Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Farragut has a new mission: Districts

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 26, 2001

There truly has never been a better time to be an Admiral Farragut football player.

It's district time. For the first time.

The school has been playing football since 1945, but Friday the Blue Jackets will step into a different realm of competition with the start of district play in Class A, District 8.

An all-Pinellas district was born this year, with Farragut, Indian Rocks Christian, Keswick Christian, Northside Christian and Shorecrest. To the latter four schools district play is routine, a part of every season.

For Farragut, it is a first. And it is treasured.

"It's a new ballgame, trying to play for something," coach Mike Jalazo said. "The whole school is excited."

With good reason. Visions of lopsided defeats would come to mind with most teams embarking on a first district schedule, but Farragut is more likely going to be the team dishing out punishment.

In a 10-0 regular season last year (culminating in a win against Temple Heights in the Independent Bowl), Farragut easily beat Northside and Keswick. Shorecrest was close, 28-17, but again Farragut won.

This year, duplicate success will mean more than ever.

"The old Farragut mentality of just getting through the season, that's gone," said Jalazo, who led the school to just its sixth winning season last year. "These kids want to play for a championship. To watch others (last year), knowing we could have been there ... it's a different environment."

The new district gives everyone new hope, as last year Fort Meade beat up on the local private schools en route to the title and a spot in the Class A championship game. If the current configuration remains intact, coaches think all the schools will benefit.

"I like the fact that Fort Meade isn't in the district from the standpoint that the private schools in the county are all comparable," Keswick Christian coach Rick Sanson said. "Any given year, we've all got a chance to win the district title."

The race begins Friday as Farragut hosts Northside and Shorecrest travels to Keswick.

MENDING MARAUDERS: Clearwater Central Catholic coach John Davis did not hesitate when asked if he was glad Friday's game against Jefferson no longer had district implications.

"Oh, we're certainly happy," Davis said. "We've been happy about that for a while."

Originally, Jefferson belonged to Class 2A, District 7, but enrollment figures were mistaken and the team was bumped up two classifications.

Davis said he found out the Dragons would not be in their district the same day he discovered St. Petersburg Catholic was placed on probation by the Florida High School Activities Association and would not compete in the postseason, either.

"We eliminated two teams in the summer and we hadn't even played yet," Davis joked. "That was a pretty good day for us."

The Marauders welcomed the good news because they have not received much of it since. Though CCC is 4-0 and ranked No. 7 in the 2A poll, the wins have been costly.

LeRue Rumph broke his tibia and Nick Capogna broke his collarbone Friday against Berkeley Prep, a win that clinched a playoff spot for the Marauders. Still nursing injuries are Mike Scanlon (migraines), Brent Morris (wisdom teeth) and Jimmy Fricker (separated shoulder).

"I might have to suit up and play," Davis quipped. "We're banged up, but it's still good to play a team like Jefferson. You want to play good teams. I'm just glad it doesn't count for districts."

REBOUNDING: District play also is coming at the right time for Clearwater, which got off the schneid one week before the heart of its season.

Last year the Tornadoes started 0-4, with two losses in district play. The start all but ended the season. Today, Clearwater is 1-3 after beating Countryside, with a much better outlook.

Class 5A, District 7 has just four teams, and Clearwater likely needs just two wins to secure a playoff berth.

Two of the teams, Palm Harbor University and Pinellas Park, are 0-4. Clearwater plays the Hurricanes this week, but coach Tom Bostic is making sure no Tornado peeks at the records. When asked to size up the district, he only called it "small."

"You take each week one game at a time. When you're 1-3, you don't look at records," Bostic said.

A pair of south county teams also might have reached a turning point last week, as Gibbs beat Dixie Hollins for its first win and Lakewood blasted Osceola to even its record at 2-2.

The Spartans lost in overtime to Largo Sept. 18 but responded three days later to blast previously unbeaten Warriors 48-0. Osceola was held to 39 yards of total offense, and star running back Jason Teague had 37 yards.

A new spread offense helped the passing game and freed rushing lanes, as Martel Mott scored three rushing touchdowns and Darien Copeland rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Friday, Lakewood can get back in the district race against Tarpon Springs, which did not overpower St. Petersburg in a 9-0 win.

SQUIBS: In two games last week, Northeast outscored its opponents 96-0. ... At Seminole, principal Rick Misenti got a Gatorade bath along with coach Sam Roper after the Warhawks' win over East Lake. Misenti worked at East Lake for seven years.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright