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Hillsborough County football capsules: Week 7

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Published: October 15, 2009

GAITHER (1-4) AT PLANT CITY (3-3)

NEED TO KNOW: A once dismal season has taken a dramatic turn for the better in recent weeks for Plant City. The Raiders have won two straight to climb back to .500 for the season, and they now have a chance to gain momentum into the final stretch run of district play. The Cowboys have lost three straight.

Plant City sophomore quarterback Bennie Coney continues to get better and is coming off one of his best career games. Coney threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in last week's win over Bloomingdale. Raiders sophomore running back Dazmond Patterson topped the 100-yard rushing mark for a fifth consecutive game last week and ranks among Hillsborough County's rushing leaders with 686 yards and five touchdowns this season.

Gaither's offense has struggled and is averaging just seven points per game. The Cowboys are coming off consecutive shutout losses to Hillsborough and Plant.

Linebacker Josh Scarberry (48 tackles, two sacks) and defensive lineman Derek Bavol (40 tackles, two sacks) have led the Gaither defense.

LETO (1-4) AT NEWSOME (2-2)

NEED TO KNOW: Newsome enters this non-district game hoping to keep some positive momentum. Leto hopes to end a three-game losing streak.

Wolves fullback Conner Powers had his best game of the season in last week's win over Robinson, rushing for 179 yards and four touchdowns. Powers ranks among Hillsborough County's leaders with 580 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season. Newsome's defense also has played well lately. The Wolves have held the opposition to 33 points in the last two games (both wins) after allowing 30-plus in its first two losses and 29 in three quarters against Jefferson, which ultimately was ruled an unofficial game.

Leto features electrifying running back Jeremy Deering (752 total yards of offense, seven total touchdowns), and Terik Greensberry has emerged as a nice compliment. Greensberry has rushed for 445 yards this season.

The Falcons must hold on to the ball to have a chance, something they haven't been able to do during their current losing streak. Leto has 10 turnovers in the last three games.

ROBINSON (4-1) AT ST. PETE CATHOLIC (5-1)

NEED TO KNOW: This is a huge Class 2A-District 5 matchup, one in which the winner will be in the driver's seat toward the district title.

The Knights enter this game coming off their first loss of the season, while the Barons have won five straight after a season-opening loss.

The Barons, led by quarterback Chris McKay, have averaged 40 points per game during their current win streak. The Barons defense also has held the opposition to 10 or fewer points in four of those games.

Robinson has displayed a balanced offense, using a solid running game behind Tim Randolph and Bob Smith and a passing attack with quarterback Blake Rice and receivers Ruben Gonzalez and Frankie Williams. The Knights defense allowed 41 points in last week's loss to Newsome, which was seven more than the team allowed in the first four games combined.

LAKE WALES VANGUARD (2-4) AT CAMBRIDGE CHRISTIAN (2-3)

NEED TO KNOW: The Lancers look to improve to 3-1 in Class 1A-District 5 play Friday against the Panthers.

Cambridge knocked off Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic last week, a team it had never previously defeated. It was the second time this season the Lancers earned a victory over a team it had never beaten (joining a Week 4 win over Keswick Christian).

Lancers quarterback Michael McDermott has played well since taking over for injured starter Hayden Kelley. McDermott threw four touchdowns – three in the second half – in last week's win.

Vanguard has dropped four straight after starting the season 2-0, which included a 49-8 loss to Santa Fe Catholic. Cambridge defeated Vanguard, 65-0, last season.

CARROLLWOOD DAY (5-0) AT LEESBURG FIRST ACADEMY (2-4)

NEED TO KNOW: Carrollwood Day is one of three remaining unbeaten teams in Hillsborough County. The Patriots, a second-year program, already have set a program record for wins in a season.

The Patriots have won their past two games by a combined score of 109-0. Carrollwood Day defeated First Academy twice last season by a combined score of 83-49.

Patriots running back Darius Bing scored five touchdowns in last week's win over All Saints', and quarterback Billy Embody is one of Hillsborough County most efficient passers this season with a 14-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

First Academy has lost two of its past three games.

PLANT (4-1) AT SPOTO (6-0)

NEED TO KNOW: Spoto lives and dies by the blitz, which for a Plant's could result in big plays down field. The Panthers are no longer a one-dimensional offense. The can mix things up with a power running game, led by T.J. Glover and James Wilder Jr. and a passing attack, led by quarterback Phillip Ely, who seems nearly fully recovered from a stress fracture in his lower back that sidelined him earlier this season.

This might be the biggest game in Spoto's short history, but the Panthers know emotion won't be the only thing on the field. The Spartans are an up-and-coming team filled with talent. Spoto is led on offense by running back Jamar Burns, but also packs a powerful defensive punch led by Rodney Williams.

DURANT (5-1) AT SICKLES (5-1)

NEED TO KNOW: Sickles showed off its grit in last week's come-from-behind overtime victory against Boca Ciega. Down, 22-7, after the first two quarters, Coach Pat O'Brien challenged his players at halftime. It became a matter of pride and the Gryphons stepped up with big second-half efforts from quarterback John Melvin Hendrick and the entire defense.

Durant's defense, led by Josh Halferty (6.5 sacks), has given up no touchdowns in four of their five victories this season. They will be challenged by Hillsborough County's leading rusher Cary White. Hendrick is also a threat on the ground, having shown off his mobility last week against the Pirates.

