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Tonight's games

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 12, 2001

All games at 7:30 unless noted.

Alonso (0-6) at Leto (1-4)

THE SKINNY: Fair is fair, and since Leto got its first win of the season two weeks ago, we figure it's Alonso's turn. One problem: The Ravens' offense has gained a total of minus-11 yards its past two games. Yo, Ravens! The end zone is the other way

Purks: Leto Readling: Leto

Chamberlain (4-2) at Sickles (1-5)

LAST MEETING: Chamberlain 19, Sickles 16 (2000)

THE SKINNY: This is the final tuneup before some meaning returns to Chamberlain's season. Next week, the Chiefs face possibly undefeated King. Hillsborough comes right after that. Score early and score often is the theme tonight.

Purks: Chamberlain Readling: Chamberlain

Armwood (2-4) at Tampa Bay Tech (4-2)

LAST MEETING: Armwood 29, Tampa Bay Tech 27 (1996)

THE SKINNY: Tampa Bay Tech comes into this with the sixth-ranked defense in the county and Armwood doesn't have anything to test it. Good news, Hawks fans, is that at least it's not too far of a drive.

Purks: Tampa Bay Tech Readling: Tampa Bay Tech

Sarasota Booker (2-3) at Blake (1-5)

LAST MEETING: None

THE SKINNY: If this was a menu item in a restaurant review there would be no stars next to it. Booker has scored 84 points this year, Blake 92. The Jackets have given up 148, Booker 125. For those of you playing at home, flip a coin and stay in.

Purks: Booker Readling: Booker

Bloomingdale (0-6) at Sarasota Riverview (3-2)

LAST MEETING: Sarasota Riverview 42, Bloomingdale 10 (2000)

THE SKINNY: The Rams are ailing, having lost two games this season, including last week's 41-7 loss to a Class 2A team. Bloomingdale is also ailing. And the rumors that the Class 6A Bulls have 2A schools from all over the state trying to schedule them are false. Purks: Riverview Readling: Riverview

Plant (3-3) at Brandon (2-4)

THE SKINNY: This game could last five hours. Expect close to 50 passes between the two teams (though Plant's Stephen Reaves threw 43 last week), and since this is high school, that means a lot of incompletions and clock stoppages. If you want to be home in time for Friends reruns, go to Durant

Purks: Brandon Readling: Plant

East Bay (6-0) at Durant (4-2)

LAST MEETING: East Bay 21, Durant 9 (2000)

THE SKINNY: East Bay is running hard toward an undefeated record and Durant might prove to be nothing more than a speed bump in that road. The Indians are a little dinged up after last week's game, but will that matter tonight? We think not. Watch out for Durant's Little Dynamo That Could, aka Ean Randolph.

Purks: East Bay Readling: East Bay

Hillsborough (5-1) at Wharton (3-3)

LAST MEETING: None

THE SKINNY: Remember when Wharton was 3-0 and everybody was talking playoffs and winning record? Perhaps Toby Keith said it best: E-E-EAAASSSSY NOW. The Wildcats have come back to earth and they landed hard. Tonight, they will drop below .500 for the first time this season, a school record considering it took seven games.

Purks: Hillsborough Readling: Hillsborough

King (4-2) at Gaither (4-2)

THE SKINNY: This is everyone's Game of the Week. Gaither can further complicate Class 5A, District 6 with a win. A King win turns next week's Chamberlain game into a battle of district unbeatens

Purks: King Readling: Gaither

Jacksonville Ed White (3-2) at Jefferson (5-0)

LAST MEETING: None

THE SKINNY: Five games played, five games won for Jefferson. That's pretty much what everyone expected. We don't know much about Ed White. But we do know the Commanders have a really cool nickname and have lost their two games by a combined six points.

Purks: Jefferson Readling: Jefferson

Palmetto (2-3) at Jesuit (6-0)

LAST MEETING: Jesuit 19, Palmetto 7 (1992)

THE SKINNY: Did you know that there isn't a high school in the state that starts with the letter Q? No X's or Y's either. That really has nothing to do with this game, but what do you want us to write about another easy Jesuit win?

