Friday night sights

Some prep football observations from the past week and a glimpse of the games ahead.

By JOEY KNIGHT
Published November 8, 2006

Interim Tag Remains, For Now

While lauding the job of Freedom interim coach Leon Brockmeier, who has guided the Patriots to the Class 4A playoffs, principal Richard Bartels said he won't even consider removing the temporary label from Brockmeier's title until after the season.

Bartels hasn't posted the job, vacated when he dismissed Adam Stegeman four games into the season for what witnesses called a hostile, profane verbal confrontation with an assistant principal after a game.

"I made no promises to any coach and that was made very clear to all coaches and players when I made the switch," said Bartels, who watched Brockmeier lead the Patriots (6-4) to a four-game win streak to end the regular season.

"When the season's over those kind of decisions will be made. I think it would be inappropriate to comment about any coaching change or any direction we'll go with the season still on the line."

Hoping For A Victory ...And No I-4 Gridlock

No set of South Tampa parents have a more blissful conflict Friday night than Mike Martin and his wife, longtime local TV news personality Gayle Sierens.

Their sons, Cam and Luke Martin, will suit up for Plant's 10-0 team, which hosts Seminole Osceola at 7:30 p.m. in a Class 4A first-round playoff game.

But 90 minutes before kickoff, their freshman daughter, Maddie Martin, will take the court at the Lakeland Center with the top-ranked Plant volleyball team for its Class 5A state semifinal against Tallahassee Leon.

Sierens has to work, but Mike will travel to Lakeland for the volleyball match, hope for a three-game sweep and try to make it to Dads Stadium for the second half.

"We're hoping everything goes as planned and we roll (over Leon)," Martin said Tuesday. "The bottom line is, we've got to win (the volleyball match).

"If it takes all night, we'll stay there all night."

Mike's conflicts don't end there. A former standout linebacker at Kentucky, he is missing this weekend's 30-year reunion of the Wildcats' Peach Bowl champion team, which shut out heavily favored North Carolina in the 1976 game in Atlanta. Mike had 14 tackles against the Tar Heels, earning defensive MVP honors.

Gators' Loss Chiefs' Gain?

Its first-round Class 5A playoff game at Land O'Lakes remains two days away, but Chamberlain already may have caught a huge break.

The Gators' leading receiver, Develin Robinson, arguably Pasco County's brightest Division I prospect, is expected to miss Friday's game after being ejected for drawing two personal foul penalties in a victory last week against Gulf.

Gators coach John Benedetto is appealing the ejection - though it is unlikely to be overturned - because he says he never was informed Robinson had been whistled for the first unsportsmanlike penalty.

"We asked for a number, they never gave us one," Benedetto said earlier this week. "Had I known, I would have taken him out of the game."

Mediocrity Loves Company

You're 3-7, and your playoff road leads to the doorstep of what may be the nation's best program (Lakeland), but look on the bright side, Brandon: You are not the worst team in the state playoffs.

That distinction goes to Class 2A Tavernier Coral Shores, 1-9 entering this week's opening round. Mulberry, another 2A team, is close behind at 2-8. Two other playoff teams, 4A Jacksonville Wolfson and 6A Miami Carol City, share Brandon's 3-7 mark.

Mastering the Pick-Off Play

The astounding interception totals tallied by Cambridge and Tampa Baptist in their respective victories last week have been well-documented, but we can't let them go without one more quirky observation.

The teams combined for four times as many interceptions (12) as receptions (three) in their triumphs. Cambridge had four picks (three were returned for touchdowns) and two receptions in a 58-6 rout of Brevard Christian.

The Rams had eight interceptions and one reception in a 22-8 win over Calvary Christian. On the Rams' side, at least, the figures are a little misleading. Quarterback Phillip Plant was 1-for-12, but 11 of his passes touched the hands of his intended receivers.

"He was right on target all night," Rams coach Dennis Duggan said, "but the guys weren't making the catches."

At least not on offense. Tampa Baptist's receivers also start in the secondary.

- Joey Knight, Times staff writer

[Last modified November 8, 2006, 08:22:15]