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By JAMAL THALJI
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 22, 2000
Random musings about tonight's football games:
I think it's too bad the season-ending banquets couldn't have been, say, Thursday.
Because tonight, whatever good fortune Pasco, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills have enjoyed and have earned, could all come crashing down.
Pasco-Jesuit. Wesley Chapel-Clearwater Central Catholic. Zephyrhills-Jefferson. David-Goliath . . .
It could be a historic night, or a night history will not soon forget.
Where to begin?
Who has the toughest game? I think it's between these two foes:
Clearwater Central Catholic is a talented, veteran team. Coach John Davis (who was the offensive coordinator at Osceola when I play-, I mean, sat the bench there) is a genius. He's groomed his son, Jay, into a top Division I quarterback prospect, and they run a complicated, wide-open scheme.
Oh, and the defense is great, too.
Jefferson, on the other hand, probably should have beaten Hillsborough last week instead of losing in overtime.
Which only means the Dragons enter tonight's game with a big chip on their shoulders. All those transfers and coaches from Tampa Catholic have made this team even more dangerous.
Not that Jefferson needed it. It was loaded last year, as I recall.
Is it so inconceivable that Pasco County could win at least one game?
To put it politely, I don't think the odds favor it.
But then again, stranger things have happened (and in this county, it could be argued, only stranger things have happened).
To win tonight, I think, the three teams must do this:
Zephyrhills must play a perfect game -- or at least more perfect than Jefferson. The Bulldogs are playing with great confidence on offense. They'll need every bit of it. The Zephyrhills coaching staff believes its team is every bit as physical, if not as big, as Jefferson. If the players believe as well, this could be a contest.
Wesley Chapel must play far above itself to win. That's not meant as an insult, it's just that the Wildcats are still young, and I fear a few early setbacks could quickly send their new-found confidence spiraling. CCC plays at a level they are unfamiliar with.
Pasco must play a complete game, say, like it did in last week's humbling of Hernando. Now to be honest, the Leopards didn't play with much heart in that contest, though the Pirates showed enough for both teams.
The problem has always been Jesuit's line; if it dominates both sides of the line of scrimmage, Pasco's skill people will be neutralized.
I think what I'm trying to say is, Pasco is my upset pick of the night.
If Zephyrhills or Wesley Chapel win, though, it will be one of the greatest upsets in county history.
If all three win, it could be the greatest night in county history since Pasco beat Jesuit in the 3A title game in 1992.
History, though, could also be on Pasco County's side tonight. Considering the beatings these opponents handed out last season, it's not inconceivable they could enter these contests overconfident. Let's see, Pasco, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills are a combined 7-2, but their foes are a combined 11-16.
Then again, talent almost always cancels out overconfidence.
I think that just one or two key injuries on the Pasco, Wesley Chapel or Zephyrhills sidelines could not only ruin their upset hopes, but also their seasons as well. (See Cobras, Hudson.)
These are the kinds of games where key injuries happen, when star players try to do too much in losing causes and are exposed to far too much punishment.
I think all three coaching staffs fear it could be a long season after tonight.