TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

District Playoff Breakdown

ADVERTISEMENT

By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2008

With three weeks remaining in high school football district action, we take a look at the races for playoff spots:

Class 6A-District 6

The seasons are on the line tonight for both Durant and Riverview. The Cougars and Sharks each are 0-1 in district play, and losses tonight against their Sarasota counterparts will eliminate them from postseason contention.

Durant is banged up on offense, and the Cougars likely will have to rely on third-stringers tonight at both quarterback and running back, not exactly the formula the team was hoping for on the road against Sarasota Riverview, arguably the district favorite.

Riverview, meanwhile, is still searching for its first win this season, and the Sharks haven't had much success recently against Sarasota, dropping the past two meetings.

Class 5A-District 5

Both Gaither and Wharton can lock up postseason berths with victories tonight against Pasco County counterparts, but both teams have their work cut out for them because both are on the road.

The Wildcats, who have won five straight, travel to face Mitchell, which is undefeated at home this season and is coming off a big 16-13 home victory against Ridgewood.

Gaither is 1-2 on the road this season after last week's loss to Alonso, but Wesley Chapel hasn't been great at home this season, with its only win in three tries coming last week against Sunlake, a team that has lost five straight.

Class 5A-District 6

Two of Hillsborough County's hottest teams will meet tonight with a playoff berth - at the very least - on the line.

Chamberlain, 7-0, travels to face Alonso, which is 6-1 and riding a five-game winning streak. The game will feature two of the county's best quarterbacks in Chiefs senior Dontae Aycock and Ravens junior C.J. Bennett, who has 16 touchdown passes and no interceptions during his team's current winning streak.

Sickles hosts King in another big district game, as both teams are hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive. But, this game also can impact the other.

If Chamberlain wins and King loses, the Chiefs will earn the district title. If Alonso wins and Sickles loses, the Ravens will be crowned district champs.

Class 5A-District 7

Bloomingdale and Newsome can take a huge step tonight toward securing the first playoff berth in their respective program's history.

A win tonight would give the Wolves and Bulls a 2-0 start in district play, meaning each team would control its own postseason fate down the stretch.

Newsome, which has won three straight - all by shutout - travels to face Plant City, which will be the Raiders' first home game of the season. Bloomingdale, meanwhile, hosts East Bay, which has lost three of its past four games.

The games are just as big for the Raiders and Indians, as both teams are 1-1 in district play. A win would put both teams right in the thick of the district title race, while a loss would force them to rely on help from other teams to reach the postseason.

Class 4A-District 10

Plant and Jefferson can wrap up postseason berths with victories tonight.

Plant, which is turning to sophomore quarterback Phillip Ely after senior Aaron Murray suffered a broken leg last week, travels to face Leto, a team the Panthers have beaten by 42 or more points in each of the last three seasons.

The Dragons - hoping to lock up their 10th consecutive playoff appearance - travel to face Blake, which snapped a six-game losing streak last week against Brandon.

Class 4A-District 11

While nothing will be decided tonight, Armwood can jump into the driver's seat in this district with a victory against Hillsborough at Chelo Huerta Field.

The Hawks have defeated the Terriers the last four times the teams have met, counting regular and postseason games, but the last time Armwood lost in the regular season to a Hillsborough County opponent was at Hillsborough in 2005.

Freedom travels to face Middleton tonight in another big district matchup. The Patriots, who have lost five straight after a season-opening win, are 0-2 in district play and will be officially eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Tigers, who are hoping to avoid an 0-2 start in the district.

Class 3A-District 11

Jesuit and Spoto are still in the hunt for a playoff berth, but a loss tonight would severely hurt each team's chances.

The Tigers, coming off a bye week, are 1-1 in district play and face a tough challenge on the road against Palmetto, which has won five straight and allowed only 16 points during that stretch.

Spoto, 0-1 in district play, starts a three-game district stretch tonight against Sarasota Booker. The Spartans have a little momentum on their side from last week, when they picked up their first win after having to forfeit three victories earlier this season.

Class 2A-District 5

Tampa Catholic can take a big step toward securing its fourth consecutive postseason berth with a win tonight.

The Crusaders, winners of four straight, host Mulberry in a clash of district front-runners. Both teams are 2-0 in district play with three district matchups, including this game, remaining.

Meanwhile, Lennard needs a win tonight against Lake Placid to avoid an unenviable uphill climb. If the Longhorns lose, they'd fall to 1-2 in district play and would need to beat Tampa Catholic and Mulberry to have a shot at the postseason.

Class 2B-District 6

Berkeley Prep can secure its first playoff berth under Coach Dominick Ciao and the Bucs' first trip to the postseason since 2004 with a win tonight against Sarasota Cardinal Mooney.

The good news for the Bucs is they are 2-0 on the road this season. The bad news is the Bucs have lost three straight to Cardinal Mooney, with the losses by an average of 24 points.

Class 1B-District 6

Cambridge Christian, which is winless this season and 0-4 in district play, has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT