Sports

Highschool

Cotey: Midseason report

By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
Published October 3, 2007

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Remember 100-yard games?

Remember being impressed by them?

Remember when they had a special significance?

Ha.

Ha. Ha.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I laugh at 100-yard games now. If there is one thing we've learned in the first half, its that 100 yards rushing is, well, a good first half.

It appears 300 is the new 100. Northeast's Jeff Brinson has three 300-yard games. Ridgewood's Byronell Arline has two, and will try for three straight Friday. Gulf's David Williams has one, and a few near misses to boot.

And that is the story of the first half of the football season.

Here's some other observations:

 

*Waiting list for 300 Club

Largo's Brynn Harvey

Dunedin's Adaris Bellamy

Gaither's Jarvis Giles

Hudson's Sean Scott

 

*Best performance of the first half

Arline vs. Gulf last week: 24 carries, 343 yards, all 7 of Ridgewood's touchdowns on runs of 29, 53, 1, 17, 47, 50 and 19.

Williams vs. Ridgewood in same game: 41 carries, 268 yards, 4 TDs.

Totals: 65 carries, 611 yards, 11 touchdowns.

* Top 5 picks for Player of the Year

1. Harvey, Largo: Harvey has a pretty easy schedule, but his offense has to keep quarterback Leonard Johnson happy too, so 2,000 yards is a tougher goal. But if the Packers beat Northeast in the season finale, and make a deeper run in the playoffs -- two things I see happening -- then he will be the pick.

2. Eric Smith, Armwood: Compared to the other running backs, Smith is putting up pedestrian numbers. But that's by design, and if Armwood needed to run him 30-35 times a game, his numbers would be as gaudy as the others. But he may have a state title to use as the hammer when it comes down to the voting.

3. Brinson, NE: The Vikings have an easy road after Friday's game against Boca Ciega, so 2,000 yards is probably in his near future. By near, I mean maybe next week? But it may take more than big numbers if the Vikings don't have a playoff victory or two in them.

4. Aaron Murray, Plant: The Panther quarterback is only going to get better. He has the best two wide receivers -- Derek Winter and Cornelius Gallon -- to throw to, and the Panthers weren't No. 2 in our preseason poll for nothing. The next Murray-Smith showdown could be for the award.

5. Arline, Ridgewood: The big fella is going to have huge numbers by the end of the year, but he'll also become Pasco County's all-time leading rusher Friday night, he'll like set a single-season record along the way, and possibly lead the Rams to their first district title. That's a hefty resume.

*Armwood is practically unbeatable.

They have to get past Hillsborough Oct. 18, but the only question I have is how many players will they be missing when they do?

If Hillsborough can't do it, here's four teams that might be able to beat Armwood.

Lakeland: right down I-4, and with three straight state titles to boot, it would draw an easy 10,000.

Miami Northwestern: ranked No. 1 in the country, but who have they played? Well, other than the No. 2 team in the country I mean.

USF: The Bulls defense is awesome. So is Armwood's. Pick-em.

St. Louis Rams: Bulger may get his 200 yards, but Hawks still a slight favorite.

*Starting a football team is hard work.

Being a coach for a first-year varsity program ranks right in between being a miner and the guy that empties portapotties.

Bill Browning. Ricky Thomas. Jim Wilt. You are saints. Every one of you.

Browning's Sunlake team has been outscored 166-7, Thomas' Bulls at Wiregrass Ranch have been outscored 177-38 and Wilt's Lennard team has been outscored 141-55. All three teams are 0-5.

Which makes what Scott Palmer has done over at Spoto even more impressive. The Spartans are 3-2, including a win last week over previously unbeaten Tampa Bay Tech.

*Some good coaches making it look easy

1. Bravo to Land O'Lakes' John Benedetto, whose streak of 10 straight playoff appearances seemed doomed considering the Gators lost every key player from last year's team to graduation, and then lost his best running back and linebacker a week before the season started. But the codgy veteran and his grumpy yet cuddly staff over there on State Road 41 is a surprising 4-1.

2. Armwood's Sean Callahan has to juggle lineups like every week. Granted, with his talent, it's like juggling cotton balls instead of machettes, but coaching a great team is as tricky as coaching a bad one.

3. Alonso's Mike Heldt has the Ravens at 4-1. Same goes for Pat O'Brien over at Sickles. Not sure how they've done it. Good coaching would be my guess.

4. Palmer at Spoto. Seriously, 3-2 with a first-year program? It deserves a second mention.

Top 5 games left on the schedule

1. Armwood-Hillsborough, Oct. 18: Terriers biggest obstacle to Hawks plans for unbeaten season.

2. Northeast-Largo, Nov. 9: Brinson versus Harvey. 'Nuff said.

3. Hillsborough-Plant, Oct. 12: So how good are the Terriers? This is the first of a gauntlet that includes Armwood and Gaither back-to-back-to-back.

4. Northeast-Boca Ciega, Friday: Biggest game since Plant-Armwood in week one. One difference -- this one will determine a district champion.

5. Ridgewood-Tarpon Springs, Oct. 18: Are the Rams for real? Are the Spongers for real? Are we for real, even including this game?

6 players yet to explode that will make their mark in the second half

Orhian Johnson, Bogie: Pirate QB has yet to break out, but has all the skill to.

Tevin Drake, Nature Coast: Is looking at a schedule with lots of 200-yard games on it. Heck, maybe even a 300-yard game.

Christian Greene, Tampa Catholic: The converted wide receiver is a dangerous passer and runner, and is getting better.

Jahleel Addae, Riverview: The West Virginia signee was highly touted, but 309 yards in four games? He's better than that.

Carlton Jones, Middleton: The Tiger running back has had his troubles this season, but needs to break out if Tigers are going to sneak into playoffs.

Fred Sykes, Chamberlain: Watch for big secoind half as new Chief QB Dontae Aycock starts looking Sykes' way.

Do you know these guys? You should.

Orson Charles, Riverview: The junior tight end is 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and will have Division I schools drooling.

DeAndre Presley, Middleton: As electrifying as they come, a great combination of live arm and lively feet.

Matt Eastman , Armwood: Eric Smith is Dash, and Eastman is smash. Good blocker, able runner, dangerous around the end zone.

Javontae Boyd, Northeast: With Brinson piling up yards, college coaches won't help but notice the big tight end making the big holes.

Williams, Gulf: The senior didn't play the last two years, but he might just beat Byronell Arline to Pasco County rushing title.

*The Class 4A football playoffs will be a real doozy.

Armwood, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Plant, Boca Ciega and Northeast are all in the same region. Only Jefferson has lost so far. Throw Winter Haven in the region mix the Blue Devils only loss is to mighty Lakeland, and they beat Armwood last year in the playoffs and you have the makings of one of the toughest regions in the state. Remember that before printing those Armwood 2007 State Champ tee-shirts.

 

Times prep columnist John C. Cotey can be reached at 813-909-4612 or johncotey@gmail.com

 

[Last modified October 3, 2007, 10:05:43]

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