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TONIGHT'S PREP FOOTBALL MATCHUPS

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2009

LAND O' LAKES (7-1, 5-1 3A-DISTRICT 7)

AT MITCHELL (8-1, 5-1)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Mitchell Stadium, 2323 Little Road, Trinity

COACHES: Matt Kitchie (Land O' Lakes), Brian Wachtel (Mitchell)

LAST WEEK: Land O' Lakes 42, Sunlake 14; Pasco 17, Mitchell 3

LAST MEETING: Land O' Lakes 48, Mitchell 14 (2006)

NEED TO KNOW: This game will decide who will be the district runner-up behind Pasco and earn a playoff spot. And that isn't the only story line. Land O' Lakes will be without sack leader Gary Myrick (8.5 sacks), who is serving a one-game suspension for being ejected last week against Sunlake. Mitchell RB Ricky Trinidad will return to the lineup after missing last week's game because of back spasms. He was cleared for full contact Tuesday. ... Despite this being homecoming week, Wachtel said his bunch has been focused. He gave them a short practice Monday so they could enjoy homecoming activities.

SUNLAKE (3-5, 3-3 3A-7)

AT PASCO (7-1, 6-0)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./W.F. Edwards Stadium, 36850 SR 52, Dade City
COACHES: Bill Browning (Sunlake), Tom McHugh (Pasco)

LAST WEEK: Land O' Lakes 42, Sunlake 14; Pasco 17, Mitchell 3

LAST MEETING: Pasco 30, Sunlake 0 (2008)

NEED TO KNOW: The Seahawks finally complete a three-week stretch that saw them play Mitchell, Land O' Lakes and Pasco. Last week against Land O' Lakes, the Seahawks kept the game close until late when some gambles failed and the Gators were able to take advantage and won 42-14. Rashaud Daniels has 692 yards and 9 touchdowns. He needs 7 yards in the final two games to set the school record for rushing yards in a season. His touchdown total is already a school record. ... Pasco has yet to turn its attention to the playoffs after clinching its third consecutive district title last week against Mitchell. Now the focus turns toward a second consecutive Sunshine Athletic Conference title. ... In order to do that, the Pirates must win out, against Sunlake and next week against Wiregrass Ranch.

HUDSON (4-4, 2-1 4A-6) AT

WIREGRASS RANCH (5-3, 2-1)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Wiregrass Ranch Stadium, 2909 Mansfield Road, Wesley Chapel

COACHES: Mark Nash (Hudson), Jeremy Shobe (Wiregrass Ranch)

LAST WEEK: Tarpon Springs 38, Hudson 6; Wiregrass 41, River Ridge 7

LAST MEETING: Hudson 14, Wiregrass 7 (2008)

NEED TO KNOW: The last time the Cobras played a must-win game to make or miss the postseason, they won at Zephyrhills 23-17 in 2007. QB Zack Wynn threw the game-winning touchdown pass after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in the second half. ... Wynn needs 104 passing yards to reach 2,000 for the season, but likely a lot more than that if the Cobras expect to win. Since 2007, when Wynn accounts for 300 or more yards, the Cobras are 7-2. When he accounts for less than 300 yards they are 7-9, including 3-6 when that number is less than 200 yards. ... WR James Tello needs 170 receiving yards to reach 1,000. ... It's pretty simple what the Wiregrass Ranch football team needs to do to ensure success against Hudson. First off, the defense must play well and not allow the Hudson receivers to get behind them. Second, the Bulls offense must also play defense. That happens by playing ball-control offense, which chews up time and keeps the dangerous Wynn off the field. To make that happen, Wiregrass will have to be more physical than the smaller Cobras. ... A victory allows Wiregrass to make history with a district runner-up finish and a playoff berth. ... Tonight, the Bulls can also get their first 1,000-yard rusher in Josh Johnson, who is 63 yards shy.

