Sports

Time for some fun

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published August 31, 2007

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Not so glorious debuts

Wiregrass Ranch, Sunlake and Academy at the Lakes all make their debuts this season, and that first varsity game? Usually not so good, unless you're Hudson, which beat Pasco 14-6 in their 1974 debut before finishing 1-8-1.

Here's some others:

1975

Land O'Lakes loses to Wildwood 53-0. The rest of the way: Beat Crystal River 7-6 to finish 1-9.

1984

Ridgewood loses to Palmetto 26-6. The rest of way: Actually 4-3 at one point, but finishes 4-6.

1991

River Ridge loses 53-0 to Ridgewood. The rest of the way: Gives up 63, 54, 56, 56 and 60 in next five games and finishes 0-10.

1999

Wesley Chapel loses 14-6 to Zephyhills. The rest of the way: Beats Gulf 22-7 to finish 1-9.

2001

Mitchell loses to Zephyrhills 35-13. The rest of the way: Beats Gulf 30-28 to finish 1-9.

2005

Bishop McLaughlin loses 24-7 to Admiral Farragut. The rest of the way: Beats Canterbury, finishes 1-9.

My first 10 picks in the Pasco County fantasy football draft

1. Tate Humphrey, QB, Mitchell

Can score through the air and on the ground.

2.Byronell Arline, RB, Ridgewood

If you get points for yards/TDs, a must-pick.

3. David Williams, RB, Gulf

I'm reaching, but who else will score for Gulf?

4. Greg Jenkins, QB, Wesley Chapel

Always got to back up my QB, and heck, he could start some weeks.

5. John Weatherford, FB/LB, LOL

Drats! Note to self: don't hold draft so early next year.

6. Ben Perry, LB, Ridgewood

Just give me 125 tackles and a few sacks.

7. Demetrious Larry, WR, Pasco

If I trusted coaches not named Benedetto to throw more, he'd be a higher pick.

8. Travis Duffey, WR/DB, Wiregrass Ranch

Seven picks last year, on team that will have to pass. Doubling my pleasure!

9. Sean Scott, RB, Hudson

Jake McFadden got 1,400 yards last year; Scott might be better.

10. Josh Johnson, QB, Pasco

I'm leery about how they're going to use him.

Names I really dig

(for no other reason than I'm a weirdo)

Madison Burr, Gulf

The most presidential name in the county. Sounds like he would have been an ideal starter for a high school in, say, Virginia around 1809 or so.

Buddy Stockton, Hudson

Someone get this kid (or at least his name) a NASCAR sponsorship stat! He's No. 56 on the roster, and that number is free.

Jeff Pope, Bishop McLaughlin

Pope. Quarterbacking the Catholics. We're just saying.

Mike Mustacchio, Sunlake

In grade school, he was just little ol' Mike Peachfuzzio.

Mark Christmas, Pasco

Hey, Mark - $100 if you marry a Mary.

Byronell Arline, Ridgewood

Gotta be on here. And it's pronounced Ber-Line.

Paris Wolfe, Wiregrass Ranch

Strangely, sounds incredibly intimidating. Until we imagine him cradling a little chihuahua. Then, not so much.

Alex Spock, Land O'Lakes

Beam those kicks up, Scotty.

Addidas Tolliver, Ridgewood

Get this: Dude wears NIKE!e_SClBGuys who will break out in 2007

(And we're not talking pimples)

Addidas Tolliver, WR, Ridgewood

Swears he's clocking 4.4, and the Rams like to pass.

Tyrone Hendrix, WR, Mitchell

Only three TDs last year; he doubles that in 2007, at least.

Leon Orr, OL/DL, Gulf

Coach Jay Fulmer said Orr and NFL in same sentence.

Zack Wynn, QB, Hudson

Could be the county's best QB. Honest.

Josh Johnson, QB, Pasco

Sounds like Pasco may turn Johnson, below, into Kordell Stewart ... and I mean that in a good way.

Arron Jackson, LB, Ridgewood

Any time a kid is said to be in the same league as Ben Perry, we take notice.

Markel Bell, RB, River Ridge

He's fast, and someone has to break the big ones for the Knights.

Ray Rouch, LB, Wesley Chapel

Vince Chalecki who? Okay, so they're not saying that yet, but they might be soon.e_SClBBaker's dozen

(Ranking of the county teams based on the rest of the stuff in this special section and some hunches)

1. Ridgewood

2. Gulf

3. Pasco

4. Land O'Lakes

5. Wesley Chapel

6. Zephyrhills

7. Hudson

8. Mitchell

9. River Ridge

10. Wiregrass

11. Sunlake

12. Bishop McLaughlin

13. Academy at the Lakese_SClBWhere's the beef? Right here, pal

5-foot-10, 430 pounds: Benjamin Griswold, Zephyrhills.

6-3, 360: Quentin Amos, Zephyrhills.

6-0, 355: Ben Cottrell, Zephyrhills

6-8, 315: Colt Cardwell, Mitchell

5-11, 315: Ante Beretin, River Ridge

6-2, 307: Kamran Joyer, Wesley Chapel

6-3, 305: Ray Nixon, Wesley Chapel

6-3, 304: Daniel Davis, Land O'Lakes

6-3, 303: Steve Eanes, Hudson

6-4, 300: John Murdock, Mitchell

6-6, 295: John Karakaris, Ridgewood

6-6, 290: Leon Orr, Gulf

6-5, 290: Sean Gray, Zephyrhills

6-4, 290: Douglas Schalk, Ridgewood

6-6, 285: Jeremy Yankowski, Gulf

6-4, 280: Chris Burgos, Pasco

6-4, 280: J.D. Ramirez, Gulf

6-4, 280: Mylon Brown, Pasco

But not right here

We all know size isn't anything but a number (or is that age? I forget), but Sunlake will be the county's lightest team this year.

Biggest kid: Scott Kolich, 6-0, 270.

Next biggest: Dylan Lane, 6-0, 225.

Other kids over 200 pounds: 3.

Kids 150 pounds or lighter: 10.

John C. Cotey, Times staff writer

[Last modified August 29, 2007, 13:46:05]

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