Hillsborough: Tonight's games

By SCOTT PURKS and JOEY KNIGHT
Published November 3, 2006

All games begin at 7:30

Jesuit (5-4) at Tampa Catholic (8-1)

Fact 1: This is the first time Tampa Catholic has hosted Jesuit at its home stadium, which opened last year. Fact 2: TC has not defeated Jesuit since 1999. Fact 3: TC coach Bob Henriquez, a state representative, has been seen bench pressing more than 400 pounds.

Knight's pick: TC;

Purks' pick: Jesuit

Blake (3-6) at Alonso (6-3)

Alonso, yes, Alonso is a district champion and will host next week's first round of the playoffs. Tonight is it for Blake. Who has more incentive to play hard?

Knight: Alonso; Purks: Alonso

Armwood (8-1) at East Bay (6-3)

What a super-duper week for the Indians! Last week they lost to Brandon and thus lost a spot in the playoffs. This week they get the pleasure of hosting one of the strongest, fastest teams in the state, if not the country. Whoooopeeeee!!

Knight: Armwood;

Purks: Armwood

Newsome (6-3) at Bloomingdale (1-8)

Newsome has been in existence less than five years. Bloomingdale has been in existence for 20 years. Newsome has posted a winning record for a season. Bloomingdale has not. Newsome is just a few miles from Bloomingdale ...

Knight: Newsome;

Purks: Newsome

Chamberlain (4-5) at Gaither (6-3)

Chamberlain's Chief has the worst attendance record in Congress. Gaither's Cowboy can't make up his mind on minimum wage. The Chief was seen spending tax payers' money on a new head dress. The Cowboy said horrible things about President Bush and John Kerry. Can anybody agree on anything? Yes! Both the Chief and the Cowboy are in the playoffs by the hairs on their chinny, chin, chins.

Knight: Gaither; Purks: Gaither

Leto (2-7) at King (3-6)

Falcons won in the final seconds last year to give King its first 0-10 season in the school's 30-plus year history. You think the Lions remember that? You bet they do.

Knight: King; Purks: King

Robinson (5-4) at Plant (9-0)

Robert Marve! Robert Marve! Robert Marve! The QB's dream season continues this evening against one of the Panthers' all-time rivals.

Knight: Plant; Purks: Plant

Riverview (7-2) at Plant City (4-5)

Vote YES on an amendment that would prohibit teams with losing records to make the playoffs? NO, playoff-bound Plant City says. Vote NO.

Knight: Riverview;

Purks: Riverview

Victory Christian (5-3) at Berkeley Prep (1-7)

There is no Berkeley Prep in victory tonight.

Knight: Victory; Purks: Victory

Central Florida Christian (2-6) vs. Tampa Baptist (2-6) at Leto

Things to ALWAYS remember: Bring a couple of bucks to park. Bring a couple more for admission. Bring an umbrella in case it rains. Wear comfortable shoes. And don't ever publicly deny something - a la Hillsborough County Tax Collector Doug Belden - when there is a videotape proving you lied.

Knight: TB; Purks: TB

On the Web

Have a question for one of our prep writers? Want to sound off in response to one of our county-by-county writers' blogs? Nominate Top Performers for the month? For this and more, check out our high school sports blog at http://blogs.tampabay.com/preps/.

[Last modified November 3, 2006, 06:46:07]