GULF (5-4, 2-3 3A-7) AT

WESLEY CHAPEL (3-6, 2-4)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Wildcat Stadium, 30651 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel

COACHES: Jay Fulmer (Gulf), John Castelamare (Wesley Chapel)

LAST WEEK: Gulf 29, Zephyrhills 7; Wesley Chapel 39, Anclote 7

LAST MEETING: Wesley Chapel 15, Gulf 14 (2006)

NEED TO KNOW: The Buccaneers, without Leon Orr for most of the season, have a chance to finish 6-4 with a win. Against Zephyrhills, Alphonso Blanch rushed for 110 yards and Madison Burr had 115 yards of total offense (62 passing, 31 rushing and 22 receiving). This is the final game for Burr, Will Burbridge and Darryl Cooper - all three-year starters. ... The Wildcats are fresh off their first win since their double-OT victory against Sunlake on Oct. 9. Wesley Chapel finally got its offense going after weeks of sputtering.

RIVER RIDGE (2-6, 0-3 4A-6) AT

RIDGEWOOD (2-6, 0-3 4A-6)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Rams Booster Stadium, 7650 Orchid Lake Road, New Port Richey

COACHES: Tim Stevens (River Ridge), Chris Taylor (Ridgewood)

LAST WEEK: Wiregrass Ranch 41, River Ridge 7; Ridgewood bye

LAST MEETING: Ridgewood 16, River Ridge 7 (2008)

NEED TO KNOW: Ridgewood has beaten River Ridge four times in a row dating to 2005. That means the Royal Knights' last two senior classes, including current senior RB Stavros Arianas, have not tasted victory against their arch-rivals. To reach 1,000 rushing yards on the year, Arianas needs 65, a number he has surpassed in every game this year and in 13 of the past 14 since last season. The loser of this game will finish in last place in the district. ... The Rams have had a week off following a tough 22-21 loss to Hudson on Oct. 23, which officially eliminated Ridgewood from any playoff hopes. Now, the Rams are looking to win their final two games and build for next year.

ANCLOTE (0-8, 0-6 CLASS 3A-7)

AT ZEPHYRHILLS (1-7, 1-5)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Bulldog Stadium, 6335 12th St., Zephyrhills

COACHES: Matt Wicks (Anclote), Troy Hochstetler/Greg Mathis (Zephyrhills)

LAST WEEK: Wesley Chapel 39, Anclote 7; Gulf 29, Zephyrhills 7

LAST MEETING: First meeting

NEED TO KNOW: The Sharks complete their first district schedule tonight. Against Wesley Chapel, Anclote gave up 453 yards, including 365 on the ground. The Sharks have given up 365 points in their first eight games. In Sunlake's first year (2007), the Seahawks gave up 389 through their first eight games while Wiregrass Ranch, which played its first season as a junior varsity team, gave up 310 through eight games in its first varsity season. ... The Bulldogs have a prime opportunity to get out of their offensive funk tonight, with Anclote having allowed 45.6 points per game this season and at least 35 in all eight of their games. ... Since Oct. 2 against Pasco when Jamal Roberts returned to the Bulldogs' sideline following an appendectomy, Zephyrhills has scored four offensive touchdowns, and Roberts has been in on three of them.

BISHOP MCLAUGHLIN (1-7, 1-2) AT

ALL SAINTS' ACADEMY (2-6, 1-2)

WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m./Jahna Field, 5001 SR 540, Winter Haven

CONFERENCE: Sunshine State Athletic (South Division)

COACHES: Marty Williams (Bishop McLaughlin), Jim Wright (All Saints')

LAST WEEK: Carrollwood Day 42, Bishop McLaughlin 14; Cambridge 43, All Saints' 0

LAST MEETING: All Saints' 26, Bishop McLaughlin 9 (2007)

NEED TO KNOW: The winner of this game will finish third in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference South Division, and the loser will be fourth. Carrollwood Day and Canterbury are playing for the division title today, and Hernando Christian will finish last. The seeding is important to determine the opponents for each team's 10{+t}{+h} game, which will come against corresponding teams from the North Division. ... Despite losing by 28 to undefeated CDS last week, Bishop McLaughlin gave it one of its toughest games all season, but CDS was able to pull away in the second half. This week the Hurricanes face a team that has allowed 40 or more points in three of its last four games.

Eddie Daniels, Rick Harmon, Bart O'Connell

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