long-time coach Earl Bramlett about the two counties. "A lot of time people would just play for second place, but I'll tell you this year, any team could win it."

Which gives new found hope to programs like Nature Coast.

"We feel like we have a chance to compete right away," Jamie Joyner said. "We were very excited South Sumter was moved down to 2A. I don't think anybody in our district was upset, because it really opens things up."

But both Citrus and Crystal River are playing the Raiders as nondistrict opponents. Hernando picked up South Sumter as its Fall Classic opponent.

If there is a leader in the absence of South Sumter, it's Citrus. The 'Canes, the district runnerup, finished 5-5 and won their first playoff victory since 1974. Though they graduated much of their starting lineup, they should be a tough contender. Nature Coast was 3-6 as an independent. Lecanto and Crystal River both finished 2-8, Hernando 1-9. "I don't think coaches are dreading going into their four district games," Lecanto coach Bob LeCours said. "I don't think there is a coach or a team out there that doesn't think going into a district game, they can't come out with a win."

[Last modified August 25, 2005, 15:57:02]

[an error occurred while processing this directive]