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Zephyrhills loses lineman to injury
By GREG AUMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, ZEPHYRHILLS -- Preseason football sections are full of predictions for the year ahead, but who knew how accurate Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher could have been? "Barring a rash of injuries," Fisher said in the first quote in the Times' Bulldogs preview nearly two months ago. "I think we'll be very competitive this year." Fisher anticipated the two main characteristics of his season thus far: a competitive team, as seen by the Bulldogs' 4-2 record, and a continuing rash of injuries. The latest is perhaps the toughest yet: junior Jamen Monbarren, entrenched since last season as a starter at right guard, will miss the season after breaking his right ankle in the final minute of Monday's 35-10 win against Hudson. "It's frustrating," Fisher said of his team's thinning depth Wednesday. "But when you have small numbers like we have, you have to live with it." Monbarren was taken to a hospital Monday night and was in enough pain that he did attended classes Tuesday or Wednesday, Fisher said. He will be in a cast for 6 to 8 weeks, which leaves the Bulldogs with an unsettled line and just two days to prepare for Friday's game against Gulf. "It all depends on who is healthy," Fisher said when asked for his current line. Center Shane Hand was back Monday after missing Friday's game because of an unspecified administrative suspension, and right tackle Nick Maxwell missed Friday's and Monday's games as part of the same disciplinary action. Two reserves who stepped up in their absence are nursing injuries as well -- Derek Wallace, who missed Friday's game with illness, watched the end of Monday's from the sideline with an ankle injury. Scott Calhoun, called up from the junior varsity Friday, injured his shoulder on the final play. After playing Monday night, Fisher kept the team out of contact drills Tuesday and will try to squeeze his game week into two days. Playing three games in eight days is difficult enough without trying to patch together an offensive line from a third different incomplete set of linemen. "We've always been able to field a first line, but it's always been tough having backups across the line," Fisher said. One reason the Bulldogs are 4-2 despite the injuries is the healthy return of tailback Michael Moody, who has vaulted from 10th to second in the county's rushing standings in four days after gaining 121 yards Friday and 195 with three touchdowns on Monday. "I just hope everyone's healthy," Moody said after the win against Hudson, which he said was the first game in which he felt his injured ankle was at full strength. Friday's game against Gulf is a district game, and a win against the Buccaneers would keep Zephyrhills within a game of district leaders Wesley Chapel and Pasco, both 2-0 in district. The Bulldogs already have lost to the Wildcats, who would have the tiebreaker advantage against them, but if Zephyrhills can stay one loss behind Pasco, it could leapfrog the Pirates in the standings with a win when the two schools meet Oct. 26.
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