Sports

Pinellas preps

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published September 7, 2005

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TIMES FAB 5

1. COUNTRYSIDE (2-0): Forget the offense. Guys like defensive lineman Shamon Deyounks, Chris Ramsey, Steve Hart and Ian Evans held Gibbs to 9 yards rushing.

2. DIXIE HOLLINS (2-0): The Rebels stingy defense is a big reason they have won nine-straight regular-season games dating back to last season.

3. LARGO (2-0): Defensive coordinators can breath a little easier this week. Dexter McCluster and the Packers are off.

4. TARPON SPRINGS (2-0): Outgained for a second straight game, the Spongers are proving that defense can win games too.

5. ST. PETERSBURG CATHOLIC (2-0): Two wins by 5 points have the Barons one win away from a second straight 3-0 start.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR HOTLIST

1. DEXTER MCCLUSTER, RB, LARGO: For most running backs, 500 yards is a good season. For McCluster, it's a good two games.

2. JOCK SANDERS, QB/RB/WR, ST. PETERSBURG CATHOLIC: Jumps from No. 5 to No. 2 after 192 yards passing. ... and 75 receiving. ... and 70 rushing.

3. JAMAR NEWSOME, WR, BOCA CIEGA: The Pirates threw just three times, so Newsome returned a kick for a touchdown for the second straight week.

4. L.D. CROW, QB, COUNTRYSIDE: He's off the warm list. After two games, undefeated and 20 of 30 for 260 yards.

5. MONTEL GAMBLE, DB, TARPON SPRINGS: Might be the most dangerous defensive player in the county with three INTs so far.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR WARMLIST

1. Dustin Zitzmann, FB/LB Dixie Hollins

2. Bernard Scott, RB, Admiral Farragut

3. Kevin Williams, WR, Gibbs

4. Jarrel Young, Gibbs

5. Tony Anderson, Keswick Chr.

TOP PERFORMANCES BY ALUM

1. MARCELLO CHURCH, FSU: Former Lakewood standout had two of FSU's nine sacks against Miami.

2. SAM SMITH, DELAWARE STATE: The linebacker formerly of Pinellas Park was the Division I-AA Defensive Player of the Week after 5.5 tackles for loss, including four sacks (and two quarterback hurries), in a 21-17 win over Florida A&M.

3. JAY DAVIS, N.C. STATE: CCC grad almost upset Va. Tech after completing 27-of-43 attempts for a career-high 311 yards.

4. D'QWELL JACKSON, MARYLAND: Jackson, a preseason All-American, had 18 tackles in a 23-20 win over Navy, with one tackle for loss and one sack.

5. J.J. MOORE, UMASS: The Gibbs grad had four catches for 45 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown in a 19-6 win over Richmond.

THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

1. SCORE! SCORE! SCORE!: The 87 combined points scored in Indian Rocks victory over Coral Springs Christian was the most in school history, beating the 77-0 drubbing handed the Golden Eagles by Shorecrest in 1993.

2. RUN! RUN! RUN!: Teams that completed zero passes were 1-0 Friday night. Congrats to Dixie Hollins.

3. RARE AIR: McCluster's second straight 200-yard game overshadowed Admiral Farragut's Bernard Scott, who also had his second straight 200-yard game.

4. JARED LOHDEN: The Dixie Hollins kicker/punter made two touchdown-saving tackles and boomed a 61-yard punt in last week's win over Northeast.

5. FIRST W: Three new coaches - Admiral Farragut's Chris Miller, Indian Rocks Christian's Mark Buchanan and Palm Harbor U.'s Dustin Bengston - got their first win last week.

[Last modified September 7, 2005, 01:02:19]

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