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Ridgewood Overcomes Slow First Half

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A Tribune staff report

Published: October 20, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS - For the first time all season, Ridgewood wasn't in complete control and you could see it on the players' faces.

Even in games when the Rams and their opponents were close, which hasn't happened often this season, the sense was Ridgewood (7-0, 3-0 Class 4A-District 8) eventually would prevail. That wasn't the case Thursday night when Tarpon Springs (4-3, 1-2) refused to let the Rams get away.

Ridgewood won 34-28 to become the school's first team to start 7-0, but it did not come easily.

After Ridgewood went out to a 14-0 lead, the Spongers came back to tie the game by halftime.

'I was concerned at halftime because it didn't look like we had any fight in us and we had to fight, and we were able to challenge them at halftime to come out in the third quarter and establish the offensive side of the ball and the line of scrimmage, so that was good to see,' Ridgewood coach Chris Taylor said.

Even when the Rams scored, the Spongers were right there with them, getting touchdowns on the first play of a possession twice in the second half.

'We've never been under this kind of pressure,' said linebacker Arron Jackson, the Rams' vocal leader. 'I told the team that I felt we worked harder over the summer than any team out there and we gotta come together no matter what happens in the second half and we'll come out with a victory.'

Of Ridgewood's seven opponents this season, Tarpon Springs was the third that has a winning record, and two have combined for one win.

It was understandable if the thought was Ridgewood had yet to face a real challenge and Tarpon Springs gave the Rams a lot to handle, but with the last-minute interception by safety Frankie Downey that led the game-winning touchdown, the Rams felt this was a win they really needed.

'This made a statement, big-time,' running back Byronell Arline said. 'We're for real. We ain't joking. We're for real.'

Cristina Ledra

Surprise! Defense Now Leads Way For Land O' Lakes

LAND O' LAKES - There comes a time when you just have to accept change, whether big or small, can be a bit unnerving.

Unless the benefits outweigh the downside.

In the case of Land O' Lakes, there likely isn't much downside to the change that has begun to take place.

After inching closer to securing its 11th consecutive playoff berth with a 14-7 victory against Brooksville Central on Thursday night, it was very clear the Land O' Lakes defense was the star of the game.

The unit collected five sacks, including two each by Alex Zimmerman and James Ridley. It forced the Bears to punt on seven of their 11 possessions. And defensive end Keith Hoffman returned a fourth-quarter interception for the go-ahead score.

'I think we've played well defensively all season,' Land O' Lakes coach John Benedetto said.

When told Central running back Duane Marks was held to 9 yards, Benedetto wasn't surprised.

'I believe it,' the coach said matter-of-factly. 'It was a defensive battle. No doubt about it.'

In seven games, the Land O' Lakes defense has given up an average of 11.7 points, bettering last season's 12.4 points per game opponents collected. In the past five seasons, this season's points per game given up by Land O' Lakes were dwarfed only by the 2005 squad's 9.5.

What makes this such a feat is the fact the Gators' offense has not been the juggernaut it has been in the past, averaging 21.5 points compared to 26.2 in 2006 and 28 in 2005.

In the face of tight games, the Gators' defense has held opponents to nine points or less four times, and on three occasions its offense has scored just 14 points. Each time, that has been enough for a victory.

Eddie Daniels

Castelamare Looking For A Strong Finish

TAMPA - After Wesley Chapel and Gaither shook hands and went their separate ways Thursday night, Wildcats coach John Castelamare sat his players down on the star at the center of Death Valley, but it was hardly a time to celebrate.

For 10 minutes after the 34-9 loss, which virtually dropped the Wildcats (4-4, 0-2 Class 5A-District 5) out of playoff contention, Castelamare stood on the field, his players surrounding him, and challenged them to finish the year strong, not make excuses, and handle the adversity like adults.

'I think they will. I just have a lot of young kids out there,' Castelamare said. 'I've got four ninth-graders out there that have to learn, and I feel bad for the seniors, that they have to go through this kind of thing.'

A couple hours earlier, hopes were high as Wesley Chapel took a 9-0 lead, thanks to stifling defense on Gaither's star tailback, Jarvis Giles. But Giles wouldn't be stopped for long, rushing for three touchdowns to turn momentum, and the scoreboard, against the Wildcats.

By the third quarter, many of Wesley Chapel's disappointments began showing up on the field by way of penalties, trash talking and unsportsmanlike actions, which also displeased Castelamare.

'That's no good. Can't talk back to the officials, not to the players, they need to go to the huddle and learn,' he said. 'They the Cowboys were a little mouthy, too. They weren't angels in this whole thing. So we just happened to be the one getting caught in the tail end of some of these things. I just need to know our boys are gonna let that ride and get back in the huddle, not cause problems.'

The Wildcats have two weeks to prepare for their 5A-5 finale against Mitchell. Quarterback Greg Jenkins, who threw for 84 yards and rushed for 26 Thursday, made it through the game healthy and is expected to finish his senior season without any of his past injuries holding him back.

As for the rest of the squad, especially the younger players that struggled to deal with Thursday's loss, Castelamare wants to see more maturity.

'We've got to get this frustration out of them right now. They've got to grow up by Monday,' he said. 'If they want to play football, they've got to do that. Otherwise, they're not ready for this game.'

Bart O'Connell

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