Wharton possesses one of toughest units to run on

By ROD GIPSON
Published October 12, 2006

TAMPA - Gaither coach Mark Kantor was only moments into his congratulatory postgame handshakes when his mind quickly focused on future tasks.

"We've got Wharton next week," Kantor said moments after his team trounced Alonso 31-0 last Friday. "They're going to be tough. And we have to play them over there."

Kantor knows what he is talking about. While Gaither has played outstanding defense this season, Wharton's defensive unit arguably is the county's best. The Wildcats' speed makes it difficult for teams to run around them. Their size makes it tough to run through them and their aggressiveness makes teams not want to run at all.

The numbers back up Wharton's dominance:

* The Wildcats have yielded just 25 points all season (3.5 points a game).

* Wharton has shut out opponents four times.

* Three touchdowns have been allowed by the defense in 28 quarters.

"We're just working hard," linebacker Josh Jones said. "We work hard in practice and we're all about business."

And this week that business has been all about preparing for Gaither (5-1, 2-0 5A-5) and standout running back Jarvis Giles.

"They're a good ballclub," Wharton coach David Mitchell said. "They're big. They've got a good back (Giles) and this game is going to be athletes against athletes."

And it is that athleticism that has set Wharton apart this year.

In Jones and Xavier Fareed, the Wildcats have two linebackers among the county's leaders in tackles. Defensive back Terrel Hicks and safety Jarius Jones are playmakers as well.

"Our style of defense fits our personnel," said Mitchell, who has won 17 of 19 games as Wharton's coach. "Our defensive staff has done a heck of a job and our players have gotten better as the season has gone on. They just fly around to the ball."

After starting the season with impressive shutouts against Freedom and Plant City, Wharton did allow touchdowns in blowout wins against Sickles, Wesley Chapel and King. But with the meat of its district schedule looming, Wharton's defense has returned to its stingy ways, beating Tampa Bay Tech and Brandon by identical 34-0 scores.

Despite its sterling record (7-0, 1-0), status as the defending district champions and winners of 16 straight regular-season contests, the Wildcats remain unranked - and unfazed.

"We have amnesia around here," Mitchell said. "We don't wear any of our district champ T-shirts or any of that stuff. We really do just take them one at a time."

And talk of Wharton's season-and-a-half long win streak on the line in tonight's district showdown?

"It's not allowed," Mitchell said with a laugh. "We don't even mention it around here."

[Last modified October 12, 2006, 05:57:23]