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CCC uses spring ball to modify its offense

By BOB PUTNAM

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 24, 2001

Clearwater Central Catholic's Jay Davis and Tarpon Springs' Achilleas Houllis, who threw for a combined 45 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards last season, will graduate in the next few weeks.

The top five receivers in the county also will get their diplomas soon.

With so many players departing, the passing game, which was in vogue last season, is going through big changes around the county.

Thank goodness for spring football.

For the past 20 days, coaches have presided over workouts that wedded the newcomers with the veterans. Starting today, teams get to show what they have learned when they play in jamborees and classics.

For the Marauders, there has been a lot to learn.

"Having Jay here the past four years was an advantage," said CCC coach John Davis, Jay's father. "Jay knew the coverages and was like another coach on the field. Now we're kind of starting over."

Davis is replacing his son with a committee. Orlando Rivas, who started three games when Davis broke his collarbone in 1999, will get a chance to play Friday at East Lake. So will Geoff Craig, a freshman who, at 6 feet 2, is built similar to Davis.

"We've got to bring them along," John Davis said of Rivas and Craig. "Only time will tell. My inkling is we're going to maybe run a little more. But you build your offense around what you have. We still have skill players, and we're going to be a little more balanced."

Friday's auditions for quarterback might be incomplete because CCC will not have its entire lineup available. Several linemen and both running backs will be absent due to injuries or grades.

To compensate, Davis said he will use LaRue Rumpf, a speedy receiver, at tailback. While spring practice helps, Davis said he knows a team cannot learn an entire offense in 20 days. So that's why the summer is equally important.

CCC most likely will attend a seven-on-seven passing camp at the University of South Florida in July, and several players will attend individual camps.

Other teams also will participate in passing leagues held throughout the county during the summer.

"Right now, everything is basic," Davis said. "A few three-step drops, a few play-action passes. We really start to think about our offense over the summer and develop it then. During that time, we try to encourage the kids to go to camps."

The Marauders will need to absorb as much as they can with a schedule next season that includes three-time defending state champion Tallahassee North Florida Christian, Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, Avon Park, Jefferson and St. Petersburg Catholic.

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