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Tall Task Tonight For 13-0 Packers

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By LEE DIEKEMPER, Tribune correspondent

Published: December 7, 2007

LARGO - When asked how he would describe Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas' offense, a Largo defensive assistant who requested anonymity bowed his head and inhaled heavily, deep in thought. After gaining perspective, he summed up the Raiders in terms Pinellas County high school football fans could understand.

"Take Clearwater quarterback Luke Loucks running Countryside's schemes with Dunedin's skill position players using our offensive line."

In other words, Largo is facing a veritable high school all-star team.

Well, not quite.

"More like a NCAA Division II team," Largo defensive coordinator Matt LePain said. "They're like a Division II college team. They're that good."

Such is the challenge for Largo (13-0) tonight when the Packers host St. Thomas Aquinas (12-1) in the Class 5A state semifinal. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 before an expected overflow crowd.

In the 21st century, the Raiders have been not only a state powerhouse, but a national powerhouse. If not for Lakeland, the Raiders could be a three-time defending Class 5A champ. The past three years, St. Thomas Aquinas has stubbed its toe against Lakeland in the state championship game, including a 46-42 loss in double-overtime last year.

With the Dreadnaughts eliminated, the Raiders are thinking this is finally their year.

Largo coach Rick Rodriguez is hoping the Packers can derail St. Thomas Aquinas' championship hopes. But he understands what a task that will be.

"They are solid all the way around," Rodriguez said. "They have speed and they have size."

If the Packers have anything going for them, it's the offense the Raiders employ - a spread option, the same offense Dunedin and Cape Coral, Largo's last two victims, have used.

Largo held those teams to a combined 13 points. And those teams featured future Division-I players in their offenses.

Another element that may favor Largo is that Raiders quarterback Ryan Becker has only 27 yards rushing on 34 carries. But it is his arm that is lethal - he has completed 88 of his 152 attempts for 1,402 yards and 22 touchdowns.

"He won't kill you with his legs," Rodriguez said.

Phillip Pierre-Lewis is Becker's main target, with 500 yards receiving and five touchdowns.

Running back Jeremiah Harden is the biggest threat out of the Raiders backfield with 1,122 yards and 16 touchdowns.

"Cape Coral ran a lot of what they run," Rodriguez said. "That will help us."

But what will help Largo more is not shooting itself in the foot. At one point in the third quarter last week the Packers had five consecutive offensive penalties. On the sixth play, a punt was blocked, setting up Cape Coral's second touchdown.

"We can't have a debacle like that again," Rodriguez said "We can't have 135 yards in penalties again."

Largo running back Brynn Harvey (2,437 yards rushing) needs 54 yards to set a Pinellas County single-season rushing record.

Correspondent Lee Diekemper can be reached at ldiekemper@pop.tampatrib.com

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