Purks: Jesuit Readling: Jesuit

Plant City (2-4) at Lakeland (5-1)

LAST MEETING: Lakeland 36, Plant City 7 (2000)

THE SKINNY: We're still debating whether or not a 2-0 loss should be allowed to snap a 60-game regular-season winning streak. It just seems a little cheap. That game two weeks ago also marked the first time in 13 years that Lakeland didn't score a touchdown. Stats like that don't lend themselves to two upsets in one season. Sorry Raiders.

Purks: Lakeland Readling: Lakeland

Lakeland Santa Fe (3-3) at Riverhills Christian (0-5)

LAST MEETING: None

THE SKINNY: Riverhills took Temple Heights into double overtime Friday night before finally succumbing to the mighty Eagles offense 42-36. The key for Riverhills is to score more than 31 points. The Crimson Hawks are 0-3 when opponents do that.

Purks: Santa Fe Readling: Santa Fe

Bradenton Southeast (4-2) at Robinson (2-4)

LAST MEETING: Southeast 20, Robinson 0 (1990)

THE SKINNY: Kwane Doster, the county's leading rusher, is supposed to return after sitting out last week with a sprained ankle. If he does, Robinson has a chance to do something special. If he doesn't ... well, let's just hope he does.

Purks: Southeast Readling: Southeast

Riverview (5-1) at Haines City (5-1)

LAST MEETING: None

THE SKINNY: Oh daddy, this is a good one. The only problem with this game is that it's in Haines City and that's too far for many people to travel. Drive for an hour, though, and you'll find high school football at its finest. Plus, there's good beef jerky at the Texaco at the U.S. 27 and Interstate 4 interchange.

Purks: Haines City Readling: Riverview

Temple Heights (1-4) at Northside Christian (4-2)

LAST MEETING: Temple Heights 56, Northside Chr. 14 (2000)

THE SKINNY: Northside Christian's losses have been by margins of 1, 1, and 50 points. Hint: Stay away from Fort Myers Evangelical. The point is, the Mustangs have experience in tight games and that's huge. Even if they lost. Temple Heights needs running back Federico Blychanton back to full speed. Soon.

Purks: Northside Christian Readling: Northside Christian

SP Catholic (4-1) at CC Catholic (4-2)

LAST MEETING: CC Catholic 60, SP Catholic 28 (2000)

THE SKINNY: A Class 2A, District 7 game, though SPC is ineligible for the postseason because of a recruiting violation. But that penalty has motivated the Barons (their only loss is to 3A No. 3 Jesuit), and a win against rival CCC will keep them on pace for their best regular season in 30 years. SPC's Chris Davis is the county's most dangerous quarterback, and CCC is still bothered by injuries to several key players.

Page: SP Catholic Putnam: CC Catholic Schwarb: SP Catholic

Largo (6-0) at Tarpon Springs (4-2)

LAST MEETING: Tarpon Springs 36, Largo 10 (1998)

THE SKINNY: A 4A-9 game. Rumors of Tarpon's demise were greatly exaggerated, as evidenced by a big win at Seminole. No, the offense won't score 40 points, but it doesn't have to with such a relentless defense. And both sides of the ball could get a big boost if Roshawn Marshall, the explosive wideout/defensive back/kick returner, returns from an injury. The Packers have been impressive, but only one of six wins has come against a good defensive team. That game, against Lakewood, went into overtime. This could be another close one.

Page: Tarpon Springs Putnam: Largo Schwarb: Tarpon Springs

Seminole (5-1) at Osceola (5-1)

LAST MEETING: Seminole 35, Osceola 9 (2000)

THE SKINNY: Osceola, after a smashing first half of the season, finds out if it's among the county's best. But Seminole might have been a more attractive team unbeaten, perhaps overlooking the cross-town Warriors and looking ahead to Northeast. Instead, after a rude awakening at home to Tarpon, Seminole will come out angry and determined to get back to winning. Osceola will need an early lead and some luck to top Seminole for the first time since 1994.

