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Letter to the editor

Ex-Dunedin star filled with optimism

By NANCY MORGAN, Times Sports Correspondent
Published October 7, 2007

When Scott Stevens graduated from Dunedin High four years ago, he looked for a college where he could play football and help establish its program.

Stevens didn't look long and selected Maryville College, a Divison-III school in Maryville, Tennessee. This season, he approaches his final year with the Scots with optimism.

"We started off the season 4-0, and that was a great feeling," said Stevens, 22, a linebacker. "For us to continue to be successful, we need to play good on both sides of the ball. When I came here, I knew I had an opportunity to help build a winning program - one that would be feared by our opponents."

Stevens' first year found him switched from playing offensive and defensive line in high school to linebacker, which turned out to be Stevens' more natural position.

"For my size, playing linebacker was the best," the 6-foot, 200-plus pounder said. "It's a neat feeling breaking up plays and like being the quarterback on defense. You've got to be smart, call plays for the defense, get lined up and deal with reaction and still do your own job. You also need to be athletic and strong to be ready to take on blocks and tackle."

Stevens, a tri-captain, is among team leaders in tackles with 33 over four games, including 15 solo.

"Scott has been an outstanding linebacker the past four years and one of our leading tacklers the past two," said five-year coach Tony Ierulli, a Maryville alumnus. "Scott has played outstanding in our first four games and has almost doubled his tackle production. The challenge for Scott this year is to rise from being a good linebacker to a great one."

Although Stevens said football was always his favorite sport, he only played a little in elementary school with the Dunedin Jr. Falcons before reaching high school.

Moving from high school football to college included adapting to an increased speed of the game, along with the game's complexity.

As a freshman, Stevens contributed mostly on special teams for the Scots. As a sophomore, Stevens was named to the All-USA South Athletic Conference and again last year. As a junior, Stevens was second on the team in tackles with 71, including 41 unassisted.

"One of my best highlights from playing was a great win for us last year in quadruple overtime," Stevens said. "That was against conference favorite NC Wesleyan College, and it was huge."

Then, the Scots won 50-48 with Stevens recording eight tackles.

Again facing the conference preseason favorite last month in its fifth game, the Scots' four-game winning streak was broken with a 51-20 loss to the Battling Bishop.

MORE FOOTBALL: Sophomore defensive lineman Adam Lewis Dunedin has 13 tackles for Denison in four games.

- Through Wake Forest's first four games, redshirt junior wide receiver Chip Brinkman (Clearwater Central Catholic) is averaging 13.5 yards per game. Brinkman started against Maryland in the Demon Deacons' 31-24 comeback overtime win.

- Wake Forest senior wide receiver Kevin Manion (Dixie Hollins) is averaging 12.2 yards rushing and 39.2 yards receiving.

- Trey Schmidt (Shorecrest) is a senior wide receiver for the Demon Deacons, and Louis Frazier (Clearwater) is a redshirt senior offensive guard.

SOCCER: Megan Honig (Countryside) was named the Peach Belt Conference's defensive player of the week after leading her Columbus State teammates to two shutout conference wins. The senior captain scored her second goal of the season.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan at 445-4119, e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified October 6, 2007, 20:53:51]