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By Times staff reports
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 16, 2001
Jesuit at Bradenton Southeast, TBA
LAST MEETING: Southeast 48, Jesuit 0 (1994)
THE SKINNY: Not only must the Tigers travel to Bradenton to play the traditionally strong Seminoles, but this also is a huge district game that most likely will determine who wins Class 3A, District 8. Southeast is coming off a 27-0 win against Bradenton Bayshore while Jesuit beat St. Petersburg Catholic 34-17.
Pastor: Southeast Purks: Jesuit Readling: Jesuit
LAST MEETING: Clearwater 21, Hillsborough 6 (1980)
THE SKINNY: Twenty-one years later, Hillsborough gets a chance to avenge the loss. But that doesn't matter. This is a regular-season game with postseason implications, and that's all head coach Earl Garcia needs to know. Clearwater might be the Tornadoes, but they also might be on the verge of getting blown out.
Pastor: Hillsborough Purks: Hillsborough Readling: Hillsborough
LAST MEETING: None
THE SKINNY: Wharton has the chance to the start the season 3-0 for the first time in team history. Heck, the Wildcats have the chance to win three games in one season for the first time in school history. Alonso is reeling after having been outscored 78-0 in its first two games.
Pastor: Wharton Purks: Wharton Readling: Wharton
LAST MEETING: Armwood 51, Plant 6 (1998)
THE SKINNY: Typically, this would be a no-brainer. Armwood in a romp. But the Hawks seem to have come back down to earth a little bit after several years of harboring some of the best talent in the county. It doesn't hurt matters that Plant is way up from the past few years. This is a true district tossup.
Pastor: Plant Purks: Plant Readling: Armwood
LAST MEETING: Robinson 34, Blake 14 (2000)
THE SKINNY: Robinson might be 0-2, but the Knights can still break it open on any play. Especially when you consider Kwane Doster plays both sides of the ball. He can score on an interception return or on a handoff. Blake is 1-1 and looks poised to make another playoff run. This could be a big first step.
Pastor: Robinson Purks: Robinson Readling: Robinson
LAST MEETING: Bloomingdale 20, TBT 7 (1998)
THE SKINNY: Tech is rolling after a 20-19 overtime win against King and the Titans show no signs of slowing down. Bloomingdale is rolling as well, just in the opposite direction, allowing 67 points and only scoring seven this year.
Pastor: TBT Purks: TBT Readling: TBT
LAST MEETING: None
THE SKINNY: Another fine chance for the Gryphons to earn a mark in the win column. Another chance for the Eagles to finally get one, too. Unlike Sickles' win against Alonso, this game counts toward the postseason, a galaxy far, far away as far as Sickles football is usually concerned. Here's a chance to begin exploring.
Pastor: Brandon Purks: Brandon Readling: Sickles
LAST MEETING: Gaither 14, Chamberlain 9 (2000)
THE SKINNY: The Battle for the Big Mac! Oh, and all of a sudden, district supremacy. Hillsborough is almost guaranteed this district title, but these two teams are certainly Nos. 1 and 2 in the race for the runner-up spot. Chamberlain is the best 0-2 team in the state. By far. Gaither's defense will have its hands full trying to stop the Chiefs' running game.
Pastor: Chamberlain Purks: Chamberlain Readling: Chamberlain
LAST MEETING: Lakeland 34, Durant 0 (2000)
THE SKINNY: Durant has two things going against it. First, it's playing Lakeland. Second, it's playing at Lakeland. The Dreadnaughts took it easy last year, only scoring 34 points. It won't take that many this year to earn the same result.
Pastor: Lakeland Purks: Lakeland Readling: Lakeland
LAST MEETING: None
THE SKINNY: Many are calling this the game of the week. Haines City lost 18 starters from last year's team but has the ability to reload every year. East Bay will come strong and the Indians have a real good chance to jump into the district lead.
Pastor: Haines City Purks: East Bay Readling: Haines City
LAST MEETING: King 27, Leto 7 (2000)
THE SKINNY: The Lions were on the field Thursday afternoon, fighting rain and the spectre of death on TV, trying to prepare for the Falcons. It's real easy to pick against a defense that has allowed 55 points in two games, but Leto always seems to put up a fight. It won't be easy for King to get out of here with a win.
Pastor: King Purks: King Readling: King
LAST MEETING: Riverview 22, Plant City 12 (2000)
THE SKINNY: The Sharks are good. Write that down and file it because it's rare that we're that right this often. They can run, quarterback Matt Mazur seems to finally have the passing game in hand and they'll hit you with everything at once. They won a shootout with Chamberlain, which says something. Don't look for any shootouts tonight, just lots of running yards.
Pastor: Riverview Purks: Riverview Readling: Riverview
LAST MEETING: Tampa Cath. 20, Santa Fe 0 (1986)
THE SKINNY: Santa Fe lost its first game of the season 7-6 and then followed that up with a 31-13 loss. It's hurting right now. Tampa Catholic surprised some with a win in Week 1 but then fell to Fort Myers Dunbar, causing some eyebrows to raise. Which Crusaders team will show up? Flip a coin.
Pastor: Santa Fe Purks: Tampa Catholic Readling: Santa Fe
LAST MEETING: None
THE SKINNY: Fort Meade is tough. It can play football and it can play it well. The Miners have outscored two teams 60-14 and Riverhills Christian is set to add to that number. The Falcons are good, but they're not on this level just yet. The good news is All Saints' is there to buffer them from the district cellar.
Pastor: Fort Meade Purks: Fort Meade Readling: Fort Meade