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Pinellas Football Previews: Week 10

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2007

East Lake (5-3) at Countryside (6-2)
Two old rivals get to bang head again. And just like seemingly every season, a playoff berth hangs in the balance.

This game should be very interesting for several reasons. Countryside has really turned around its season since getting drilled by Dunedin midway through the season. The Cougars look a lot like the Cougars of the past few years: a dangerous offense with many weapons through the air and on the ground.

East Lake may be in the best shape to play this road game. After all, the Eagles are the ones who started then-undefeated Northeast's freefall. East Lake seems to play better on the road, having lost two tough games at home to Tarpon Springs and Dunedin. In both losses, the Eagles moved the ball but self-destructed in the second half deep in enemy territory.

The loser of this game will be paying to watch the playoffs.

Largo (8-0) at Gibbs (6-2)
The Packers have two more obstacles in its quest to post an undefeated season. And the host Gladiators are no pushover.

First-year Gibbs coach Yusef Shakir has done a wonderful job in transforming the Gladiators from a middling program to one of the county's elite. He has instilled a sense of confident in his team where they do not fear any team.

Dunedin has proven that Largo isn't made of kryptonite when the Falcons took the Packers to double overtime earlier this season.

Both teams have secured playoff berths. The winner will win the district and begin the playoffs at home in just over two weeks. The loser will be the district runner-up and will play on the road to start the playoffs.

Lakewood (5-3) at Bradenton Southeast (2-6)
The Spartans pulled out a gutty district win over Bradenton Bayshore earlier this season when the fourth quarter was suspended three days due to inclement weather. Last week Lakewood rallied from a 21-6 deficit to push the game into overtime where the Spartans pulled off the upset on the road.

Now, Lakewood will play its biggest game in five years when it last won a district title. The goal for Lakewood is simple: beat Bradenton Southeast and the Spartans clinch a playoff berth, possibly a district title. Lose, and the Spartans could be on the outside looking in.

Bradenton Bayshore (3-5) at Boca Ciega (6-2)
Another game with playoff implications. Boca Ciega has already locked up a playoff berth. It holds a district tiebreaker with Lakewood should the two teams, both with 3-1 district records, win Friday.

If Lakewood beats Southeast and Bradenton Bayshore beats Boca Ciega, Lakewood and Bayshore would represent the district with Lakewood being the district champ.

Simply put, if the host Pirates want to play at home in the first round of the playoffs, they need to win Friday. The only wins Bayshore has are against a freefalling Northeast squad - which had to rally to be Boca Ciega -- and against Osceola which is winless in district play.

The Pirates may be without starting running back Ja-Vontra Trotter who was hurt in last week's win over Osceola.

Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (4-4) at Clearwater Central Catholic (5-4)
The final game involving Pinellas County teams in with postseason implications. And this could be the most entertaining game of the week.

In the past three regular season meetings between the two rivals, a grand total of 13 points separate the two teams. And this isn't counting a playoff game three years ago in which current Miami linebacker Colin McCarthy nearly single-handedly rallied Clearwater Central Catholic with two touchdowns in the final minutes to win a region title.

Which CCC team will show up? The Marauders looked impressive early before losing eight starters. It seems the team has yet to recover.
Last week against Mitchell, CCC self-destructed often when moving the ball and in the second half Mitchell's smashmouth style of football zapped the Marauders.

Palm Harbor University (3-5) at Dunedin (5-3)
Palm Harbor still has something to play for: a .500 record. Dunedin already has won its district. It too has something to play for: not getting anyone hurt.

Osceola (2-7) at Northeast (5-3)
A month ago Northeast appeared to be one of the state's top teams. Now as November arrives, the Vikings are out of the playoffs having lost three consecutive games.

Now the Vikings are playing for pride. Will the players throw in the towel, disappointed over how the season transpired after lofty goals and dreams have since vanish? The outcome will show what kind of character the players have.

Northside Christian (6-2) at Shorecrest Prep (5-3)
The visiting Mustangs, like Northeast, have high hopes just a few weeks ago. But two losses, totaling seven points, to district foes has Northside staying home as the playoffs begin in two weeks.

So long as the Mustangs have not given up, this could be a great game against a crosstown rival. Shorecrest, after a slow start, has rapidly improved. Will the Chargers be able to catch a depressed Northside Christian team?

Seminole (0-8) at St. Petersburg (2-6)
The old coach takes on the somewhat new coach in a season both would rather forget.
Seminole coach Sam Roper faces his former longtime offensive coordinator, current St. Petersburg coach Joe Fabrizio. The visiting Warhawks have had a nightmare of a season and are really in a rut, having scored just 10 points total in the last four games.

St. Petersburg, after losing its first six games is on a two-game winning streak. No matter which team is able to win, both coaches are too classy and respect the game too much to rack up needless points if the game gets out of hand.

Pinellas Park (1-7) at Dixie Hollins (2-6)
The Patriots lack of manpower on the line seems to catch up with them nearly every second half. The host Rebels don't have much size up front but they do have some decent skill players

Look for Dixie Hollins to pull away in the second half.

Tarpon Springs (5-3) at Spring Hill Springstead (4-4)
While the Spongers are out of the playoff hunt, they still have a winning record and can still finish the season with a winning record. If you are out of the playoffs, this is at least something the team has a goal of reaching.

St. Petersburg Catholic (2-7) at Mulberry (5-4)
The visiting Barons have been playing much better of late, nearly pulling an upset over its bitter rival Clearwater Central Catholic. The Barons followed that up by beating Bishop Verot.

First-year coach Tod Creneti would sure like to have his team finish the season strong.

Davie Westlake (5-2) at Calvary Christian (2-6)
After blasting Leesburg First Academy 70-0 to even its season mark at 2-2, it's been downhill from there for Calvary Christian. Davie Westlake isn't a pushover scoring at least 20 points a game in each of its five wins.

Bradenton St. Stephens (4-3) at Canterbury (4-4)
This could be a good game. Canterbury's offense has improved of late and Bradenton St. Stephens is on a four-game winning streak. The game is the season finale for Canterbury.

Indian Rocks Christian (5-3) at Admiral Farragut (2-6), Saturday
In a rare Saturday afternoon game these two rivals should have little effort getting pumped up for this game. Indian Rocks is having a fantastic season, already clinching a playoff berth with an upset win over Northside Christian earlier this season.

The big goal for the visiting Golden Eagles is to stay healthy, which may open the window for Admiral Farragut.

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