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By CHRIS GIRANDOLA
Published August 26, 2005
ST. PETERSBURG - Two years ago, St. Petersburg running back Robert Blanks played organized football for the first time. No, it wasn't a story of coach finds kid in gym class, asks him to try out and Cinderella here we come. It's just that Blanks was always over the weight limit for junior football and couldn't play with his friends.
Now in his senior season, Blanks, 6 feet, 208 pounds, is among the best running backs in the state and leads an offense that returns eight starters.
Blanks will line up behind quarterback Steve Berthelot, who already has been offered a scholarship to Iowa State and is ranked among the top 20 quarterbacks in the state by recruiting analysts. At receiver, Donald Bowens, 6-3, 195, has emerged as one of the elite athletes in the country with scholarship offers from Nebraska and Iowa State, among others.
But with Blanks, who sports a chiseled physique, the Green Devils expect the offense to improve after finishing 18th in the county in yards per game last year. Blanks attended invite-only camps in Tallahassee and Miami during the summer and was ranked third among 500 at both camps.
Blanks, also a defensive end, emphasizes the team's need to stay focused throughout the year, not to mention an entire game.
"Last year, there'd be times we'd forget a play, forget our assignments and the whole play would break down," Blanks said.
The Green Devils worked hard during the spring to overcome that by checking out of a play or having the quarterback read and react to the defense. In addition, the team's chemistry has improved, which coach Todd St. Louis credits to the senior-laden squad.
But St. Louis emphasizes that talent helps, no matter how strong that chemistry is.
"Our biggest enemy last year was inexperience," said St. Louis, whose team went 5-5 last year. "We've come together as a unit to a point where, in practice, each and every guy will stand and cheer the last guy in on laps. Last year, that wasn't the case."
NICKEL PACKAGE- St. Petersburg finished seventh in the county in defense at 210 yards a game.
- Six snaps went over the punter's head and led to quick touchdowns last year. Matt Goff, the long snapper on the junior varsity two years ago, should be an upgrade.
- St. Petersburg also allowed five interceptions to be returned for touchdowns.
- Quarterback Steve Berthelot, whose dad is the soccer coach at Shorecrest, was the Green Devils' placekicker last year. Coach Todd St. Louis plans to use Berthelot less this year because of his duties at quarterback To compensate, St. Louis has been heavily recruiting soccer players.
AT A GLANCECOACH: Todd St. Louis (fifth season, 11-30).
ASSISTANTS: J.C. Bower, Gerry Chavez, Dave Cleppee, Scott Mohn, Chuck Peterson, Pat Walker, Skip Walker.
COLORS: Kelly green and white.
STADIUM: Stewart Field, 2501 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg.
CLASS: Class 5A, District 10.
PLAYOFF HISTORY: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1997, 2001.
LAST APPEARANCE: Lost 42-14 to Bradenton Manatee.
2005 SCHEDULEAUGUST
26 Northeast
SEPTEMBER
2 East Lake
9 at Countryside
16 Gibbs *
30 at Pinellas Park *
OCTOBER
7 at Lakewood
13 at Dixie Hollins *
21 Largo *
28 at Seminole *
NOVEMBER
4 Boca Ciega
* District game
2004 RESULTS (5-5)Osceola W 27-13
Boca Ciega L 34-8
Dunedin W 14-10
Jesuit L 10-0
Clearwater W 20-14
Northeast W 20-14
Gibbs L 47-14
Seminole L 15-12
Palm Harbor U. L 21-3
Pinellas Park W 45-6
[Last modified August 24, 2005, 15:25:11]
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