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FOOTBALL: Hillsborough Previews Week 6

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By Charles Gonzalez and Gregg Becnel, Tribune correspondents

Published: October 4, 2007

King at Alonso
Where: At Alonso Stadium
Records: King 1-3, 0-0; Alonso 4-1, 0-0
Outlook: After three consecutive losses following a season-opening loss, the King Lions' bye week couldn't have come at a better time. The frustrating beginning for first-year head coach Earl Garcia III can be put behind the team and can look forward to the second half of the season. Alonso, however, spent last Friday pounding the Freedom Patriots in a 41-0 victory. The Ravens offense racked up 399 yards total offense and didn't have to punt the ball in the win. Alonso defeated King, 31-7, in last year's matchup.

Armwood at Tampa Bay Tech
Where: At Titan Stadium
Records: Armwood 5-0, 0-0; Tampa Bay Tech 4-1, 1-0
Outlook: The Armwood Hawks train just kept rolling down the tracks last week with a 26-9 victory over Jefferson. Armwood RB Eric Smith finished the game with 89 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns along with QB Mywan Jackson added a 54-yard touchdown scamper. Tampa Bay Tech is looking to bounce back after its first loss of the season after falling to Spoto 21-18 last week. Penalties (11-110 yards)and a turnover cost the Titans a victory as Spoto's defensive back Jamel Middleton returned a fumble 96 yards for a touchdown.

Plant at Blake
Where: At Big Jim Williams Stadium
Records: Plant 3-1, 0-0, Blake 0-5, 0-0
Outlook: Plant has been impressive in a dominant fashion in the last three weeks after a season-opening loss to Armwood. Plant didn't need two weeks to get ready for a winless Blake team, but to get healthy for the second half of the season. Blake has been shutout in the last two games by a combined score of 68-0. Blake defense gave up 382 yards of total offense last week in a 40-0 loss to Middleton. Plant won last year's meeting, 35-6.

Newsome at Brandon
Where: At E.F. McLane Stadium
Records: Newsome 4-1, 0-0; Brandon 3-2, 1-0
Outlook: Newsome used a productive running game and a dominant defense in a 35-6 rout of Robinson last week. Four Wolves running backs scored touchdowns while Newsome racked up 176 yards rushing. Brandon had an offensive explosion in a 49-38 victory over Durant last week. The Eagles offense scored 21 fourth-quarter points and senior running back Samir Baker had 194 total yards. Newsome shutout Brandon in last year's meeting, 29-0.

Chamberlain at Sickles
Where: At Gryphons Stadium
Records: Chamberlain 3-2, 0-0; Sickles 4-1, 0-0
Outlook: After starting the season 1-2, the Chiefs have won consecutive games including a 31-0 victory over East Bay last week. Chamberlain got a dominant performance on both sides of the ball with the defense recording eight sacks and a shutout and quarterback Dontae Aycock scoring three touchdowns, gaining 110 yards on 14 carries. Sickles' special teams were a big reason for its 24-6 victory over Bloomingdale last week. The Gryphons blocked two punts – one that was returned for a touchdown – and a blocked extra point. Sickles RB Josh Mendez also had 85 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown. Chamberlain won last year's matchup, 42-7.

Sarasota at Durant
Where: At Ron Frost Athletic Complex
Records: Sarasota 2-3, 0-0; Durant 2-3, 0-0
Outlook: Sarasota is coming off a heartbreaking homecoming 28-23 loss to Manatee last week. The Sailors were on the 6-yard line, but had the last pass play of the game knocked down. Durant lost a shootout against Brandon last week in a 49-38 loss and must bounce back after giving up 21 points in the fourth quarter. Cougars RB Ryan Rice rushed for 122 yards and scored four touchdowns. Durant won last year's meeting, 31-24.

Plant City at East Bay
Where: At E.G. Simmons Field
Records: Plant City 3-2, 1-0; East Bay 1-4, 0-1
Outlook: Plant City must rebound from a crushing overtime 15-14 defeat against Wharton last week. Raiders RB Sirchauncey Holloway had 217 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns, including a 78-yard jaunt in the third quarter. East Bay's losing streak has snowballed to four after a 31-0 loss against Chamberlain last week. The offense fell apart as the Chiefs shut down quarterback Rex Ballenger, who makes the Indians triple-option offense go. Plant City won last year's matchup, 23-14.

Riverview at Sarasota Riverview
Where: At E.G. Simmons Field
Records: Riverview 1-3, 0-0; Sarasota Riverview 0-5, 0-0
Outlook: Riverview's season keeps crumbling beneath them after a disappointing 35-0 loss at home to Hillsborough last week. The Sharks put up 227 yards total offense, but was unable to get the ball into the end zone. Riverview RB Jahleel Addae gained 92 yards on 24 carries. Sarasota Riverview is also in unchartered territory starting the season 0-5 for the first time in the 27-year coaching career of head coach John Sprague. Sarasota Riverview won last year's contest, 21-10.

Wharton at Wesley Chapel
Where: At Wildcat Stadium
Records: Wharton 3-2, 0-0; Wesley Chapel 3-2, 0-0
Outlook: Wharton has yet to string together consecutive victories this season, but will try to start a winning streak this week after defeating Plant City 15-14 in overtime last week. Wharton RB Jarius Jones led the Wildcats to victory as he scored both touchdowns and the two-point conversion that won the game. Wesley Chapel lost a big district contest last week in a 24-17 loss to Zephyrhills and must be ready for another district matchup against Wharton. The Wildcats offense coughed up several opportunities last week with five turnovers. Wharton won last year's matchup, 25-6.

