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Tonight, it's Bulldogs and Bucs

Both Zephyrhills and Gulf believe they have a great shot at winning the district if they walk out of New Port Richey a winner.

By IZZY GOULD
Published September 29, 2006

ZEPHYRHILLS - Beau Barnes grabs the newspaper every week and knows what it says even before he turns to the sports page.

The words spark rage in the belly of the Zephyrhills linebacker. His blood boils, his face turns red, his hands become fists and the paper begins to crumble.

"Everyone goes against us every week," Barnes said. "I hope it continues."

Then Barnes and Co. go out and stick it to their opponent to prove they are Pasco County's best at 5-0. Yes, five wins are nice but meaningless if Zephyrhills can't get past Gulf tonight in the Class 3A, District 8 opener for both teams.

In a four-team district, every game is crucial because district wins are what count toward earning a playoff berth. So with three district games, the opportunities are limited.

The stakes are equally high for Gulf (3-1), a team picked to win the district, which would earn the Buccaneers a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

Some even have Gulf picked to win tonight's game, even though the Bucs haven't won a game in this series since 1992.

That has Gulf coach Jay Fulmer puzzled. "We haven't done anything," Fulmer said. "We haven't beaten anybody. For us to be picked to win the conference, the district, to be picked against an all-girls school, there was nothing to base it on. Tradition is what it is. Zephyrhills has tradition."

Gulf was a fashionable preseason pick loaded with Division I prospects such as quarterback Alton Voss and receiver Shawn Williamson. Then came a one-point loss in the season opener to Wesley Chapel, which could have been a major setback. It became a rallying cry.

The Bucs have gone on to win three straight, outscoring opponents by an average of 15.5 points per game.

"The Wesley Chapel loss was a hard hit in the gut, it really was," Fulmer said. "They didn't want to lose that game. But it might have been the best thing for us."

Gulf will be virtually at full strength tonight for the first time this season. Key players such as Josh Paiva, Gene McGinnis and Anthony Jackson are expected to play. Jacob Kinn is still out with a broken arm.

"We have our own gameplan for them," Voss said. "We're just going to do what we have to do."

Zephyrhills (5-0) stunned Pasco County with an opening-night 14-7 win at Class 5A power Land O'Lakes. Four more wins at home, capped by last week's 36-16 homecoming victory against Naples Lely, haven't been enough to convince everyone.

The Bulldogs have done it behind Sederrik Cunningham, considered among one of the best quarterbacks in the county. They've also benefited from a dangerous backfield headed by Cannellios Ansley and Phillip Robichaud and receiver Mychael Floyd. The defense is anchored by Barnes, who had three interceptions against Lely last week.

Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher claims he's not ready to label his team the best in Pasco County. "I don't know if we are," Fisher said. "We beat a couple of good teams. We have a bunch of good teams yet to play. That remains to be seen."

The Bulldogs will be without key offensive lineman Andrew Smith, who is out for at least one game after allegedly throwing a punch in the Lely game. But the Bulldogs will have kicker Louis Ferguson back after he served a one-game suspension.

Both teams acknowledge the importance of winning tonight. Walk out of New Port Richey a winner and both teams believe they have a great shot at winning the district, with district foe Hudson rebuilding and Pasco off to an 0-5 start.

"We don't really care what happened in the past," Gulf linebacker John Turnbull said. "We're trying to start something new. We're trying to start winning seasons at Gulf. This is our year."

[Last modified September 29, 2006, 00:04:42]