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Playoff Berth Up For Grabs In 4A-11

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2007

A lot can unfold tonight in Class 4A-District 11 when Middleton hosts Armwood and Hillsborough hosts Tampa Bay Tech. An unthinkable outcome could result in a three-way tie or playoff berth for the once atrocious Titans.

In order for Middleton to have a shot at the playoffs, the Tigers need to beat Armwood and hope Tech beats Hillsborough for a three-way tie. If Tech upsets Hillsborough, the Titans automatically advance in the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Armwood has already clinched the district title.

"I feel like we deserve to be in the playoffs, but it's up to the Lord now," Middleton coach Harry Hubbard said.

If the scenario doesn't play out, it will be the second straight season the Tigers missed the playoffs and the second in Hubbard's career at Middleton.

ROOTING FOR RIVALS: Tonight's game between Hudson and Zephyrhills is for a playoff berth, but each team will be pulling for its archrival, Gulf and Pasco, respectively, to win as well. The latter two play each other tonight in New Port Richey.

The reasoning is simple: if Hudson and Gulf win, Hudson takes the Class 3A-District 8 title. If Zephyrhills and Pasco win, Zephyrhills will have back-to-back district crowns for the first time in school history.

Cobras coach Mark Nash realized the scenario early this week, and has grudgingly accepted it, though one of his assistants joked, "Can't we just root for Pasco to have a bad game?"

A LOT AT STAKE: Not only will the Land O' Lakes/Ridgewood game decide the undisputed best team in Pasco County, but also it's for the Class 4A-District 8 crown, which has its benefits.

The loser of the game has to go to Daytona Beach to play Seabreeze (8-0) in the first round of the playoffs. Seabreeze has already locked up District 7 and is ranked No. 3 in the 4A state poll, right behind No. 2 Armwood.

The winner will stay home to play an opponent to be determined after tonight's games. Rockledge (6-2) is in with a win against Titusville (6-2), but a loss coupled with a Merritt Island (3-6) victory against winless New Smyrna Beach would create a three-way tie for the runner-up spot.

WHARTON-GAITHER SHOWDOWN: Last season, Gaither spoiled Wharton's homecoming by beating the Wildcats 17-7. The loss forced Wharton into a must-win situation against district foe Land O'Lakes, which the Wildcats dropped 18-0. At 8-2, Wharton was eliminated from playoff contention.

"I was the quarterback last year and that was very frustrating," Wharton linebacker Joshua Powell said.

Although it won't be Gaither's homecoming, Wharton hopes to return the favor and walk away with the district title. Although both teams have clinched a playoff spot, they are each undefeated in district play at 2-0.

"Gaither has a good ballclub," Wharton coach David Mitchell said. "We're going to have to play our best game against those guys."

Gaither junior running back Jarvis Giles enters the contest as Hillsborough County's leading rusher with 1,226 yards and 17 touchdowns.

FENNELL HAS BEEN TERRIERS' SILENT WEAPON: If one were to ask Hillsborough defensive backs coach Preston Jackson who's the most underrated defensive player for the Terriers, he'll say senior strong safety Erik Fennell.

"He's the professor back there," Jackson said. "He completes my secondary."

Fennell shared the quarterback position with Kendall Brown last season and is the backup quarterback to sophomore Tarean Austin this year. After last season, however, Fennell approached Jackson with a request to be in the secondary.

"He was a natural defensive player," Jackson said.

This season, Fennell has 52 total tackles, 20 of which are solo.

FAMILIAR FACES: When Riverview and Durant square off tonight in a Class 6A-District 6 game with huge playoff implications, each head coach will recognize a familiar face on the opposite sideline.

Riverview's Dan O'Regan and Durant's Mike Gottman each were assistants together in the mid-1990s at East Bay under Brian Thornton. Gottman and O'Regan were on the same staff for two seasons (1996-1997) before O'Regan left when Riverview opened.

Both coaches took over their respective programs in 2003, and each will be going after the same thing in Friday's matchup: their second playoff berth with their school.

Gottman took Durant to the state semifinals in his first season in 2003, while O'Regan got the Sharks to the region semifinals in 2005.

SMITHLESS AGAIN: Armwood again will be without the Smith brothers, senior RB Eric Smith and junior LB Petey Smith, for tonight's district game with Middleton.

Armwood coach Sean Callahan said Eric, who also missed last week's game against Freedom after suffering a foot injury in the win against Hillsborough on Oct. 18, could play if needed, but with the district title already wrapped up he is electing to hold out his standout tailback as a precaution. Sophomore Sherman Jessie will again serve as the primary ball carrier for the Hawks this week.

Petey Smith is still recovering from surgery earlier this season, and his return to the field this season is still in question.

RIDING THE ROLLER COASTER: Tampa Catholic is 7-1, but it hasn't been all smooth sailing, which, in a way, may be a good thing.

"I told our team a football season is full of ups and downs and surprises and unforeseen circumstances," TC coach Bob Henriquez said. "No, we haven't played perfectly this season, but the fact is, we are 7-1 and 3-0 in Class 2A-District 5. If we win tonight against Bishop Verot then we win the district."

Nick Williams, Bart O'Connell, Eddie

Daniels, Adam Adkins, Scott Purks

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