Sports

Class 3A, District 8

By Times staff
Published August 31, 2007

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Three storylines

Return to glory?

Shoot, all Tom McHugh has to do in his first year at Pasco is beat Zephyrhills, win the district, capture a few playoff games and win a state title. Hey, Coach, you up for that? Well, maybe the fine folks in Dade City will give you a honeymoon period ... but next year, we mean it!

Hanging tough

Sunlake and Wiregrass are the new kids on the block, and Year 1 should be kind of ugly. They are in the most blue-collarist district around, so they won't have much time to toughen up.

Not easy being green

Every team in the district will have a new, young, inexperienced starter at quarterback, except for Hudson's Zack Wynn. And Pasco's Josh Johnson has some experience. Even so, they are a sophomore and junior, respectively, so join the crowd, fellas.

Gulf Hudson Pasco Sunlake Wiregrass Ranch Zephyrhills

Pasco

Last year: 3-7, 1-3 in district

The Pirates have a new coach in McHugh and a new attitude. Blessed with true talents like QB Johnson and WR Demetrious Larry, the fire and passion should be back in Dade City. The transfer of QB D.J. Clower from Zephyrhills gives McHugh some flexibility with Johnson, a gifted athlete who will play all over. The Pirates will have good size on both sides of the line, and a solid infusion of talent from the JV ranks bodes well for Pasco's playoff hopes.

Gulf

Last year: 6-5, 2-2

The Bucs' first playoff appearance in school history could be the start of something big, or the end of it. Most of the key cogs from that team are gone, but coach Jay Fulmer thinks his team will be playoff bound again. RB David Williams could be a breakout player and has looked great, and all but one starter is back on the offensive line. The Bucs defense posted three shutouts last season and might be even better, so if new QB Madison Burr can keep the mistakes to a minimum, the Bucs will be dangerous again.

Hudson

Last year: 2-8, 0-4

The Cobras knew they would take their lumps last year, and guess what - they did. Their only wins were over 0-10 teams. But QB Wynn is a year older and lots better, and transfer RB Sean Scott is expected to be a major player out of the backfield. But the defense will have to be better after giving up 40 or more points in half their games in 2006. DL Travis Tindell, who only played four games last year before an injury, is as tough as they get and will make a huge difference.

Zephyrhills

Last year: 8-3, 4-0

The offseason wasn't kind to the Bulldogs, who lost a potential starter at quarterback and almost their best lineman to an injury. Luckily for coach Tom Fisher, Quentin Amos (6-3, 360) should be fine. The first-team all-SAC player, once 100 percent, is a force, and Sean Gray (6-5, 290) might give Zephyrhills the best D-line in the district, and speedy RB Chris Henry is a game breaker. But the Bulldogs graduated its other all-SAC players (six in all).

Wiregrass Ranch

Last year: first year

The Bulls were competitive in the JV ranks last season (losing by one to Zephyrhills and two points to Pasco), but the step up to varsity ball is a steep one and coach Ricky Thomas is concerned his big boys up front might not be ready. It's still a young group, albeit with eight juniors, but has some skill at quarterback (Angel Rodriguez), receiver (Travis Duffey) and running back (Tony Standifer, Dario Lykes). How they stand up to the bigger, older teams will decide if they are ready for the big time.e_SClBSunlake

Last year: first year

The Seahawks won't have the benefit of a JV campaign to build from like the district's other newbie, Wiregrass Ranch, but coach Bill Browning isn't deterred. He'll have some juniors, such as QB Joey Collazo (a Land O'Lakes transfer but not a quarterback with the Gators) and Darren Kanhai, who will play running back/defensive back. Browning says he has only two starters on the line who weigh more than 200. But they open with 0-10 River Ridge.

John C. Cotey, Times staff writer

Three games to watch

Pasco at Zephyrhills, Oct. 5

A couple of Bulldog transfers to the Pirates' ship should give this one a little more zip. Zephyrhills clinched a district title by beating Pasco 23-14 last year. With district games the following two weeks against Sunlake and Wiregrass, this one will be huge for the Pirates.

Gulf at Hudson, Oct. 19

We don't want to say Gulf laid it on a little thick in last year's 41-6 win over the Cobras, but ... well, we have to. And whether they did or not, the Cobras think the Bucs did so. This one should be a doozy. Winner is going to the playoffs, by the way.

Pasco at Gulf, Nov. 2

This will be what old-school coaches might call a "slobber knocker." At their best (and worst), these are the nastiest, meanest hittin' teams in the county. And we actually mean that as a compliment. Kind of.

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[Last modified August 29, 2007, 13:46:30]

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