Preps

Hillsborough: News and notes

By JOE SMITH and KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writers
Published November 4, 2007

By the numbers

With its win Friday night, the Plant football program now has a three-game winning streak over Jefferson. The Panthers hadn't taken three straight in the series since winning eight in a row from 1978-85.

Statitude

The Armwood 10-0 football allowed 49 points during the regular season. In 2004, the Hawks' last state championship season, they gave up 62 regular-season points.

Tough Terps

Lost in the Tampa Prep boys cross-country team's third-place finish at districts was how several runners competed while sick - such as Stephen Warner, taking antibiotics this week, who shattered his personal-best by 28 seconds to break 18 minutes for the first time (17 minutes, 56 seconds).

Senior Aaron Koch was the Terps top runner (17:48), placing fifth - two spots ahead of Warner.

On the girls side, freshman Lauren Knoke was sick but still qualified for regionals with a 14th-place finish.

How good is Plant receiver Derek Winter?

Good enough for Jefferson defensive lineman Max Holloway to give him a ringing endorsement. When Holloway, who committed to Boston College, was asked by an Eagles assistant which players from Tampa the program should recruit, Holloway recommended Winter.

And that was before Winter torched the Dragons for 194 receiving yards Friday night.

"I said, 'You've got to get No.5 from Plant,'" Holloway said. "The BC coach said he had questions about his speed. I think he proved his speed (Friday night)."

Plant coach Robert Weiner calls the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Winter, who also intercepted a pass Friday, the state's best player.

Man in charge

While Jefferson coach Mike Fenton served a one-game suspension after being ejected from the previous week's game for cursing, the Dragons turned to assistant Dan Lea to handle Fenton's duties.

But first, Fenton gave his team some words of encouragement Friday afternoon.

"He talked to us at the school," Jefferson wide receiver Lester Lewis said. "He told us to keep our focus on the game."

Against Plant, it was business as usual on the Jefferson sideline. But one thing was clear: Fenton and Lea have uniquely different demeanors.

While Fenton is a ball of energy, Lea is more on the laid-back side. But that didn't keep Lea from raising his voice at times in an attempt to fire up the Dragons.

"Our kids were never out of it," Lea said. "They worked to the end."

Hidden gem

Mark West was admittedly surprised three years ago when his daughter, Amy, told him she wanted to quit softball and try her hand at golf. But West has quickly gone from puzzled to proud.

West, a junior, took 15th in the state with a 77-78-155 this week.

Durant coach Dick Sheffield called it a "quantum leap" from last year's 53rd-place finish, adding that West has a shot at trying for a top-five finish as a senior.

"She's a classic case of someone who didn't initially have an interest in golf, or the natural ability, but worked really hard," Sheffield said.

Role reversal

Two years ago, Brandon senior Drew Woodke was a fifth runner on an Eagles squad that finished fifth at state. Now, he's the unquestioned top runner on a rebuilding team (three of the Eagles' top five are first-year cross-country participants).

Superior speed didn't stop Woodke from training hard this summer. The shaggy-haired senior worked out with former teammates - and collegiate runners - Jeremy Lautzenheiser (University of Tampa) and Ben Henderson (Winthrop).

It's paid off, with Woodke winning his second straight district title Thursday (16 minutes, 9 seconds), shaving 15 seconds off his personal best.

[Last modified November 4, 2007, 00:37:20]