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By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff WriterSenior Will Sever gives up soccer for football to follow in his father's footsteps. He leads Largo High in yards for tonight's region semifinal.
LARGO - When Tracy Sever tells neighbors about her son Will, soccer star turned football player for Largo High, she usually gets the same response.
"They'll ask, "Oh, is he the kicker?' " Tracy said. "I have to tell them, "No, he catches the ball.' "
Since giving up soccer this summer for a shot at gridiron glory, Will has become a starting wide receiver. The senior leads the team in yards and has helped the Packers advance to tonight's region semifinal home game against Venice.
"I never really gave much thought to playing until this season," Will said. "I thought it would be something fun to do and maybe help me get a scholarship."
By deciding to catch footballs instead of kick soccer balls, Will, 18, knew he would be extending a family legacy.
Will's father, Glen, was an all-state quarterback at Clearwater High, where he threw for 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior in 1971. Will's uncle, Tyson, was a standout at Clearwater in 1972. Both went on to play for the Florida Gators.
"I was surprised a little bit that Will decided to play football this season," said Glen Sever, 51. "But I wasn't surprised at all that he did so well. He's a natural athlete. It's really impressive what he's been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time."
Thanks to his father, Will had football in his blood. But he didn't imagine a route that would bring him closer to the path that his father followed.
His mother never forbade him to play football, but she helped steer him in another direction.
His friends played soccer. That's where he made his mark as a star forward in youth leagues and school teams.
"I kind of encouraged soccer so he didn't have to live up to the Sever name in football," said Tracy, 44, a teacher at St. Paul's.
"Will liked it and has been playing soccer since he was 5. His friends were all there, so we stuck with it."
Glen, however, was secretly hoping football would become the common ground to build a relationship with his son after he and Tracy divorced eight years ago.
"To be honest, I would have liked to see Will play football all along because I knew he could do it," Glen said. "But I was never upset that he didn't. I wanted him to do what he wanted to do. I'm real pleased with what's he's done."
Will's only regret is that he didn't play football sooner. Because of his late start in the sport, few Division I-A schools got a good read on his talent early enough to make a recruiting push.
That's why tonight's game is important. "Hopefully, I can continue to play well and make a good impression," he said.