Sports

Midseason rankings

By JOHN C. COTEY and BOB PUTNAM
Published September 28, 2005

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PUBLIC SCHOOLS

1. COUNTRYSIDE (5-0): Only one close game.

2. BOCA CIEGA (4-1): County's best rushing attack.

3. EAST LAKE (4-1): Meets No.4 Dunedin in district showdown Friday.

4. DUNEDIN (3-1): Has wins over Seminole and Largo.

5. LARGO (3-1): Is McCluster slowing down?

6. SEMINOLE (3-1): Season-opening loss replaced by three straight Ws.

7. TARPON SPRINGS (4-1): Best start since 2000.

8. NORTHEAST (2-3): Has averaged 50 points in two victories.

9. DIXIE HOLLINS (3-2): 23 points allowed first three weeks; 58 the past two.

10. ST. PETERSBURG (1-3): Next three games winnable; last three get tougher.

11. OSCEOLA (1-3): Decrease in points scored every week: 34-10-8-0.

12. CLEARWATER (1-4): Have scored more than one touchdown just once.

13. PALM HARBOR U. (1-4): Defense getting better, offense not.

14. GIBBS (1-3): Outscored 128-30 in past three games.

15. LAKEWOOD (0-4): Only outscored 23-13 in past two losses.

16. PINELLAS PARK (0-5): Remaining schedule points toward winless season.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

1. ST. PETERSBURG CATHOLIC (3-2): Teams Barons have lost to are a combined 10-0.

2. CLEARWATER CENTRAL CATHOLIC (2-2): Turned season around with Auburndale win?

3. KESWICK (4-0): Has outscored opponents 137-20.

4. NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN (2-3): 2-0 in games opponents held under 10.

5. SHORECREST (1-3): Chargers trying to build on 41-14 win over AFA.

6. ADMIRAL FARRAGUT (2-2): No more patsies on Blue Jackets schedule.

7. INDIAN ROCKS CHRISTIAN (2-3): Schedule is no treat the next four games.

8. CALVARY CHRISTIAN (2-2): Outscored teams 87-0 in wins, outscored 76-7 in losses.

9. CANTERBURY (0-4): Hasn't held an opponent under 40 yet.

FIVE FOR FIVE

BEST COACHING JOBS

BOB HUDSON, EAST LAKE: We still think the Eagles coach should just hunker down and run the ball 50 times a game behind his impressive offensive line, but his trust in the passing game will keep teams honest. The Eagles are just one OT fumble from being perfect and should match up well with Countryside.

MARK EVERETT, DUNEDIN: Once you lose a team, it's hard to get it back. But Everett grabbed the Falcons by their talons and taught them how to fly again one year after losing eight straight. Okay, so that's a cheesy analogy, but it's true.

JEAN GORDON, BOCA CIEGA: Maybe there's something to this coaching from the press box thing? The Pirates almost beat Countryside and haven't lost since despite losing over 3,000 yards of total offense. And Gordon doesn't even think you've seen the Pirates at their best yet.

BRUCE BUCK, TARPON SPRINGS: An assistant coach at the school since 1991, Buck took over the program from Don Davis this season and has the Spongers back on top thanks to an opportunistic defense and a mistake-free offense. Tarpon plays Springstead this week in a game that ultimately will decide the district title.

JOHN DAVIS, COUNTRYSIDE: No Harrison Beck. No Corey Roebuck. No Mike James. No problem. Davis has done a remarkable job filling in the pieces to the Cougars' championship puzzle. L.D. Crow, Chaz Powell and Matt Mooney have been key contributors in the county's most sophisticated offense.

IMPACT PLAYERS

DEXTER McCLUSTER, RB, LARGO: Sure, he has slowed down, but he still is the scariest player in the county. Against Dixie Hollins, the mere possibility he'd get the pitch on an option left a Packers wide receiver open for a touchdown. Sometimes he's scarier without the ball.

LEON WRIGHT, RB, NORTHEAST: The Vikings have had no trouble getting the most out of Wright. The multitalented senior has been everywhere with more than 1,000 all-purpose yards (614 rushing, 364 in kick returns and 87 receiving). He also has three interceptions on defense.

STEVE BERTHELOT, QB, ST. PETERSBURG: The Green Devils looked terrible without their starting quarterback. They've looked pretty good with him. Now we'll finally see if St. Petersburg is as good as advertised in the preseason.

JOCK SANDERS, SPC: How many running backs can step in and throw for 200 yards as a quarterback? Catch 100 yards worth of passes? One that we can think of. He's going to get his yards, you just never know from what position.

