Class 5A-10
By Times staff
Published August 31, 2007
Three games to watch
St. Petersburg at Largo, Sept. 20
A meeting between the teams from the district that made the playoffs last season.
Gibbs at St. Petersburg, Oct. 5
Green Devils have won the past two meetings in this neighborhood rivalry.
Dixie Hollins at Largo, Oct. 19
Three of the past four games in this series had playoff berths on the line.
Three storylines
How dominant is Largo?
The Packers have been the county's best program the past two seasons. That shouldn't change. Largo has depth at about every position and is poised to make a deep playoff run.
Which team will be runnerup?
The Packers are virtually assured a playoff spot. That leaves everyone else scrambling to get in. The early contenders are Dixie Hollins, Gibbs and St. Petersburg.
How will new coach Yusuf Shakir fare at Gibbs?
Shakir, a former assistant at Tallahassee Lincoln is running a tight ship with weekly grade checks and organized practices.
Dixie Hollins Gibbs Largo Pinellas Park St. Petersburg Seminole
Dixie Hollins
The Rebels have skill players galore on offense and defenders with plenty of closing speed. The question is whether their small offensive line can hold up.
Coach: Mike Morey (10th season, 47-45)
Colors: Royal blue and white.
Stadium:Rebel Stadium, 4940 62nd St. N., St. Petersburg.
Playoff history: 1967, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2005
Last appearance: Beat Countryside 21-7; lost 27-7 to Bradenton Manatee.e_SClBGibbs
The Gladiators have a new coach for the first time in 17 seasons. Jaquez Green is handling the offense, so still expect plenty of passing.
Coach: Yusuf Shakir (first season)
Colors: Blue and gold
Stadium: Newton-Williams Memorial Stadium, 850 34th St. S., St. Petersburg.
Playoff history: 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2004
Last appearance: Beat East Lake 53-21; lost 61-34 to Sarasota.e_SClBLargo
The Packers by far are the class of this district. Last year, they swept their district foes en route to a district title and berth in the region semifinals.
Coach: Rick Rodriguez (55-23, eighth season)
Colors: Light gold and royal blue
Stadium: Packer Stadium, 410 Missouri Ave., Largo.
Playoff history: 1974, 1975, 1977, 1985, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006
Last appearance: Beat Countryside 27-10; lost 23-19 to North Fort Myers. e_SClBPinellas Park
The Patriots lost some playmakers. That means quarterback Jesse Redden will have to make plenty of plays on his own.
Coach: Matt Lance (1-9, second season)
Colors: Blue, red and white
Stadium: Richard Allen Memorial Stadium, 6305 118th Ave. N., Pinellas Park.
Playoff history: 1983, 1997, 2001
Last appearance: Lost 28-7 to Seminole.e_SClBSeminole
The Warhawks are reeling. They lost 24 seniors to graduation. It showed in a 27-7 loss to Northside in the spring when Seminole managed just two first downs in the first half.
Coach: Sam Roper (108-122, 23rd season)
Colors: Orange, green and white
Stadium: Warhawk Stadium, 8401 131st St. N., Seminole.
Playoff history: 1972, 1976, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Last appearance: Beat Naples Gulf 21-14; lost 28-21 (OT) to Bradenton Manatee.
St. Petersburg
Green Devils are trying to build off last year's district runnerup finish. They'll have plenty of skill players, some coming up from a strong JV squad.
Coach: Joe Fabrizio (4-7, second season)
Colors: Green and white
Stadium: Stewart Field, 2501 5th Ave. N., St. Petersburg.
Playoff history: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1997, 2001, 2006
Last appearance: Lost 21-0 to Dunedin.
Bob Putnam, Times staff writer
All games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted
August 31
Osceola at Dixie Hollins
Lakewood at Gibbs
Largo at East Lake
Pinellas Park at Countryside
St. Petersburg at Northeast
Seminole at Clearwater
September 7
Northeast at Dixie Hollins
Gibbs at Countryside
Largo at Palm Harbor U.
Pinellas Park at Lakewood
East Lake at St. Petersburg
Dunedin at Seminole
September 14
Dixie Hollins at Boca Ciega
Northeast at Gibbs
St. Petersburg at Countryside
Seminole at Palm Harbor U.
September 20
Dixie Hollins at Gibbs
St. Petersburg at Largo
Pinellas Park at Seminole
September 28
Palm Harbor U. at Dixie Hollins
Gibbs at Clearwater
Dunedin at Largo
East Lake at Pinellas Park
Boca Ciega at St. Petersburg
Seminole at Osceola
October 5
Seminole at Dixie Hollins
Gibbs at St. Petersburg
Largo at Pinellas Park
October 12
Lakewood at Largo
Clearwater at Pinellas Park
October 18
St. Petersburg at Pinellas Park
October 19
Dixie Hollins at Largo
Gibbs at Seminole
October 26
Dixie Hollins at St. Petersburg
Pinellas Park at Gibbs
Largo at Seminole
November 2
Pinellas Park at Dixie Hollins
Largo at Gibbs
Seminole at St. Petersburg
November 9
Dixie Hollins at Dunedin
Boca Ciega at Gibbs
Northeast at Largo
Palm Harbor U. at Pinellas Park
St. Petersburg at Lakewood
Countryside at Seminole
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