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Letter to the editor

Gaither finally meets Sickles - in playoffs

By ROD GIPSON, Times Correspondent
Published November 16, 2007

CARROLLWOOD - Back in August, the thought of a Sickles-Gaither playoff game seemed a far-fetched notion. Heck, even a regular season meeting was a reach as the neighborhood rivals were not on each other's schedule for the first time since Sickles began playing football in 1997.

Whatever the reason for the nonmeeting (and several have been thrown around by both schools), tonight's matchup has more on the line than any regular season meeting could.

But that's not all.

Gaither (7-3), seemingly the perennial football big brother to Sickles, is making its second straight trip to the postseason after a five-year drought. And this was no easy feat for the Cowboys, who rallied from an 0-2 start and won seven of their last eight games to win the Class 5A, District 5 championship.

At Sickles, meanwhile, this is the dream season the Gryphons have been waiting for.

Sickles, which had never won more than five games in a year, set a school record for victories with seven and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in the program's 11-year history.

How fitting that this long journey would end with a 6-mile trip up the street in a season when Sickles inexplicably did not face its natural rival.

In other first round playoff games, Wharton (5-5) faces off with Chamberlain (7-3). Despite its 4-6 record, Jefferson made the postseason and will play at Boca Ciega in Gulfport.

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

WHARTON (5-5) at CHAMBERLAIN (7-3)

Wharton's postseason fate hinges entirely on which Wildcat team shows up: the squad that defeated a tough Plant City team 15-14 or the Wharton unit that was beat up by nonplayoff teams Middleton and Riverview.

Chamberlain, meanwhile, has rallied from its early season situation that saw longtime Chiefs' coach Billy Turner miss a game due to a hospital visit. Turner is back and the Chiefs are back in the playoffs.

Under his tenure, Chamberlain has made 14 playoff trips, although 10 of them ended in the first round. Chiefs' quarterback Dontae Aycock (five touchdown passes and 17 rushing touchdowns) will help the Chiefs avoid that trend this year.

However, Gaither has an explosive running back in Jarvis Giles (1,243 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns). Sickles counters with workmanlike runner Josh Mendez, who had 865 yards this year and 11 scores.

Sickles may be able to keep this game close if it can play well on defense, force a turnover or two, use its outstanding kicking game (punter/kicker Corey Page) to its advantage and not melt under the bright lights of the playoffs.

Still, expect Gaither to pull this one out.

Anyone who points to the Dragons' losing record as a reason they don't belong in the playoffs should note their schedule. Jefferson played arguably the hardest schedule in the county. Five of Jefferson's six losses were to Hillsborough, Armwood, Chamberlain, Plant and Middleton. Still, in quarterback Zack Grossi (1,625 yards passing and 19 touchdowns), the Dragons have a solid passer. By the way, Jefferson went 2-1 in Class 4A, District 10 play to qualify for the playoffs.

Boca Ciega counters with a defensive-minded squad with no real stars on its offense. The Pirates reached the postseason with great defense, giving up an average of 11 points per game. Home-field advantage should count for something but it wouldn't be a huge shocker if Grossi and the Dragons pass their way to an upset.

[Last modified November 15, 2007, 07:40:34]