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Wharton on its mark
NEW TAMPA Playoff-bound Wildcats "knew we had to win."
By Rod Gipson Times Correspondent
Published October 26, 2007
Win and get in. - That was Wharton's philosophy as it squared off with Class 5A, District 5 foe Mitchell last Friday. Win, as in beat the Mustangs, and get in, as in qualify for the playoffs. - But Wharton isn't stopping there. - After going 8-2 last season and still missing out on the postseason, the Wildcats know full well the difficulty of reaching the state playoffs. - So Wharton pulled out all the stops against Mitchell, piling up almost 200 yards on the ground while using nine different ballcarriers. Also, Wharton quarterback Andrew Clifford threw two touchdowns while completing 10 of 19 passes for 195 yards. - At 5-3, Wharton has guaranteed itself a playoff spot and raised the stakes for its season-ending matchup at Gaither on Nov. 2. But first, the Wildcats have to tangle with Riverview tonight. - "We knew we had to win," Clifford said after the Mitchell victory. "All of the teams in our district are tough teams. We knew that if we came in and executed, we would win these games and go to the playoffs." - Among the other games tonight, Alonso hosts Jefferson, Gaither plays at Hillsborough and the 6-2 Sickles Gryphons look to add to its win total at Blake. All kickoffs are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Jefferson (3-4) at Alonso (5-3) Last week: Jefferson shut out Blake 40-0; Alonso lost to Chamberlain 41-0. Last year: Jefferson blanked Alonso 36-0. The skinny: The Dragons are better than their record and Alonso may not be as strong as its record. Jefferson quarterback Zack Grossi has thrown 13 touchdown passes this season. The Ravens were shut out in each of their three losses. The edge: Jefferson, still angling for a playoff spot, slips past the Ravens. Freedom (1-6) at Armwood (5-2) Last week: Freedom edged Middleton 49-48 (three overtimes); Armwood defeated Hillsborough 17-0. Last year: Did not play. The skinny: With six points scored all season before last Friday, Freedom exploded for 49 points and its first win of the year. Armwood, ranked second in the state in Class 4A, has given up 34 points in seven games. The edge: Armwood may score 70 points. Plant (6-1) at Chamberlain (6-2) Last week: Plant defeated Leto 54-7; Chamberlain blanked Alonso 41-0. Last year: Did not play. The skinny: Plant quarterback Aaron Murray has thrown 26 touchdowns and run for seven more. Once 1-2, Chamberlain has reeled off five straight victories to position itself for a district crown. The edge: Chamberlain, which needs a win against King on Nov. 2 to win the Class 5A, District 6 title, may be looking ahead. Plant's prolific offense leads it past the Chiefs. Gaither (6-2) at Hillsborough (6-2) Last week: Gaither defeated Wesley Chapel 34-9; Hillsborough lost to Armwood 17-0. Last year: Hillsborough shut out Gaither 28-0. The skinny: Gaither has put together an impressive run, winning six straight games after starting the season 0-2. Hillsborough's two losses are to Armwood and Plant, two pretty good teams. The edge: Hillsborough gets back on the winning track. King (2-5) at Leto (2-6) Last week: King lost to Sickles 17-3; Leto lost to Plant 54-7. Last year: King defeated Leto 34-8. The skinny: Both King and Leto have struggled this season. But the Lions have been in more close games than the Falcons. The edge: King tops Leto - again. Sickles (6-2) at Blake (0-7) Last week: Sickles beat King 17-3; Blake lost to Jefferson 40-0. Last year: Did not play. The skinny: Last week's Sickles win set a school record for most victories in a season and guaranteed the Gryphons their first winning season. Blake, meanwhile, has managed just 29 points in seven games. The edge: A win tonight gives Sickles momentum into its season finale showdown against Alonso that will be for a playoff position. Riverview (2-5) at Wharton (5-3) Last week: Riverview lost to Sarasota 22-21; Wharton beat Mitchell 27-14. Last year: Did not play. The skinny: The Sharks have disappointed this season, but Wharton has done just enough to stay in the playoff hunt and now could earn a district crown. The edge: Wharton, which has won three of its last four, makes it four of five.
[Last modified October 25, 2007, 07:37:39]
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