Gaither at Mitchell
Where: Mitchell Stadium
Records: Gaither 3-2, Mitchell 2-2
Outlook: This is the Class 5A-District 5 opener for both schools. The Cowboys have won three straight games after dropping their first two. After giving up 89 points in its two losses, Gaither has given up just 37 in its three wins. RB Jarvis Giles had 146 yards and three TDs (3, 23, 39) to lead the Cowboys in last week's 35-14 win at Jesuit. Mitchell's offense has proven it can put up a ton of points (39 per game), but the problem for the Mustangs is their defense hasn't been able to consistently shut teams down. In their two wins they gave up a total of 27 points; in their two losses: 71. Gaither easily won last year's meeting 41-0.

Hillsborough at Freedom
Where: Freedom Stadium
Records: Hillsborough 5-0, 1-0; Freedom 0-4, 0-1
Outlook: The Terriers, who have posted three shutouts this season, should have an easy time in this Class 4A-District 11 matchup. Hillsborough is coming off last week's 35-0 drubbing of Riverview and could probably name the score against the lowly Patriots, who fell to Alonso last week, 41-0. Freedom's offense has been nonexistent this season, scoring just six points in four games. Defensively, the Patriots haven't done much better, giving up an average of 31 points per game. Freedom defeated Hillsborough last year, 24-21.

Jefferson at Leto
Where: Mahin-Hoffman Stadium
Records: Jefferson 1-3, Leto 2-3
Outlook: This is the Class 4A-District 10 opener for both schools. The Dragons lone win came against winless Robinson in Week 2 and their three losses have come against teams with equal or greater talent (Hillsborough, Gaither, Armwood). Does this mean Jefferson is just an average team? The answer will come in the second half of the season. The Falcons beat Lennard 28-6 last week as Jeremy Deering rushed for two TDs (44, 39). Leto has scored 57 points in its two wins, but only 15 in its three losses. Jefferson had little trouble with the Falcons last year, winning 56-0.

Lennard at Fort Myers Bishop Verot
Records: Lennard 0-5, 0-1; Bishop Verot 4-0, 1-0
Outlook: The Longhorns, looking for their first win, face a stiff challenge in this Class 2A-District 5 game. Lennard, in its first varsity season, has given up at least 24 points in every game, including last week's 28-6 loss against Leto. This doesn't bode well for the Longhorns, who will be facing a Bishop Verot squad that averages 43 points a game.

Robinson at Palmetto
Records: Robinson 0-5, 0-1; Palmetto 4-0, 1-0
Outlook: Things could get ugly for the Knights in this Class 3A-District 11 game. Robinson's offense hasn't been consistent and its defense has too many holes. The Knights have been held to six points three times this season and give up an average of 31 points per game. Palmetto, dominant on both sides of the ball, has outscored its opponents 127-10 and goes into this game with three consecutive shutouts. Robinson won a low-scoring game last year, 10-3.

Sarasota Booker at Jesuit
Where: Alumni Field at Corral Memorial Stadium
Records: Booker 3-1, 0-0; Jesuit 3-2, 1-0
Outlook: Booker brings a two-game winning streak into this Class 3A-District 11 matchup. This is the district opener for Booker, while Jesuit is already 1-0 in district play. The Tigers gave up 372 rushing yards in last week's 35-14 loss against Gaither. Jesuit lost last year's meeting 23-20.

St. Petersburg Catholic at Tampa Catholic
Where: Crusaders Stadium
Records: St. Petersburg Catholic 1-4, 1-0; Tampa Catholic 3-1, 1-0
Outlook: This Class 2A-District 5 game pits teams going in opposite directions. The Barons' lone win came against first-year Lennard, while the Crusaders' lone loss was a one-point last-minute setback to Clearwater Central Catholic. SPC, which is ineligible for the district title, has done more than enough to win games (the Barons average 26 points), but has been let down by a defense that gives up 35 points a game. TC, coming off a bye week, has two shutouts and has given up just 21 points this season. The Crusaders defeated SPC 26-22 in last year's matchup.

Berkeley Prep at Clearwater Central Catholic
Records: Berkeley Prep 3-1, Clearwater Central Catholic 3-2
Outlook: This is the Class 2B-District 6 opener for both schools. The Bucs suffered their first loss of the Dominick Ciao era in last week's 27-17 setback against Orlando Lake Highland Prep. Berkeley Prep led 17-0 late in the first quarter, but five turnovers did the Bucs in as they gave up 27 unanswered points. After winning its first three games, CCC has dropped its last two by a combined score of 45-10. Berkeley Prep was shut out in last year's meeting, 30-0.

Sarasota Out-of-Door at Cambridge Christian
Where: Sam Horton Field (Jefferson High)
Records: Out-of-Door 3-1, 1-0; Cambridge 2-3, 0-2
Outlook: Out-of-Door tries to remain undefeated in Class 1B-District 6 play, while the Lancers are looking for their first district win. Out-of-Door, whose lone loss was by one point, has scored at least 20 points in every game and has outscored its past two opponents 76-7. Cambridge's fast start has slowed thanks to three consecutive losses. After winning their first two games by a combined score of 90-13, the Lancers have been outscored 84-17 during their losing streak.

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