North Suncoast: Sunday morning quarterback

By DAVID MURPHY and IZZY GOULD, Times Staff Writers
Published September 16, 2007

We learned a lot this week about North Suncoast football. We learned that Hernando is better than Gulf, that Land O'Lakes is a miraculous play better than Zephyrhills, and that Pasco coach Tom McHugh didn't do a good enough job stealing signs from Wesley Chapel coach John Castelamare (just kidding.) Here's a look back at Week 3.

Each Friday, staff writers David Murphy and Izzy Gould and a guest "celebrity" predict the outcomes of each game on the North Suncoast. Each Sunday, they'll look back at just how poorly they did.

Since the Weatherfords were deep in hugs and high-fives following Land O'Lakes' stunning 14-9 come-from-behind victory at Zephyrhills, we didn't get a chance to thank Rep. Will Weatherford for taking time away from his busy schedule of politics and sports to share his knowledge of North Suncoast football. Thanks, Will. So how did we do, you ask?

Looks like this is the weekend to be a Weatherford. Stevie lights it up for the Gators, Joe's UCF Knights opened up a new stadium and Will smoked us with his picks, going 7-3. We were stunned by his knowledge of Academy at the Lakes and Bishop McLaughlin, and floored when he picked Land O'Lakes over Zephyrhills (uh, not really).

So who's eating crow?

Murphy pulled to a respectable 6-4, riding St. Cloud to an above .500 record this week. Weatherford and Gould had Sunlake in that one. Somehow he missed out on Bishop McLaughlin - he picked the Hurricanes to win - or he could have tied Will. Sorry, David.

Gould is still sweeping the basement after another terrible week at 5-5, a stunning turn of events when you consider his 8-0 start in Week 1. He had the Bulldogs and looked like he made a solid choice until the fourth quarter. Looks like this isn't the weekend to be a Gould.

Will Weatherford

Occupation: State representative

This week: 7-3

Celebrity pickers' season: 18-8

Best pick: Talk about your homers. Will noted the combination of younger brother Stevie and Ely Payne would pull out a one-point win. He was right about the combo, and it felt like a point.

Worst pick: Will picked Springstead to go down in flames. In fact, we all did.e_SClBIzzy Gould

This week: 5-5

Season: 17-9

Best pick: He went with the safe pick in Mitchell to beat up on River Ridge. Not a tough pick, but a safe one. We like it, and Mitchell won.

Worst pick: How could you pick the Pirates to win? You've been burned so many times before. Remember the Castelamares; they are winners, and they had a big night Friday.e_SClBDavid Murphy

This week: 6-4

Season: 15-11

Best pick: He picked Academy at the Lakes to lose 59-6 to Northside Christian. It lost 62-0. That's pretty darn close.

Worst pick: Bishop McLaughlin wins 8-3? Wrong! Bishop McLaughlin lost 28-0.

From the Useless Statistic Department

Friday night marked a rare occurrence in Hernando County: All of the public schools in action won their games. Springstead, Central and Hernando all walked away victorious, all against non-county competition. The last time the county went 3-0 on the same night was Oct. 17, 2003.

From the Evolve or Die Department

Give the Hernando coaching staff some respect: In one week, it overhauled both its offense and defense, switching from a spread to I-formation base in the former and from a 3-5 to a 4-3 in the latter.

"We might run out in something else next week," said coach Rodney Byrd, right. "You never know."

Castelamares 3, World 0 ...

Friday was a productive night in the Castelamare household. Father John led Wesley Chapel to a 24-10 win over Pasco. Mother Heidi led River Ridge to a three-game sweep of archrival Hudson in volleyball. And daughter Brittany had 21 sets and two digs in USF's three-game win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi, the Bulls' seventh straight victory.

"It'll be a nice evening," Heidi said.

Payne stays starter

Despite the quick and highly anticipated rise of the youngest Weatherford, Land O'Lakes coach John Benedetto noted Ely Payne would remain the starting quarterback.

"He's got a lot of savvy about him, but it doesn't matter," Benedetto said. "I'm not starting him. He's going to stand on the sideline, and Ely's going to be the quarterback. ... We're slowly changing roles here, but it is a slow process."

Tate the Great ...

Mitchell QB Tate Humphrey passed for more than 240 yards for the second straight week. Through three games, he's on pace to eclipse 2,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards. He suffered a high ankle sprain during Mitchell's win over River Ridge, but should be good to go next week.

On his way to record

Gulf senior RB David Williams is on pace to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards this season. Unofficially, he has 688 yards in three games, including 176 yards Friday. Former Wesley Chapel star Tyrone Tomlin owns the single-season record of 1,753 yards.

Back on her feet

Brenna McHugh, youngest daughter of Pasco coach Tom McHugh, was present at the Pirates' loss to Wesley Chapel.

Brenna, 21, was in a car accident last month when she missed a turn on Old Pasco Road and crashed into a tree. She was wearing her seatbelt, but suffered a concussion from the airbag impact. She was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where she spent weeks in intensive care and had surgery to fuse two of her vertebrae together.

Brenna - who wore a neck brace and sat with her mother, Susan, and sisters Jenny and Meaghan - was greeted by well wishers, including Pasco's cheerleading squad and Wesley Chapel's coaching staff. Tom spent eight years as defensive coordinator there and coached Brenna during softball season until she graduated in 2004.

"To just see his daughter and hug her over there - that made the night for me," Castelamare said after the game.

Times correspondent Mike Camunas contributed to this report.

[Last modified September 16, 2007, 00:58:46]