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A whole new ballgame

Riverview faces TBT tonight. But it's a different Riverview than when the teams met in Week 1.

By FRANK PASTOR

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 17, 2000

TAMPA -- Offensive tackle Rocky Velasco remembers the 100-plus yards in penalties. Defensive back and running back Jahmille Addae recalls Tyrone Timmons' 7-yard touchdown pass to James Hopkins with less than two minutes remaining.

Both contributed to Riverview's14-13 loss to Tampa Bay Tech on Sept. 2.

But Sharks coach Alex Albert remembers something else about his team's opening game.

The Riverview squad that lost to Tampa Bay Tech more than two months ago was nothing like the one that will meet the Titans in the regional quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. today at Titan Stadium.

For starters, Charlie Ross has emerged as a rushing threat after moving from fullback to wingback in Riverview's reach sweep series.

Second, the Sharks switched from a 4-3 defense to an old-style, slot-angle 50, a scheme Alberts thinks better fits his players.

Finally, after starting the season 0-2, Riverview won seven of its final eight games.

"We really feel we got better as a team," Addae said. "We matured, and everybody is starting to play together."

Riverview (7-3) qualified for the playoffs in just its third season. After going 0-10 when the school opened in 1998, the team improved to 5-5 in '99. This year, the Sharks took their biggest step yet.

The turnaround can be attributed in part to Alberts' willingness to change his system to fit his personnel.

Alberts prefers the wing-T, an offense that works best with quick guards who can kick to the outside. But recognizing that Riverview had an abundance of bigger linemen, Alberts scrapped the offense after one season.

He switched to the double wing-T, in which the fullback pulls and the guards stay at home to double-team.

The offense's designer, Don Markem, led Bloomington (Calif.) High to a national high school scoring record of 63 points per game in 1994. Though not nearly as prolific, Riverview averaged 27.7 points while using the offense.

Most of the scoring was done on the ground. Running behind an offensive line that averages 265 pounds, Riverview rushed for 3,418 yards while passing for just 289.

"We run a dinosaur offense," Velasco said. "But it gets the job done."

Riverview uses a variety of running styles to keep defenses off balance.

Ross, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior, runs over opponents. Avious Steadman, a 5-11, 185-pound junior, makes them miss. Addae, a 5-10, 185-pound senior, outruns them.

Even more disconcerting to defenses, the three backs run the 40-yard dash in less than 4.5 seconds.

Ross, who is being recruited by Central Florida, South Florida and Louisville, has gained nearly 900 yards since the move to wingback. His emergence has opened things up for Steadman, who responded with a team-high 1,632 yards.

"We've got the best offensive line in the county and the best two backs in the county (Ross and Steadman)," Addae said.

The Sharks also have a much-improved defense. After allowing 30 or more points in three of its first six games, the unit has been downright stingy in its past three.

It limited Plant City to eight second-half yards in a 22-12 victory, held Lake Region to just one first down in the second half of a 21-14 win and kept Wharton to 40 rushing yards in a 48-20 triumph.

The push starts up front, where defensive tackle Dusty French and middle linebacker Chad Kaaa anchor an aggressive front seven.

Tampa Bay Tech (5-5) counters with a double tight end offense that averages 17.4 points per game and a blitzing 4-4 defense that allows 15.3.

The Titans controlled the clock in the first game, running 65 plays to Riverview's 40. The Sharks also lost six first downs due to penalties.

But Addae thinks things will be different tonight. "I feel we'll pull this one out," he said. "We've just got to play together and keep our penalties down."

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