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Football Notebook: Addae Chasing Giles' Rushing Lead

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 9, 2007

While the high school football playoff picture has been set, there's one big reward in reach for a few Hillsborough County running backs tonight in the final week of the regular season: the county rushing title.

Gaither junior Jarvis Giles leads the county with 1,366 yards, though the Cowboys' regular season is complete.

Riverview's Jahleel Addae has the best chance of eclipsing Giles' mark, with the senior entering the Sharks' finale against Brandon with 1,281 yards. Addae, who earlier this season became the second Riverview running back ever to post three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, has never led the county in rushing. And with Riverview missing out on the playoffs, he admitted this could be a nice way for him to end his prep career.

"It would be a big one because it's my last high school game," he said Thursday. "I know I don't have another day. They always say, play like it's your last, and this is my last.

"At the beginning of the year I set a goal to get to 1,500 yards. I guess I'm 219 away, so hopefully I'll have a pretty big game and be able to surpass it. I'm just going to play my hardest and whatever happens, happens."

Addae isn't the only back within striking distance of Giles.

Cambridge Christian senior Taylor Cabral has 1,195 yards entering the Lancers' final game against Bradenton Christian. With three games this season of 170 yards rushing or more, Cabral could become the first Lancers back to lead the county in rushing.

"I think he's aware of where he's at," Lancers coach Rick Shears said. "I guess we'll see what happens."

Brandon's Marquel Gilmore (1,185 yards), Middleton's Carlton Jones (1,149) and Tampa Bay Tech's Maurice Hagens (1,144) also enter the final week in contention. Each of the three has eclipsed the 240-yard rushing mark at least once this season.

WINTER HONORED: It's widely known how Plant coach Robert Weiner feels about the talent level of Panthers receiver Derek Winter. Weiner has gone on record several times as saying he wouldn't trade Winter for any other player in the nation.

As it turns out, Weiner isn't the only coach in Hillsborough County who holds Winter in high regard. The senior standout was voted the Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 13 player of the year this week.

"I know how [Weiner] feels because we talk a lot all the time, but to have other opposing coaches feel the same way and think that highly of me is an honor," Winter said. "Just to be known by those other coaches by name is an honor."

Winter believes he has done a pretty good job of establishing himself during the past three years, and he's right. Last season he had a monster year in helping Plant win the Class 4A state title, setting a county record with 90 catches. Twenty of those went for touchdowns, including the game-winner in the state final.

This season Winter picked up where he left off. Heading into tonight's regular-season finale against Robinson, he leads county receivers with 52 receptions and 1,086 receiving yards. He is second with 12 touchdown catches, trailing only teammate Cornelius Gallon, who has 13 but is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

MIDDLETON TO HONOR MILLS: The Middleton football team plans to honor the family of slain Jefferson star C.J. Mills with a plaque at tonight's Middleton-Jefferson game.

Middleton assistant coach Reggie Maddox, who played and coached at Jefferson, said he suggested the schools name a trophy after Mills that would be swapped every season to the winner. Maddox also played with Mills' father at Jefferson.

Along with Maddox, Middleton's coaches have many ties with Jefferson. Head coach Harry Hubbard coached at Jefferson for 12 years, while assistants Keith Newman and Carlos Blake played for the Dragons. Another Middleton assistant, Marvin Bell, also coached at Jefferson.

"C.J. represented more than just football," Maddox said.

"We have a certain tie with Jefferson," Hubbard said. "We're still Dragons in our hearts."

INJURY REPORT: Chamberlain assistant coach Brian Turner said senior DE Octavious Wilds and senior DB Otis Scott have returned to practice since suffering hamstring injuries against Plant in Week 9.

BRINSON OUT: With one game left in the regular season, coaches of teams that have secured playoff berths are already looking to their first-round games, including the coach of Plant's opponent next week, Northeast.

In fact, Jay Austin has a lot on his mind, specifically the health of star RB Jeff Brinson. The three-star recruit, per Rivals.com, suffered injured ribs in a 24-21 overtime loss to Lakewood on Oct. 26 while playing safety.

Prior to the injury, Brinson was a one-man wrecking crew. The 5-foot-11, 203-pounder averaged 7.8 yards a carry and had 1,764 yards on 224 carries with 22 TDs in eight games, including all three Vikings scores in the first half in his last game.

Initially feared to have broken ribs, Brinson was believed to be out for the year. But subsequent tests determined Brinson's ribs were not broken. Brinson is to visit with doctors today, and Austin will have a better idea whether Brinson might play against Plant.

Austin has ruled Brinson out for tonight's regular-season finale at undefeated Largo, despite pleas to play from Brinson, who insists he will play at Plant. Austin is trying to temper Brinson's hopes in case doctors do not allow him to play.

"I've told him there isn't a high school playoff game worthy of jeopardizing what the future may bring," Austin said.

PATRIOT ACT: Carrollwood Day School will play Winter Haven Christian tonight for the 6-on-6 state title.

As part of the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools league, this will be Carrollwood's final game in 6-on-6 form. Next year it will play 11-man football in Class 1B of the FHSAA.

Carrollwood (8-3), which went winless last year, defeated Zephyrhills Christian 25-24 in the semifinals. The Patriots lead the league in every offensive category. QB Billy Embody has 1,902 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, RB Darrius Bing has 948 rushing yards and WR Matt Monteih has 700 receiving yards and 15 TDs.

On Wednesday, Tampa Bay Bucs player Mike Alstott attended Carrollwood's practice to wish the team luck.

"This is really quite an opportunity for us," Coach Lane McLaughlin said. "The kids have worked really hard and we have some really talented players at the skilled positions."

RAMS AWAIT DECISION: An FHSAA spokesperson said a decision on when Ridgewood will play its first-round playoff game at Daytona Beach Seabreeze will be known today. Seabreeze and Daytona Beach Mainland share Municipal Stadium, and both are district champions slated to host playoff games at the same time.

Ridgewood hopes the game is not rescheduled for Thursday, which was the original intent, so the Rams don't miss two school days. Daytona Beach is a three-hour drive from New Port Richey and the Rams are not spending the night in Daytona Beach regardless of when the game is played.

SOUTH TAMPA SHOWDOWN: Robinson and Plant will meet tonight in one of the county's biggest rivalries, and for the second consecutive year a little something extra will be at stake:

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