Sports

Pinellas sideline report

By Times Staff
Published September 20, 2006

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INJURY REPORT

* Dunedin football coach Mark Everett said senior safety Robby Mincey hip pointer and linebacker Dexter Nelson (ankle) are "probable" for Thursday's showdown with top-ranked Largo (3-0). Linebacker Mike Kumbat (concussion), however, will be good to go for the Falcons (3-0).

* Lakewood star cornerback Paul Britten will use the bye week to recover from a sprained knee suffered late in the Spartans' 15-12 loss to Boca Ciega. Lakewood coach Otis Dixon joked on Monday he wished Britten (who had one interception on Friday) had been available for Friday's fateful play - a 35-yard touchdown pass by Orhian Johnson to Sherard Allen with 32 seconds to go. "You never know, he could have had another pick," Dixon said.

* Countryside offensive guard Adam Grasinger sprained his left ankle last week and will miss Thursday night's game against Dixie Hollins (1-3). Matt Brown will move from tackle to guard and James McGarrity, who was out most of the summer with a bad back, will play at tackle.

* Clearwater Central Catholic running back Anthony Cochran will be out a few more weeks with a knee injury. Chris Campbell, the Marauders' go-to receiver, separated his right shoulder last week and most likely will miss the next two games.

SHUTOUT CENTRAL

Last week, there were five shutouts, the most the county has had in some time. CCC (3-1) and Keswick Christian (4-0) each held opponents scoreless for the second time this season.

LITTERED WITH YELLOW

Four county teams committed 10 or more penalties Friday night; not coincidentally, three of them lost. The lone winner was St. Petersburg (2-2) (10-85 yards), which overcame a 17-0 deficit to beat Gibbs (0-3), which happened to be the most-flagged team at 14 penalties, 152 yards. That's more than the Gladiators had in total offense (136).

ROUGH STARTS

For the third straight game, Countryside quarterback L.D. Crow threw an early interception. "I don't know what it is," Cougars coach John Davis said. "I guess L.D. just has to get it out of his system. The good thing is, (the interceptions) haven't hurt us too much." Crow, above, has thrown for 678 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions.

UNLIKELY SOURCE

Lakewood's secret weapon so far this season has been senior nose tackle David Woods. The 6-foot-2, 285-pounder also is the Spartans' punter, and has averaged nearly 40 yards per kick. The hefty lefty boomed a 50-yarder against Boca Ciega.

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

THURSDAY NIGHT

All start at 7:30

Largo at Dunedin

Gibbs at Boca Ciega

Dixie Hollins at Countryside

Pinellas Park at East Lake

Clearwater at Northeast

Tarpon Springs at Palm Harbor U.

Shorecrest at Mount Dora

FRIDAY NIGHT

All start at 7:30

Winter Haven All Saints' at Northside Christian

Orlando Agape Christian at Indian Rocks Christian

Calvary Christian at Leesburg First Academy

St. Petersburg Catholic at Sarasota Cardinal Mooney

LaBelle at Clearwater Central Catholic

Hernando Christian at Canterbury

Lakeland Santa Fe at Keswick Christian

CALL FOR STATS

The Times will publish football statistics on Thursday this week. South county coaches can send stats by 5 p.m. today to Joe Smith by fax (727) 893-8782 or e-mail joesmith@sptimes.com North county coaches can send stats to Bob Putnam by fax (727) 445-4119 or e-mail putnam@sptimes.com.

[Last modified September 20, 2006, 06:29:26]

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