Preps

Hernando: News and notes

By IZZY GOULD and DAVID MURPHY, Times Staff Writers
Published October 30, 2007

Nature Coast moves up a few more spots to No.21 in the Times'Top 50. Find out where the rest of the teams rank at highschool.tampabay.com.

Football playoff hunt

Who's in:

Ridgewood (8-0, 4-0)

Land O'Lakes (7-1, 4-0)

Nature Coast (6-2, 3-1)

On the bubble:

Gulf (4-4, 3-1)

Hudson (6-2, 3-1)

Pasco (4-4, 3-1)

Zephyrhills (5-3, 3-1)

Who's out:

Bishop McLaughlin (1-7, 0-4)

Central (4-4, 1-3)

Hernando (2-6, 1-2)

Mitchell (3-5, 0-2)

River Ridge (1-7, 0-4)

Springstead (4-4, 1-3)

Sunlake (0-8, 0-4)

Wesley Chapel (4-4, 0-2)

Wiregrass Ranch (0-8, 0-4)

Not eligible for postseason:

Hernando Christian (5-1)

Academy at the Lakes (0-7)

Nature Coast 'Hawgs'

There's a reason the Sharks have rushed for more than 400 yards in two games.

Sure the Sharks have a great stable of running backs in Tevin Drake, Antwan Story and Eric Williams. But a lot of those breakout runs come by way of "The Hawgs."

That's what Nature Coast coach Jamie Joyner calls his big offensive line that consists of four-year starter Tim LaRose, Brandon Nuby, J.J. Baker, Jake Myers and Anthony Gutierrez. They also get plenty of help from tight end Brady Ellison. In the past three games, the Sharks have rushed for 1,184 yards and 13 touchdowns.

"They have the ability to make the blocks up front," Joyner said. "We put a big emphasis on getting those blocks."

Joyner said the name "Hawgs" is an ode to the old Washington Redskins offensive line nicknamed "The Hogs." The Redskins were given the name by former line coach Joe Bugel because that line would "root around in mud."

Lions prepare forconference tourneys

The Saint Leo men's and women's soccer teams are preparing for the Sunshine State Conference championships this week.

The men (9-4-3, 4-3-1) earned a No.5 seed and travel to Fort Lauderdale to face Nova Southeastern University tonight at 7.

The women (14-3, 6-2) are the No.2 seed, earning a quarterfinal bye, and will play No.3 Nova Southeastern or No.6 Lynn University at the University of Tampa on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Saint Leo men's basketball team travels to USF for a exhibition match Wednesday, then heads to UCF on Saturday.

Correction

Soccer player Courtney Cohen attends Gulf. Another school was listed in a photo caption in Monday's sports section.

Times correspondent Mike Camunas contributed to this report. 

[Last modified October 29, 2007, 23:59:12]