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Hernando news and notes
Published August 28, 2007
Today on tampabay.com
Check out the Times' prep blog today for the release of our top 50 power rankings of football teams in Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. The weekly poll can be found at http://blogs.tampabay.com/preps/. Armwood RB Eric Smith above and Plant play each other Friday night. Guess who's our No. 1?
Also, visit our new football team pages, complete with schedules and rosters. We've got every high school covered from Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Go to http://highschool.tampabay.com
Seeing good in loss
Hernando coach Rodney Byrd, above, saw a lot of things he liked out of his offense in a 30-7 loss to South Sumter on Friday night. Hernando racked up 186 yards of total offense in the first half. The most impressive part? Byrd says he used just six plays in order to thwart any attempted scouting by opposing coaches of his new spread offense. The Leopards open up against Central on Friday.
All that traveling for nothing
The Sharks traveled all the way to Eustis on Friday to test their football skills against a formidable opponent. Mother Nature decided that was a bad idea. Nature Coast got to see Eustis, tasted the Central Florida air, touched the soggy field and soaked in the game-night atmosphere. But the relentless thunder and lightning roared long enough and loud enough to force the game to be canceled. Sharks senior lineman Tim LaRose, above,felt a little resentment over the experience. "It made me real mad because I was ready to play," LaRose said. "It's one less game for my senior year."
Lasting images
See a game photo or feature picture that strikes your fancy? You can purchase them at tampabay.com/photos.
Coming Wednesday
Meet senior Stephen Pelaez, Nature Coast's new quarterback, who is taking over for the graduated Josh Ortiz. Can he help lead the Sharks to a second straight postseason?
Generation gap
Just how much separates a player from a coach? Staff writer Izzy Gould sat down with 14-year-old Nature Coast runner Maggie LeDoux, left, and 25-year-old coach Tyson Graham, right, to find out.
Favorite movie
LeDoux: Fried Green Tomatoes. I like the old stuff, back in the day. Not a lot of people have heard of it.
Graham: Prefontaine, a movie about Steve Prefontaine, a former Olympian and World Record holder.
Favorite running star
LeDoux: Actually, no. My parents are actually making me run to meet people. I was nervous about coming into high school. I have a lot of new friends now.
Graham: Paul Tergat, the current world record-holder in the marathon (2:04.55).
Shoe of choice
LeDoux: Asics. They're pretty comfortable, and I have problems with my knees. It actually supports them.
Graham: New Balance.
Friday night fun
LeDoux: I like to go to themovies, but I rarely go because my friends are here and I live an hour away in Lecanto.
Graham: Hangs out with his girlfriend and watches movies at home.
Favorite music group
LeDoux: I actually listen to '70s and '80s. My favorites are Def Leppard, Steve Miller Band and Queen.
Graham: Cool Hand Luke.
Last MP3 download
LeDoux: I probably download some Christian music.
Graham: Something hard core.
MySpace or Facebook
LeDoux: Neither. I'm not allowed to have one and I don't break the rules.
Graham: Both. It's a good way to keep up with friends from high school and college.
Favorite Web site
LeDoux: I visit Ask.com a lot. I think it gives me a lot of answers.
Graham: Runnersworld.com.
Compiled by Times staff writer Izzy Gould.
Set your DVR ... Tonight's top game:
Volleyball, Hernando at Zephyrhills, 7 p.m.
Hernando was hit hard by graduation in the spring, but nevertheless boasts seven seniors. Zephyrhills, meanwhile, is looking to take the next step under coach Tiffany Bibby. Both times the two teams met last season, the match went to four games.e_SClBHeard on the blog
Reader feedback from cyberspace
"Why ya'll saying Central got blown out. It was 7-7 at halftime. Then Central took all starters out in the third quarter while Dunedin still had their starters going strong. While in the fourth, Central's JV played vs. Dunedin's varsity."
Contact us
Izzy Gould can be reached at izzygould@gmail.com or (727) 580-5315. David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1407.
[Last modified August 28, 2007, 13:58:57]
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