Preps

Heat-seekers

Ranking the teams and their fortunes.

By IZZY GOULD and DAVID MURPHY, Times Staff Writers
Published October 21, 2007

1. Ridgewood (7-0) (up): The Rams squeeze the Spongers for the second time in school history. Byronell Arline gets the quietest 185 yards you'll ever see. The district title is up for grabs in two weeks against Land O'Lakes.

2. Land O'Lakes (6-1) (up): The Gators have won six straight since a season-opening loss. They just might be the best defensive team in the area.

3. Zephyrhills (5-2) (even): The Bulldogs got a breather before a big district game against Gulf next week.

4. Hudson (5-2) (up): The Cobras are scoring points like they are playing Pac-Man: 56.7 a game in their last three tilts. Still, their game against Zephyrhills in two weeks could be do-or-die for the playoffs.

5. Nature Coast (5-2) (up): The Sharks appear to have found their stride. A win over Hernando next week clinches a playoff berth.

6. Central (4-3) (down): The Bears' defense came to play - Austin Forte scored the team's lone touchdown on an interception return - but the offense struggled against a tough Gators' defense.

7. Wesley Chapel (4-4) (down): There will be no postseason for the Wildcats this year, but two straight wins will give them their first winning record since 2004.

8. Pasco (3-4) (even): The Pirates took care of business against Sunlake. They'll have it easy for one more week (against Wiregrass Ranch) before a district finale against Gulf that could wrap up a playoff berth.

9. Mitchell (2-5) (even): We would have loved to see the Mustangs this season with a completely healthy Tate Humphrey. Alas, the senior quarterback re-injured his sprained ankle against Wharton. Mitchell is out of the playoffs.

10. Springstead (4-3) (up): Interestingly enough, the Eagles are the only team in Class 4A, District 8 that could possibly knock Ridgewood out of the playoffs. Here's what it would take: wins over Ridgewood and Tarpon Springs, plus a Ridgewood loss to Land O'Lakes on Nov. 2.

11. Gulf (3-4) (down): How does one kid rush for 207 yards, and his team still loses? Answer: a roughing the punter penalty that leads to a touchdown, a holding call that erases a touchdown, two more personal foul penalties and a running play that gets stuffed on the 4-yard line as time expires in the first half. Oh yeah, and allowing more than 300 yards on the ground.

12. River Ridge (1-6) (down): Once again, defense doomed the Knights.

13. Hernando (2-5) (down): We thought the Leopards would fare a little better than eight points against Lecanto.

14. Wiregrass Ranch (0-7) (even): We're two weeks away from Wiregrass-Sunlake.

15. Sunlake (0-7) (even): We're two weeks away from Sunlake-Wiregrass.

[Last modified October 21, 2007, 00:42:29]