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Letter to the editor

Night will help shape playoffs

By Rod Gipson Times Correspondent
Published November 2, 2007

Four games involving northern Hillsborough schools have playoff implications, and three will determine who will host, or travel, during first-round playoff games.

Take your pick: Wharton at Gaither, Alonso at Sickles and Jefferson at Plant. All of these games will affect who will be kicking off Nov. 16 when the postseason begins and where they'll be doing it.

Chamberlain is one of those teams headed to the postseason, but its status is set. The Chiefs have captured the Class 5A, District 6 title and will start the playoffs at home. But they'll still like to head there with a win.

Sickles and Alonso will play for the remaining 5A-6 playoff spot. Alonso has three playoff appearances in the past four years. For Sickles, meanwhile, this whiff of the playoffs is rare air. The Gryphons set a school record for victories with six so far this year - surpassing the 5-5 record they had reached just once in the program's 11 seasons.

Meanwhile, Gaither, Wharton, Plant and Jefferson are all headed to the postseason. But two of those squads will do so at home, and two others will have to hit the road, which usually is not the best of options.

All kickoffs are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

CHAMBERLAIN (6-3, 2-0) at KING (2-6, 0-2)

Last week: Chamberlain lost to Plant 29-22; King lost to Leto 19-13.

Last year: Chamberlain defeated King 23-13.

The skinny: Chamberlain already is the Class 5A, District 6 champion. The Chiefs have been inconsistent this season, except in district play.

The edge: One last tuneup for Chamberlain before the playoffs start.

ALONSO (5-4, 1-1) at SICKLES (6-3, 1-1)

Last year: Alonso defeated Sickles 40-13.

The skinny: Sickles has been one of the surprises of the season, playing well enough to be within one district win of a playoff spot. Then again, so is Alonso.

The edge: The Gryphons have come so far - and will fall just one game short. Alonso wins.

Last year: Did not play.

The skinny: One of the rare nondistrict games of the evening. Also, one of just two North of Tampa-area games without any playoff implications.

The edge: A playoff team last year, Freedom has struggled under first-year coach Marquel Blackwell. That'll continue. East Bay slips past the Patriots.

Last year: Gaither defeated Wharton 17-7.

The skinny: Both Wharton and Gaither have won games maybe they shouldn't have and lost games maybe they shouldn't have. But each still managed to gain playoff spots along the way. Now the winner takes the Class 5A, District 5 championship and a first-round home playoff game.

The edge: After an 0-2 start, Gaither puts a feather in its comeback cap by winning the district championship.

Last year: Plant defeated Jefferson 17-13.

The skinny: A battle of two of the better quarterbacks in the area, Jefferson's Zack Grossi and Plant's Aaron Murray. Grossi has thrown for 1,320 yards and six touchdowns, and Murray has a county-best 29 touchdowns and 2,313 yards passing.

The edge: Murray also has the better supporting cast. Plant wins to takes the 4A-10 title, although both are headed to the postseason.

Last year: Leto defeated Blake 18-6.

The skinny: This is the other contest tonight without playoff implications. Both teams are coming off victories - Blake topped Sickles, and Leto defeated King.

The edge: The home field should help the Falcons. Leto wins.

[Last modified November 1, 2007, 06:59:53]