BLAKE ENGELHARDT, KESWICK: The Crusaders quarterback has a potent weapon to throw to in Tony Anderson, and his ability to do so has opened up the running game. When a team you think is going to throw 30 times a game runs it that many times with success, you know you're in trouble.

SURPRISES

JAMAR NEWSOME, WR, BOGIE: The list of players hyped by coaches in the preseason that end up being pretty average is long, but Newsome isn't on it. Five of his 12 catches are for touchdowns, and his two KORs for scores make him the best player who didn't play last year. He's also a joy to coach, for which we add bonus points.

CCC SLOW STARTS: No one expected stars Riley Cooper and Colin McCarthy to miss games due to suspension, but is that any reason for a loss to Tampa Catholic? The Marauders may be having issues, but there's still enough talent to get back on track. At least for Oct.7 game with SPC.

NORTH COUNTY: Sure, we expected Countryside to win, but Palm Harbor U. is much improved, East Lake and Tarpon Springs are headed to the playoffs (you heard it here first), and Largo, Dunedin and Seminole are all 3-1.

GIBBS: We thought a trio of talented seniors - wide receiver Kevin Williams, running back Jerrel Young and quarterback Brandon Shorter - was enough to overcome any issues (young offensive line, shaky defense) the team might face. We were wrong. The Gladiators can still save their season, but the last stand is Friday.

BRADENTON SOUTHEAST 42, NORTHEAST 35: Southeast was expected to run the table in the district, but a beat-up Viking team sucked it up and nearly pulled off the upset. The near-victory may be of little consolation to Jerry Austin, but it gave hope to the other county coaches in the district.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR

IS COUNTRYSIDE FOR REAL? Aside from a close call against Boca Ciega in the season opener, the Cougars haven't really been tested. Though there are some tough district games against Dunedin and East Lake left, Countryside should have no problem cruising to the school's first undefeated season and should get as far as the region final.

WILL KESWICK WIN STATE? Check back in two weeks. The Crusaders are ranked No.1 in Class B by feasting on a soft schedule that has allowed them to start 4-0. The biggest game is on Oct.7 when Keswick meets No.3 Lakeland Evangel Christian in a key district game. How the Crusaders fare in that one will determine how far they go.

IS McCLUSTER A THREAT FOR 2,000? After running wild against Clearwater and Lakewood the first two weeks, it looked as if 2,000 yards would be a gimme. But McCluster has slowed down a bit now that opposing defenses are putting eight guys in the box. He has 739 yards through four games and will need some more monster performances in the second half to reach that plateau.

WILL LAKEWOOD OR PINELLAS PARK WIN ... ? If Lakewood is going to win, it most likely will happen the next three weeks with games against Northeast, St. Petersburg and Osceola. After that, the schedule gets really tough. As for the Patriots, well, there's always next season.

CAN BOGIE KNOCK OFF SE? Sure. All the Pirates need to do is study the Northeast-Bradenton Southeast game tape. The Vikings ran wild against the Class 4A, No.6-ranked Seminoles. Boca Ciega can pull off a similar performance with its talented backfield.

TOP FIVE GAMES

COUNTRYSIDE VS. BOCA CIEGA, AUG.25: In a matchup between two of the county's best teams, the Cougars withstood several big plays from Jamar Newsome to prevail 27-21. L.D. Crow's debut as Countryside quarterback was successful as he guided his team on a late winning drive.

TARPON VS. EAST LAKE, AUG.25: Bruce Buck's first game as Spongers coach was a memorable one. Tarpon linebacker Sean Malzone recovered a fumble that secured a 10-7 overtime win. The victory was the Spongers' fifth in sixth tries against the rival Eagles.

DUNEDIN VS. LARGO, SEPT.25: The Falcons exacted revenge from last season's close loss as linebacker Lamar Green intercepted a pass as time expired in a 21-13 victory over the previously undefeated Packers. Dunedin's defense held Dexter McCluster to 75 yards rushing, his lowest total of the season.

LAKEWOOD VS. BOCA CIEGA, SEPT.16: Out of timeouts and trailing 12-7, the Spartans had one last chance from the Pirates 9. Quarterback Corey Henderson rolled to his right, but Newsome blitzed off the right edge and recorded his second sack of the game to seal the win.

SPC VS. JACKSONVILLE TRINITY CHR., SEPT.2: Down 14-0, the Barons rallied for a 38-35 victory. SPC's Jock Sanders was a force with 218 yards receiving, 200 rushing and 75 receiving.

[Last modified September 29, 2005, 07:03:02]