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Tuesday morning QB

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published September 12, 2006

District action begins Friday for most teams.

CLASS 5A, DISTRICT 5

The teams: Gaither, Land O'Lakes, Mitchell, Wesley Chapel and Wharton.

What we thought we knew: The Gators would run roughshod over the rest of the district. But that was before they lost to Zephyrhills and struggled to beat Ridgewood.

What we know now: Wharton has outscored the opposition 74-10 and has two shutouts, and Wesley Chapel is one foot from being 3-0. Both teams have been better than advertised and look like contenders for the district title.

The favorite: It's still Land O'Lakes, but only by a smidgen. You have to believe a team with that much talent and experience is going to eventually get things cranked up.

The sleeper: The winner of Saturday's showdown between Wesley Chapel and Wharton, should they avoid stumbling against Gaither (which lost to then-losers of 18 straight King its last time out) and Mitchell, will only need to beat Land O'Lakes to make the playoffs.

The big game: Oct. 27, Wharton visits Land O'Lakes. It's the district finale, and the Gators are still smarting from last year's 35-34 heartbreaker.

The x-factor: Wharton linebacker Josh Jones is a Division I-A prospect who will play a big role in stopping Wesley Chapel's Mario Melvin and Mitchell's Tate Humphrey, perhaps the two biggest threats to the Wildcats postseason hopes.

CLASS 4A, DISTRICT 8

The teams: Central, Ridgewood, River Ridge, Springstead and Tarpon Springs.

What we thought we knew: Tarpon Springs crushed the rest of the district last year, winning four games by a combined score of 168-33. There was little reason to think that would change.

What we know now: The loss of coach Bruce Buck after he used an ineligible player in the spring hurt Tarpon more than we figured and Ridgewood, Central and Springstead are very much improved from last year. So the battle for second appears to have morphed into a four-way battle for first.

The favorite: As much as the others are improved, Tarpon Springs recently had the eligibility of quarterback Worthy Jackson restored, a huge pick-me-up that helped lead the Spongers to their first win Friday. They remain the team to beat.

The sleeper: Ridgewood's running attack will have to carry the offense, but a stingy defense might be the real team strength. The Rams were outscored 104-16 in the district last year. That shouldn't happen this year.

The big game: Sept. 29, Ridgewood hosts Central and its vaunted running back DuJuan Harris. If anyone is going to make a run at the Spongers, or better yet the district title, this game will tell us.

The X-factor: Harris is either unstoppable - he rushed for 363 yards and scored five touchdowns in a win over Crystal River - or the Pirates are really bad. We'll see Friday vs. Tarpon Springs.

Class 3A, DISTRICT 8

The schools: Gulf, Hudson, Pasco and Zephyrhills.

What we thought we knew: It is Gulf's destiny to make the playoffs this season. Pasco will rebound. Zephyrhills doesn't have enough bodies to compete. Turns out we didn't know much.

What we know now: It is not Gulf's destiny to win anything. Alton Voss has yet to click and injuries and suspensions have dogged the Bucs, but there is work to do. Pasco can't buy a win, and has now lost 10 of its past 11, one of the worst streaks in school history. And Zephyrhills is now the team to beat.

The favorite: Gulf has the district's best quarterback, an offensive line that is getting better and a sturdy defense. If not for the bad application of a penalty by the referees in the season opener, the Bucs would be 3-0. So, yeah, we still think they are the favorite.

The sleeper: Zephyrhills is the No. 1 team in Pasco County at the moment, but it squeaked by Land O'Lakes and Mitchell and are no sure bet. Getting by arch-rival Pasco might still be the key to their season.

The big game: Oct. 27, Zephyrhills travels to Dade City to meet the Pirates, who could be dead by then, but we doubt it. Pasco plays Gulf the week before the 9-Mile War, so this game will either be big, or really, really, really huge.

The X-factor: The quarterbacks. Every team in the district has a playmaker at the position, and whoever can pick their team up and carry them on their back at the crucial moments, like Zephyrhills quarterback Sederrik Cunningham has done at time, will be playing football in Week 12.

CLASS B, DISTRICT 6

The schools: Bishop McLaughlin, Calvary Christian, Cambridge, Keswick Christian, Santa Fe Catholic, Lakeland and Victory Christian.

What we thought we knew: That this was a very top heavy district to be dominated by Keswick Christian and defending state champion Lakeland Victory Christian, and good luck to anyone trying to break through that fearsome duo.

What we know now: This is a very top heavy district and will be dominated by Keswick Christian and defending state champion Lakeland Victory Christian, so good luck to anyone trying to break through that fearsome duo.

The favorite: Keswick or Victory Christian should be 1-2 in the poll until they meet. The winner on Sept. 29 wins the district; the loser still goes to the playoffs.

The sleeper: Bishop McLaughlin should finish third. But it's hard to ignore that it lost to Admiral Farragut, which was beaten 61-0 by Victory last and 43-0 by Keswick in the preseason.

The big game: Oct. 13, Keswick plays at Bishop McLaughlin, the Hurricanes' shot to make history.

The X-factor: Turnovers. To pull off a shocker, the Hurricanes will need to play a perfect game, which means none for them and lots for the other guys, to have a chance.

[Last modified September 12, 2006, 10:53:27]