Pinellas: News and notes
By BOB PUTNAM and BRANDON WRIGHT
Published September 4, 2007
Today on Tampabay.com
This season, several bay area quarterbacks have the daunting task of following in the footsteps of current Division I-A players. (Think Aaron Murray filling in for Robert Marve at Plant.) And their first starts last Friday, well, they weren't all that sparkling. Columnist John C. Cotey takes a look at some past Week 1 starts that weren't so successful. Check it out at highschool.tampabay.com
Beck to start
Former Countryside standout Harrison Beck will start at quarterback for North Carolina State this week at Boston College, coach Tom O'Brien said Monday. Beck, who transferred from Nebraska, came off the bench and gave the team a second-half spark Saturday, completing 17 of 28 passes for 207 yards with two touchdowns in the Wolfpack's 25-23 loss to Central Florida. N.C. State trailed 25-3 at halftime before Beck led the rally that ultimately fell short.
Beck led the Cougars to consecutive district titles in 2003 and '04. He played at Nebraska as a freshman two years ago before transferring to N.C. State and sitting out last season.
Injury can't keep her from the court
GiOnna DiSalvatore made a name for herself at Countryside, starring on the softball team and earning a scholarship to perennial powerhouse UCLA. But younger sister Davi has been paving her own path on the volleyball court.
The younger DiSalvatore and the Cougars nearly knocked off unbeaten Clearwater Friday, taking the Tornadoes to five games. Diving for a ball in the third game, DiSalvatore split her chin wide open. She went to the bench, and after a number of bandages and gauze, DiSalvatore re-entered the match in the fifth.
"All she kept asking was 'Am I good? Can I get back in there?,'" Countryside coach Kaylyn Bayly said. "That girl is tough as nails."
DiSalvatore needed five stitches to close the gash after the match.
Paschal moves to practice squad
Former Lakewood standout Marcus Paschal's NFL dreams were abruptly put on hold. Paschal made the Philadelphia Eagles' 53-man roster when final cuts were made Saturday, but found himself in the unemployment line Sunday. Paschal, above, was replaced on the roster by former USF and Hillsborough star J.R. Reed, drafted by the Eagles in 2004. But Monday, Paschal signed to the Eagles' practice squad. "It was a total shock, but that's just a part of learning the business side of the NFL," Paschal said. "I'm thankful to be where I'm at, because there's a lot of guys who don't have a job at all right now."
Quoteable
"I'm just Brynn Harvey. I'm your everyday running back." - Largo running back Harvey when asked if he felt he was a man among boys in Friday's game against East Lake.
By the numbers
3 county teams that scored seven points in losing efforts Friday night (Seminole, Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg).
Times' Top 50
Boca Ciega cracked the Top 10, moving up from 19th. Find out where your team ranks, if at all, on this week's Times' Top 50 at blogs.tampabay.com/preps/.
Compiled by staff writers Bob Putnam and Brandon Wright, with information from the Associated Press.