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By JOHN C. COTEY, JAMAL THALJI and STEVE LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 17, 2001
ZEPHYRHILLS -- Now that the quarterback controversy has been ironed out, Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher is looking for some linebackers to emerge.
For the second year in a row, Fisher will primarily be in charge of the defense while former longtime defensive coordinator Chris Bounnell will handle the offense.
And while Fisher is counting on three returning starters -- safety Michael Moody, defensive end Justin Whitworth and outside linebacker Justin Cobb -- to defend the SAC title, the search is on for some men in the middle.
The top candidates to replace hard-hitters Brad Howard and Len Sones are Agusta Smiley, Joe Sokol and transfer Jordan Thacker. One or more of those players will relay Fisher's defensive calls to the defense.
Fisher felt comfortable handing the offensive reigns to Bounnell last season, in part, due to the addition of offensive line coach Brian Mathews. Fisher is even more comfortable with the current situation with this year's addition of offensive backfield coach Ron Harden.
"The additions to the coaching staff help out a lot," Fisher said.
NO. 5: Land O'Lakes coach John Benedetto said he believes his team has a shot at extending its playoff streak to five.
The Gators will rely on sophomore quarterback Drew Weatherford and numerous underclassmen at the skill positions.
And for inspiration, the players will look for Mike Otterson.
A defensive tackle, Otterson, a senior, suffered a crushed leg and other injuries in a car crash last month and will not play this year.
"We're looking forward to at least getting him out there with the guys," Benedetto said. "He's not going to return as a player, but he's still part of the team."
BAD PRACTICE: Cobras coach Terry Voyles said he felt pretty good about his team after watching it practice earlier this week.
Then Thursday, moments after practice ended, he felt altogether differently.
"Bad day," Voyles said. "I don't know what happened. The other day, I was feeling pretty good. Today, I'm feeling down."
Voyles said Thursday's practice was a disaster. Junior varsity player Justin Bee was taken away in an ambulance after enduring a big hit. Voyles said he was moving his arms and legs afterward "but was sent off to be on the safe side."
Starting fullback Kenny Eva missed practice with a bruised shoulder. Senior center Ivan Henderson was sick, and various other injuries reduced his team to an unpleasant mix of starters and reserves.
"All of sudden, it's the same thing as last year. You lose a few key players, and everything changes," said Voyles, alluding to a brutal 2000 season in which injuries decimated his team.
"It scares the hell out of me, to be honest. We brought the team in here and talked to them and told them everyone in here is important."
With such a piecemeal group remaining, Voyles called off practice early.
"We had second- and third-stringers running around and people not taking it seriously," Voyles said. "They stunk up the place, so we ran them extra and let them go home early.
"The main reason I quit was I feel like you can get someone hurt when a practice goes sour. That's the last thing we need."
THE REPLACEMENTS: New season, same dilemma at River Ridge.
After 1999, River Ridge had to replace Sunshine Athletic Conference and Times Pasco County Defensive Player of the Year Justin Fenton. The nose tackle was more than just the team's top defender. He also was the team captain and emotional leader.
After 2000, River Ridge must replace SAC Defensive Player of the Year Chris Robinson and Times first-teamer Jeff Janus.
The Royal Knights' middle linebackers were more than ... well, you get the idea. So how will River Ridge replace them?
"You don't replace Robinson and Jannus," coach Mike DeGennaro said. "You try to find guys who can fill those positions and do a good job."
Which isn't to say the defense will suffer without them or without the other starters lost from last season. Every season, it seems, the Royal Knights boast some of the county's top defenders. This season, the coaching staff believes, will be no different.
"We're going to do what we always do," DeGennaro said. "We're going to stress defense and stopping the other team."