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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 8, 2001
WHO: Land O'Lakes (7-3) at Ocala Forest (9-1)
WHERE: Booster Stadium.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
AT STAKE: A Class 4A, Region 2 semifinal berth at the winner of Friday's Melbourne Palm Bay-Leesburg quarterfinal.
NEED TO KNOW: Land O'Lakes, the Class 4A, District 6 runner-up, is 1-9 in the postseason. The Gators haven't won a playoff game since 1993. If they recapture the intensity of last week's Wesley Chapel game they'll have a shot tonight. Ocala Forest, the 4A-4 runner-up, won state titles in 1974-75 but hasn't come this far since 1996.
LAND O'LAKES ON OFFENSE: The spread offense has flourished under sophomore QB Drew Weatherford (111-of-224, 1,475, 12 TDs). WRs Chip Whalen (492 yards, 4 TDs) and Logan Payne (306 yards, 5 TDs) are the main targets. Weatherford can also run with the ball (4 TDs) and the option as well, handing off to Greg Rosenthal (374 yards, 2 TDs) and Chris Perez (363 yards, 4 TDs).
LAND O'LAKES ON DEFENSE: The Gators don't blitz much and don't feel they need to with Joey Tuttle and Anthony Makowski pressuring the QB. The secondary is just as strong. But the team needs to overcome the loss of linebacker Dustin Collins to injury and tackle Matt Embry to suspension.
OCALA FOREST ON OFFENSE: Adrian Smith, Jarvis Davis and Matt Fabian (1,884 yards, 29 TDs) lead the Wildcats' I-formation running attack. QB could be an issue, with starter Beau Yancey out for the season with a dislocated shoulder. Backup Ronnie Donnell sprained an ankle in the finale, so if he doesn't play tonight, Kyle and Jed Yancey will.
OCALA FOREST ON DEFENSE: Ocala Forest posted five shutouts this season, but that defense is hurting now. LB Louis Gerard (78 total tackles) is questionable with a broken arm and linebacker Chris Turner (63 total tackles) has back problems. Watch out for DE Trevor Bonnell (63 total tackles, 9 sacks) and DT Eddie O'Hara (78 total tackles, 7 sacks.)
DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 75 north to Ocala. Get off on State Road 40 at Exit 69 and take a right. Take a left onto SE 36th Avenue. Booster Stadium is on the left.