Kickoff

By JAMAL THALJI

© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 2, 2001

The Games

LAND O'LAKES (7-2) AT WESLEY CHAPEL (9-0)

WHERE/WHEN: Wildcat Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW: The Wildcats still have one stop left on their undefeated tour: the Sunshine Athletic Conference championship. Wesley Chapel, No. 8 in the Class 3A poll, will secure coach John Castelamare's first SAC title with a win, but a Land O'Lakes upset would force a three-way tie with Zephyrhills. The Gators' challenge is stopping FB Tyrone Tomlin. But this same unit gave up 238 yards to Central's Tim Gaynor.

RIVER RIDGE (3-6) AT ZEPHYRHILLS (7-2)

WHERE/WHEN: Bulldog Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW: River Ridge can pull out of its nosedive with a stunning upset. The Bulldogs, though, are fighting for a slim chance to host a playoff game. Fullback Adam Eberle is River Ridge's offense, but it's doubtful whether his line can protect him from the Bulldogs' defensive front.

PASCO (5-4) AT RIDGEWOOD (1-8)

WHERE/WHEN: Ram Booster Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW: Pasco still has the slimmest of playoff hopes, so a loss tonight isn't in the Pirates' plans.

MITCHELL (1-8) AT HUDSON (3-6)

WHERE/WHEN: Cobra Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW: Mitchell has come too far to end the season with just one win, and Hudson has fallen too short to be satisfied with just three.

GULF (2-8) AT SPRINGSTEAD (5-4)

WHERE/WHEN: Booster Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW: Springstead wants a .500 season -- bad.

WESLEY CHAPEL -- One last little bit of business left this season before the start of the one of the most exciting postseasons in county history: the Sunshine Athletic Conference championship.

Land O'Lakes could force a three-way split of the county crown with Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills by upsetting the Wildcats tonight. District play ended last week, but playoff positioning is still in the final stretch. The Wildcats can still clinch the region's No. 1 seed, given a Wesley Chapel win and a Tampa Catholic upset over Jesuit. But the Crusaders have never been known to do the Wildcats any favors (remember TC's 58-6 beating in 1999) and probably don't have the talent to beat the Tigers.

Pasco County's other playoff teams are also waiting to see who they will face. Zephyrhills will likely open the Class 3A playoffs at Bartow. Land O'Lakes likely will face either New Smyrna Beach or Ocala Forest in the Class 4A playoffs.

A Wesley Chapel win would, however, clinch the first conference title in the school's three-year history.

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