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Speedy Cousins To Propel Terriers

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By BILL WARD

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

TAMPA - Lindsey Lamar and Terrence Mitchell are cousins but they have the type of kinship that is more like the one shared by brothers. They hang out at one another's homes, attend Hillsborough High together and, of course, play on the same sports teams together.

But it's another trait Lamar and Mitchell share that make them stand out athletically: exceptional speed.

Ranked among the state's fastest sprinters during last spring's track and field season, Lamar, a senior running back and kick returner, and Mitchell, a junior wide receiver and free safety, are arguably the two fastest football players in Hillsborough County.

You want quick? Try Lamar's 100-meter dash time of 10.35 seconds, which placed him among the nation's elite sprinters, and Mitchell's time of 10.59 at the same meet.

You want more impressive numbers? How about Lamar's nearly 1,000 yards rushing and eight touchdowns last season, as well as his 3.5 grade-point average. Or Mitchell's team-leading 16 receptions, 24.4 yards-per-catch average and his county-leading long jump last spring of 24 feet, 1 inch.

Should opposing defense be keying on these two players?

"They better," Lamar says with a laugh. "This team has a lot of speed, and it's not just T-Rex Mitchell's nickname and me. We have it all over the team."

The Terriers boast so much speed and talent that Terriers coach Earl Garcia, who also doubles at their offensive line coach, expects his team to be able to produce a far more balanced attack of running and passing than just about any of his previous 16 years at the school.

"I think we have the ability because we have the best-skilled players that we've had in a long, long time. If I do my job and our linemen can protect the quarterback and block for our running backs, we're going to be tough to defend," Garcia said.

"We didn't have a real threat to throw the ball effectively last year so teams could put eight guys in the box. We were just so young on offense last year."

But with eight starters back on offense, including Lamar, Mitchell and 6-foot-4 junior quarterback Tarean Austin, Hillsborough should have a good chance at improving on its 8-2 regular-season record from last season, as well as going well beyond the second round of the playoffs.

To do that, of course, will likely mean the Terriers will have to find a way to get past rivals Armwood or Plant - or both. But with Lamar and Mitchell, as well as wideout Colby Walden, who was also a state medal winner in track, the Terriers will own a level of breakaway speed nearly unmatchable in Class 4A.

"Offensively, I would say this is the best team I've seen in my three years here," said Mitchell. "I'm pretty sure defenses will be watching Lindsey and me, but watching us and stopping us are two different things."

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