Page: Seminole Putnam: Seminole Schwarb: Seminole

Countryside (2-4) at Dixie Hollins (3-3)

LAST MEETING: Dixie Hollins 19, Countryside 8 (1998)

THE SKINNY: A 4A-9 game. With Lakewood and Tarpon still left to play, Countryside needs to start winning tonight. Dixie has been a mystery, with no back-to-back wins or losses. A victory here would keep the Rebels in first place.

Page: Dixie Hollins Putnam: Dixie Hollins Schwarb: Countryside

Gibbs (2-4) at Northeast (6-0)

LAST MEETING: Northeast 42, Gibbs 14 (1998)

THE SKINNY: A 5A-8 game. Quarterback Ron Mathis and Co. make Gibbs a fun team to watch, but the Gladiators' defense hasn't stopped anyone. It would defy logic to think that could change against Northeast, which leads the county in scoring.

Page: Northeast Putnam: Northeast Schwarb: Northeast

Lakewood (4-2) vs. Dunedin (2-4), at Countryside

LAST MEETING: Lakewood 25, Dunedin 14 (2000)

THE SKINNY: A 4A-9 game. Dunedin hasn't had much luck this season, as stadium renovations have forced it to play road games every week. When the Falcons do get to play at home Nov. 2, they'll get to host homecoming against Northeast. Ouch. Tonight, they get a surging Lakewood team almost certain to make the playoffs.

Page: Lakewood Putnam: Lakewood Schwarb: Lakewood

Clearwater (1-5) at East Lake (4-2)

LAST MEETING: Clearwater 25, East Lake 20 (2000)

THE SKINNY: A 5A-7 game. Almost exactly one year ago, a 1-5 Tornadoes team shocked the 4-1 Eagles. You think East Lake hasn't been reminded of that debacle? With a district title well within reach, the Eagles should roll at home.

Page: East Lake Putnam: East Lake Schwarb: East Lake

Admiral Farragut (4-2) at Shorecrest (4-2)

LAST MEETING: Admiral Farragut 28, Shorecrest 17 (2000)

THE SKINNY: An A-8 game and a must win for both teams after losses in their district openers. Farragut can run and pass with confidence behind quarterback Marshall Hampton, while the Chargers just run, run, run.

Page: Shorecrest Putnam: Admiral Farragut Schwarb: Shorecrest

St. Petersburg (2-4) at Boca Ciega (0-6)

LAST MEETING: St. Petersburg 28, Boca Ciega 8 (2000)

THE SKINNY: A 5A-7 game. St. Petersburg won last week for the first time since opening night behind a three-touchdown effort from running back Will Jones. Boca Ciega has lost 10 consecutive games, dating to last year.

Page: St. Petersburg Putnam: St. Petersburg Schwarb: St. Petersburg

Palm Harbor U. (1-5) at Pinellas Park (0-6)

LAST MEETING: Pinellas Park 31, Palm Harbor U. 6 (1998)

THE SKINNY: A 5A-7 game. Believe it -- the Hurricanes are bound for the postseason for the first time with a win. Pinellas Park, however, is feisty for a winless team with a one-point loss to Dunedin, a wild triple-overtime loss to East Lake and a respectable 24-9 loss against Lakewood.

Page: Pinellas Park Putnam: Pinellas Park Schwarb: Pinellas Park

Keswick Chr. (5-1) at Indian Rocks Chr. (0-6)

LAST MEETING: Keswick Chr. 49, Indian Rocks Chr. 20 (2000)

THE SKINNY: An A-8 game. The Crusaders are the big story among the private schools with a five-game winning streak and a first-ever playoff spot all but secured. A win against the Golden Eagles also secures a first-ever above-.500 record.

Page: Keswick Chr. Putnam: Keswick Chr. Schwarb: Keswick Chr.

Temple Heights (1-4) at Northside Chr. (3-3)

LAST MEETING: Temple Heights 56, Northside Chr. 14 (2000)

THE SKINNY: The improved Mustangs have a crucial district game next week at Shorecrest but will first try to avenge last year's loss to Temple Heights. The Eagles were winless until last week, when they beat winless Riverhills Christian 42-36 in double overtime.

Page: Northside Putnam: Northside Schwarb: Northside

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