TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Prep News And Notes: Oct. 11

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2007

Durant Kicker Sidelined For Rest Of The Season

Durant senior kicker/punter Evan Kelly has a torn ACL and is done for the season, Cougars coach Mike Gottman said Wednesday.

Kelly was injured while trying to make a tackle during a kickoff against Brandon on Sept. 28.

"I knew he twisted up his leg pretty good. All weekend he had some swelling, but I didn't think he had blown his knee out," Gottman said.

Gottman said Kelly informed him of the MRI results Friday, hours before the Cougars' first district game against Sarasota. Durant lost to the Sailors 22-19 in that game, which was completed Monday after being suspended at the half Friday because of inclement weather.

Kelly had made five of seven field goal attempts this season, which included a game-winning 24-yarder as time expired against East Bay in Week 2. Kelly also averaged 41 yards on 10 punts this season.

Gottman said sophomore Mike Rossiter has been called up from the junior varsity squad to replace Kelly. Rossiter has limited experience, and that could impact Gottman's decision-making when the Cougars offense enters field goal territory, the coach said.

"That's heavy on my thought process right now," Gottman said. "We're going to continue to work with this kid, but lack of experience and lack of being in a pressure situation is tough to imitate."

WHARTON HIRES COACH: Wharton athletic director Michael Rowan has announced Comer Copeland will be the new boys basketball coach. Copeland, the junior varsity coach, replaces Tommy Tonelli, who accepted an assistant coaching position at South Florida, his alma mater.

Rowan said the hiring became official Monday, and the AD said he received several applications from coaches around the state.

The Wildcats advanced to the Class 5A region final and finished 29-2 last season. The team was also ranked within the top five in the state.

In other Wildcats news, senior forward Anthony Manuel has verbally committed to The Citadel, a Division I school in the Southern Conference.

Manuel, a 6-foot-4 small forward, made an unofficial visit to The Citadel in September. He averaged 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for the state-ranked Wildcats last season, which advanced to the Class 5A region final.

The Bulldogs finished 7-23 last season.

SYKES TO VISIT ILLINOIS: It seems the Fighting Illini's victory against then-No. 5 Wisconsin last week put Illinois on top of Chamberlain receiver Fred Sykes' list of possible schools. The 6-foot-1 receiver, who hasn't made any official visits, is scheduled to visit No. 18 Illinois next week, according to Coach Brian Turner.

Leading up to the team's game against East Bay in Week 5, Sykes said he was having trouble keeping in contact with scouts because he had lost his cell phone.

Sykes is also being recruited by Toledo, Kentucky and Troy, among other schools.

This season, Sykes has 235 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 12 catches.

BUCS ON A ROLL: Berkeley Prep's girls golf team has a perfect record since dropping its opening match this season. The latest in the line of wins was Tuesday's 173-190 victory against Gaither, the Bucs' ninth straight victory, according to Coach Tom Shea.

Leading the way this season have been juniors Kyleen and Kim Carpenter, whom Shea calls "the best twin sisters in the Tampa area." Kyleen has carried a 40 average this season, with Kim not far behind with a 42.

GOING LOW: East Bay's girls golf team posted its lowest round of the season Tuesday in a tight five-stroke victory over Newsome.

The Indians combined to shoot 170, which helped the team finish the regular season 10-0. Freshman Abby Rolfe led the way with a 1-over 37, a round that included two birdies and three bogeys. Senior Julie Rolfe, Abby's sister, carded a 2-over 38, while Nicole Miller (46) and Krystal Jacobson (49) rounded out the Indians' scorecard.

NICE RETURN: Plant City running back Keith Dawson returned in a big way against East Bay last week, rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

The thing is, Coach Kevin Kelley said his explosive back is still only "95 percent" after the high ankle sprain that kept him out of the first half of the season.

But Dawson's return is certainly encouraging for Plant City (4-2, 2-0).

"He infuses our offense when he comes back," Kelley said.

Dawson also expands the playbook. Kelley said Plant City has used probably one-third of its playbook in Dawson's absence. Having Dawson on the field with fellow back Sirchauncey Holloway - who has rushed for 734 yards this season - increases their options.

"You can run them both in the backfield or put one in the backfield and one in the slot," Kelley said. "That's been the plan since the spring, but we haven't been able to do it."

POSTSEASON ROAD TOUGH: Newsome's loss to Brandon on Friday put the Wolves (4-2, 0-1) in a difficult situation in the District 5A-7 football race.

Brandon and Plant City are both 2-0 in district, meaning they have a game in hand on the Wolves. The Wolves face Plant City on Oct. 18, a game that will determine Newsome's playoff fate.

SINCLAIR QUESTIONABLE: Sickles coach Pat O'Brien said Tuesday that junior safety Tyler Sinclair is questionable for Friday's game with Spoto after suffering a hamstring injury, but O'Brien said the junior practiced this week.

FREEDOM HIRES NEW AD: Freedom principal Richard Bartels said Eli Thomas has been named the athletic director.

JAGUARS RAISE MONEY FOR CANCER: The Academy of the Holy Names volleyball team was successful in its breast cancer awareness campaign during its match against Cardinal Mooney on Tuesday, raising $1,400. The proceeds will go directly to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation.

Adam Adkins, Matthew Postins, Nick Williams

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT