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FOOTBALL: Pasco County Previews Week 7

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By EDDIE DANIELS, CRISTINA LEDRA AND BART O'CONNELL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 12, 2007

Mitchell (2-3) at Ridgewood (5-0)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Rams Booster Stadium, 7650 Orchid Lake Road, New Port Richey
COACHES: Scott Schmitz (Mitchell), Chris Taylor (Ridgewood)
LAST WEEK: Gaither 30, Mitchell 14; Ridgewood 49, River Ridge 14
LAST MEETING: Ridgewood 39, Mitchell 17
NEED TO KNOW: The Mustangs must keep Byronell Arline under control and force someone else on the Rams' roster to beat them. Mitchell's defense will have to play downhill against him instead of playing sideline to sideline with the bruiser. … Tate Humphrey is not back to normal, but much closer than last week. He could only use his arm against Gaither last week, but Schmitz said Humphrey is back, the offense can use its full package of plays and Humphrey's legs will be a factor tonight.

Wesley Chapel (3-3) at Sunlake (0-5)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Sunlake Stadium, 3023 Sunlake Boulevard, Land O' Lakes
COACHES: John Castelamare (Wesley Chapel), Bill Browning (Sunlake)
LAST WEEK: Wharton 31, Wesley Chapel 7; Gulf 66, Sunlake 20
LAST MEETING: First meeting
NEED TO KNOW: Simply put, this is a tune-up for Wesley Chapel for next week's Class 5A-District 5 contest against Gaither. The biggest challenge Wesley Chapel will have is not looking past Sunlake. … Don't expect to see Wildcats QB Greg Jenkins tonight as he likely will make his return next week following his right shoulder contusion against Zephyrhills in Week 5. Sophomore C.J. West will guide the Wesley Chapel offense in his second start. …The Seahawks experienced a couple of milestones in their last game — scoring a season-high 20 points, had a 100-yard rusher in Josh Dixon, but also gave up a season-high 66 to Gulf. … Sunlake will have to do the obvious, keep the Wildcats running attack — Hunter Joyer, Keenan Reynolds, Ray Rouch and others — under control.

River Ridge (1-4) at Hudson (3-2)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Cobra Stadium, 14410 Cobra Way
COACHES: Tim Stevens (River Ridge), Mark Nash (Hudson)
LAST WEEK: Ridgewood 49, River Ridge 14; Hudson 65, Wiregrass Ranch 18
LAST MEETING: Hudson 26, River Ridge 18 (2006)
NEED TO KNOW: Tonight is homecoming for the Cobras, who are trying to remain unbeaten at home this season. … FB Sean Scott needs 159 yards to reach 1,000 for the year. He'd be the fourth different Hudson back to reach that mark in the last four seasons (Nate Toole 2004, Vince Ferlita '05, Jake McFadden '06). Hudson would appear to have the edge in the run game, behind a senior-laden offensive line and backfield. … After allowing no points in their first five quarters this season, the Knights have allowed at least one touchdown in each of their last 15 quarters. … MLB Andrew Singer (knee) will miss at least this game and possibly more, while DE Eddie Bennett (knee) is out for the season. … Stevens is "not panicking," however, and believes River Ridge has a chance if it can capitalize on the height advantage for 6-foot-5 receiver Lance Babcock against the Cobras' secondary. Nash said that defending Babcock is a concern.

Coral Gables Gulliver Prep (6-0) at Zephyrhills (4-1)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Bulldog Stadium, 6335 12th Street, Zephyrhills
COACHES: Earl Sims (Gulliver Prep), Tom Fisher (Zephyrhills)
LAST WEEK: Gulliver Prep 42, Marathon, 11; Zephyrhills 14, Pasco 7
LAST MEETING: First meeting
NEED TO KNOW: Despite an offense that has averaged just 230 yards a game, the Bulldogs are on a three-game winning streak. It's mostly thanks to a defense and special teams that has forced six turnovers, scored three touchdowns (punt return, blocked punt return, interception return) and allowed less than 90 yards rushing per game during the streak. … Fisher compares Class 2A Gulliver Prep's offense to that of Mitchell, a pass-heavy attack. … Three of the Raiders' five wins have come against 3A competition. They've scored 40 or more points in their last three games, and allowed four TDs all year. … The team, which arrived in town Thursday, has a proud football history capped by its 2000 state championship. That team was led by RB/LB Sean Taylor, who ran for 44 touchdowns. He went on to win a national title at Miami, and is now an All-Pro safety for the Washington Redskins. … The teams have agreed to play next year in Zephyrhills as well.

Tallahassee Maclay (1-5) at Academy at the Lakes (0-4)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Land O' Lakes Recreation Center, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes
COACHES: Jeff Schaum (Maclay); Mark Arbet (AATL)
LAST MEETING: First Meeting
LAST WEEK: Bell 39, Maclay 7; Bishop McLaughlin 41, AATL 0
NEED TO KNOW: The Wildcats are hoping to rebound from Saturday's surprisingly lopsided loss to the Hurricanes against Maclay, a fellow independent that was founded 40 years ago, but is in its first year of varsity football. … The Wildcats have been shut out in their last three games, whereas the Marauders have had some offensive success despite their overall record. They defeated crosstown rival Maranatha Christian 49-0 on Sept. 21, and a week later lost to Quincy Munroe Day 46-45. … AATL's defense has been a weakness all year, allowing 55 points per game.

SATURDAY

Bishop McLaughlin (1-4, 0-2) at Cambridge Christian (3-3, 1-2)

WHEN/WHERE: 4 p.m./Jefferson High School, 4401 W. Cypress St., Tampa
COACHES: Rick Shears (Cambridge); Marty Williams (Bishop McLaughlin)
LAST MEETING: Bishop McLaughlin 20, Cambridge 13
LAST WEEK: Bishop McLaughlin 41, AATL 0; Cambridge 21, Sarasota Out-of-Door 6
NEED TO KNOW: Coming off a breakthrough offensive performance than included more than 400 yards from scrimmage, the Hurricanes will try to get back in the 1B-6 district race against the Lancers, one of four teams in the district with only one victory (Keswick Christian leads at 2-0). … Bishop junior Ryan Beeble leads the team with four touchdowns. … RB Taylor Cabral is Cambridge's top offensive weapon, running for 237 yards against ODA. He has run for 841 yards and eight touchdowns this season. … Bishop has one more road game this season, and will play its next two games at home.

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