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Week 7 Football Capsules

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 16, 2008

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

WHERE: Mustang Stadium, 2323 Little Road, Trinity

COACHES: Chris Taylor (Ridgewood); Scott Schmitz (Mitchell)

LAST WEEK: Ridgewood 16, River Ridge 7; Gaither 14, Mitchell 3

LAST MEETING: Ridgewood 42, Mitchell 13

NEED TO KNOW: Tonight is a homecoming game for Ridgewood running back Sterling Ross. He transferred from Mitchell last winter. ... Ross rushed for 167 yards vs. River Ridge and has 1,144 yards in five games. ... Quarterback Jimmy Mattos is healthy this week after missing the River Ridge game with an injured hand. He will share duties with Scott Kujack. Both took snaps Wednesday at practice. ... The Rams will need to contain Mitchell's running game, something they have had trouble doing this season. ... Mitchell sophomore running back Ricky Trinidad rushed for 116 yards vs. Gaither, his third consecutive 100-plus game. ... The Mustangs failed to score as touchdown in a game for the first time this season. ... Quarterback Cody Van De Boe was only seven of 16 for 69 yards and only has completed 17 of 42 for 251 yards in five games. ... Trinidad did complete two halfback passes last week, including one to Van De Boe. ... Mitchell's defense continues to be the strong point. It held Gaither scoreless after the first two Cowboys' drives.

Sunlake (1-4) at Wesley Chapel (2-4)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Wildcat Stadium, 30651 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel
COACHES: Bill Browning (Sunlake), John Castelamare (Wesley Chapel)

LAST WEEK: Sunlake 2, Gulf 34; Wharton 28, Wesley Chapel 21

LAST MEETING: Wesley Chapel 42, Sunlake 6 (2007)

NEED TO KNOW: Sunlake's offensive production went from a season high in their Game 1 victory against River Ridge (19-10) to a total of two point in the last two contests. ... Sunlake failed to score an offensive touchdown for the third consecutive game and has only scored 42 points this season. ... Gulf held the Seahawks to only a safety as Eli Escobar tackled Gulf's Adrian Golden in the end zone in the first quarter. ... The Seahawks continue to struggle on offense - rushing for 117 yards and passing for 41 against Gulf. ... Quarterback Tommy Valez got most of the snaps vs. Gulf after splitting duties the entire season with Ryan Horan. ... Wesley Chapel will be without DB/RB Arron Duncan after he was transported to Tampa General Hospital via Bayflight following last week's contest when he fainted. A second quarter concussion took him out of the game and as the team prepared to return to Wesley Chapel, he fainted, prompting the hospital evaluation. He was released at 4 a.m. that following morning. ... Castelamare isn't taking the Seahawks lightly, complimenting the hungry nature of the team as well as the physical size difference between last season's Seahawks and this year's. ... Two dropped interceptions by the Wildcats defense coupled with a late interception by Wharton's Jairus Jones toward the end of the game kept the team from logging a key district victory. ... It's almost a sure bet Sunlake will catch a heavy dose of Wildcats leading rushers Hunter Joyer (549 yards, 3 TDs) and Keenan Reynolds (461 yards, 5 TDs).

Hudson (1-4) at River Ridge (0-5)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Jim Valentine Athletic Complex, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey

COACHES: Mark Nash (Hudson), Tim Stevens (River Ridge)

LAST WEEK: Hudson 14, Wiregrass Ranch 7; Ridgewood 16, River Ridge 7

LAST MEETING: Hudson 63, River Ridge 14 (2007)

NEED TO KNOW: Both teams enter this game reeling after tough weeks, and may be tempted to look ahead towards key district games in the weeks ahead. ... Hudson struggled to find an offensive rhythm against Wiregrass Ranch, and may have similar difficulties against a River Ridge offense determined to control time of possession with a power running game. ... Despite the Royal Knights' record, it is clear that their defense has made huge strides from previous years. River Ridge has held three of their five opponents this season under 20 points. From 2005-07, they accomplished the feat only once in 30 games. ... The one weakness for the Knights has been pass defense, which Pasco County's leading passer, Zack Wynn, will look to exploit. ... Hudson has won four straight in the series.

Bishop McLaughlin (2-3) at Leesburg First Academy (1-4)

WHEN/WHERE: Friday at 7/Sleepy Hollow Recreation Complex, 2775 Hollow Lane, Leesburg

COACHES: Marty Williams (Bishop McLaughlin), Guy Wilson (First Academy)

LAST WEEK: Bishop McLaughlin 36, Lake Wales Vanguard 0; Hernando Christian 52, First Academy 6

LAST MEETING: First meeting

NEED TO KNOW: For the second consecutive week, Bishop McLaughlin faces a team that would be winless if not for a forfeit victory against Titusville Temple Christian, which cancelled its season prior to opening night. This time, however, the Hurricanes figure to see a more talented squad than scoreless Vanguard, at least offensively. First Academy is averaging 15.8 points per game, but they are allowing 38.3 per game including the before-mentioned season-high of 52 to HCA last week. ... Williams said his squad will not look ahead to the Oct. 31 showdown with Carrollwood Day, which is the only game left on the Hurricanes' schedule with any playoff implications. Bishop McLaughlin didn't know it at the time, but its 21-14 loss to HCA on Sep. 5 was a Sunshine State Athletic Conference South Division game, due to retroactive realignment, meaning the best the 'Canes can do is finish second and face the second-place team in the North Division for their Week 11 bowl game.

Eddie Daniels, Rick Harmon, Bart O'Connell

PASCO TOP 5

1. Gulf (3)...30

2. Pasco...24

3. Land O' Lakes...18

4. Mitchell...12

5. Ridgewood...4

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Wesley Chapel (2 points)

VOTING: Reporter Eddie Daniels and correspondents Rick Harmon and Bart O'Connell. Point totals based on 10-8-6-4-2.

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