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Prep Football Notebook: Crusaders Battling Injuries

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2008

Tampa Catholic, last year's Class 2A state runner-up, still is winless after two weeks and injuries have been a major factor. The most notable Crusaders player still hurting is junior quarterback Christian Green, who sprained an ankle in a season-opening loss to Ocala Trinity Catholic and played just one down in last week's loss to Clearwater Central Catholic.

Tampa Catholic coach Bob Henriquez said Thursday Green is "about 80 percent" and hopes his star quarterback can play tonight in a road game against Sarasota Cardinal Mooney. Earlier this week, Green was offered a scholarship to the University of Florida, Henriquez said. Green has also received offers from Michigan and Florida State, among others.

Meanwhile, Crusaders lineman Chaz Green remains out with a high ankle sprain and right tackle Ronnie Barcena is playing with a cast on his thumb due to a fracture. The good news for TC is several players should be back from injuries this week. Those include receiver Jordan Jones (shoulder), linebacker Colin Carter (concussion) tight end A.J. Mulkey (ankle) and running back Henry McCloud, who suffered a slight ankle sprain near the end of the CCC game.

BULLGATOR: The Tigers are getting help from a Gator.

Former University of Florida standout Thaddeus Bullard has joined Jesuit's coaching staff. Head coach Joe Ross said Bullard has been doing a little bit of everything, but mostly he's working with the defensive line.

While conducting research for locations for the upcoming Super Bowl, Ross was introduced to Bullard, an Arena Football League veteran, and the two hit it off. Next thing Ross knew, he had some help from Bullard, who has immediately made an impact with the players.

"He's got a contagious personality," Ross said. "They have no choice but to respond to him. He's bigger than they are."

BUCS PICK EDINGTON: Lennard's George Edington was honored as the Buccaneers Coach of the Week.

Edington met with Bucs coach Jon Gruden following Tampa Bay's practice Thursday morning. Gruden presented the Longhorns coach with a personalized football. The award also includes $1,000 for Lennard's football program. Edington won his first game last week as the Longhorns coach when his team rallied from a 14-point deficit to defeat Sickles, 21-14.

Last week, the Bucs honored Middleton coach Harry Hubbard.

SPARTANS HOPE TO DELIVER FOR HOMECOMING: Spoto has the opportunity to start the season 3-0 for the first time in program history, which is only in its second season.

Standing in the Spartans way is Lennard, also in its second varsity season, in what will be Spoto's homecoming game.

Spoto owns the series 3-0 (2-0 in JV games), but Lennard won the spring jamboree meeting, 7-0.

"They're better than they were in the spring," Lennard coach George Edington said. "They're fast. We have to contain that speed and cut them back into inside."

Lennard (1-1) is hoping to make history as well by moving over .500 for the first time.

"It'd be nice" Edington said. "Winning last week over Sickles was a shot of confidence."

Spoto coach Dale Caparaso is worrisome of Lennard quarterback Andrew Burdick, who runs the Longhorns shotgun offense.

"He can get out of the pocket, get on the edge and throw," he said. "I'm a little concerned with that."

Caparaso said he will try to disrupt Burdick with constant blitzes.

"I'm real optimistic about this game," Burdick said.

BAD SPORTSMANSHIP: Sometimes, school administrators have to be careful letting a student possess a live microphone.

In last Friday's Tampa Catholic loss to Clearwater Central Catholic, a student acting as the game's public address announcer began to sing the Steam song "Na Na Na, Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye," a song likely made more famous by Chicago White Sox organist Nancy Faust.

The student began singing the lyrics to the song with about a minute to play in the game and the host Marauders taking over on downs.

CCC athletic director Bob Cotter, who happened to be near the Tampa Catholic sidelines when the student began singing, began jumping up and down, waving his arms and pointing at the press box in an attempt to stop the student or at least get his attention, to no avail.

Cotter apologized to the Crusaders coaching staff.

PASCO'S JOHNSON COMMITS: Wednesday night, Pasco High receiver Josh Johnson told Purdue he wanted to be a Boilermaker. Johnson took a visit to the school last weekend and had been visited by Purdue coach Joe Tiller twice, according to Pasco coach Tom McHugh.

Johnson, who likely will play defense for the Boilermakers, has played quarterback, receiver, running back as well as defense for the Pirates.

CHANGING IT UP: Newsome's offense has struggled to put points on the board in the first two weeks, getting only a long touchdown run from sophomore Conner Powers during an 0-2 start.

So, Coach Kenneth Hiscock has decided to change some personnel in the Wolves' Wing-T attack for tonight's game against Durant, moving defenders Niko Anthony and Vince Pennington over the offense in an effort to give the unit a spark.

Nick Williams, Bill Ward, Lee Diekemper, Katherine Smith, Eddie Daniels, Adam Adkins

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