STRAWBERRY CREST (0-2) AT JESUIT (4-2)

NEED TO KNOW: The Tigers can remain in the playoff race with a district victory against the Chargers. Jesuit bounced back from the 50-10 district loss to Robinson with a 40-0 victory against Lennard last week. Quarterback Bobby Eveld continues to prove what an offensive weapon he is. Hillsborough County's third-leading passer threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns last week.

Strawberry Crest may be young, but its proving to be quite tenacious. Running back Tomas Herrera led the Chargers effort in a 42-13 loss to Middleton last week rushing for 71 yards. Special teams contributed with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Donnardo Fields.

ARMWOOD (4-1) AT CHAMBERLAIN (0-6)

NEED TO KNOW: The anticipation of getting back to business has been building at 'Da Wood' since the Hawks' 17-7 loss to Plant two weeks ago, which snapped a 43 game home-field win streak.

Armwood returned to its dominating form last week with a 48-3 district win over King. Junior quarterback Josh Grady leads the offense with 706 passing yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore Matt Jones is Armwood's leading rusher with 308 yards and three touchdowns.

Chamberlain is still trying to earn its first win of the season. In last week's 36-13 loss to Alonso, junior running back Blake Bell provided a spark with two receiving touchdowns, a 90-yard pass and a 25-yard pass from senior QB Travis Hanchett.

Chamberlain gave up 231 passing yards and four touchdowns to Alonso quarterback C.J. Bennett, so look for Grady to have a big night against Chamberlain's struggling defense.

BLOOMINGDALE (0-5) AT FREEDOM (2-2)

NEED TO KNOW: Bloomingdale is one of three teams playing a full varsity schedule in Hillsborough County still looking for its first win (Chamberlain and Blake are also winless). The Bulls, who made the playoffs for the first time in program history last year, fell to Plant City last week, 28-0. In the loss, Bloomingdale's defense allowed 173 rushing yards and let Plant City quarterback Bennie Coney throw for 173 yards with three touchdowns.

Eugene Perry has led Bloomingdale's offense with 278 rushing yards and one touchdown along with 243 passing yards. Senior linebacker David Wright leads the defense with 53 tackles.

Freedom was plagued by turnovers in last week's matchup against Tampa Bay Tech. The Titans intercepted three passes en route to a 21-3 district victory, including an interception on their own 22, which thwarted a 55-yard drive by Freedom with 33 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Freedom senior quarterback Tyler Guy leads the offense with 576 yards and six touchdowns.

RIVERVIEW (1-4) AT EAST BAY (3-3)

NEED TO KNOW: Riverview had a chance to upset Durant last week, leading 8-7 entering the fourth quarter. However, the Sharks allowed a 60-yard drive that led to a Durant touchdown.

East Bay is riding a two-game losing streak, its' most recent a 55-14 loss to Hillsborough in a Class 4A-District 9 contest. Still, the Indians have one of the more solid teams in the county.

DJ Richmond leads East Bay's wishbone offense with 291 yards rushing. However, the Indians haven't capitalized on enough scoring opportunities. East Bay has put up 62 points, while allowing 152. Strong safety Calvin Sanders leads the defense with 52 tackles and two interceptions.

Last year, East Bay defeated Riverview, 51-25.

STEINBRENNER (0-2) AT MIDDLETON (3-2)

NEED TO KNOW: First-year program Steinbrenner is coming off a 40-10 Class 2A-District 5 loss to St. Pete Catholic.

Quarterback Christian Carriere leads the Warriors offense with 453 passing yards with seven touchdowns and only two interceptions. Roland Dittrich leads the rushing attack with 132 yards and four touchdowns.

Middleton is coming off a 42-13 win over first-year program Strawberry Crest. Middleton scored 35 points in the second half and was led by senior Earnest Mingo's 145 rushing yards and two touchdowns while junior quarterback Willie Clay threw for three TDS on five completed passes for 116 yards.

Middleton's defense sacked the quarterback five times in the win.

If Middleton wants to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004, it will need to win the next three games, which include St. Pete Catholic and Jesuit.

TAMPA BAY TECH (4-1) AT KING (2-2)

NEED TO KNOW: This is a non-district game, but something of a neighborhood rivalry since the two schools are separated by less than 2 miles. Class 4A King could make a statement if it could hang with TBT, the No. 5 team in the 5A state rankings. But considering how tough the Titans' defense is, that's going to be a tall order for the Lions.

To have any chance of an upset, King will need to find a way to contain Titans fullback Maurice Hagens, who has rushed for more than 600 yards this season and has scored five touchdowns. Although TBT has other weapons in its option attack, including running backs Cludner LeCount and Devontae McCloud, as well as quarterback Johnathan Williams, Hagens is the key.

King's only wins have come against winless Blake and 1-4 Leto. The Lions will also have to discover a way to produce yardage on one of the most stingy defenses in the county. Only last year's 4A state champion, Plant, has had any success in that category but the Panthers' 30 points still weren't enough to overcome TBT in the season opener.

HILLSBOROUGH (4-1) AT BLAKE (0-5)

NEED TO KNOW: With the way Hillsborough's offense has been clicking lately, this one could get out of hand early. Led by quarterback Tarean Austin (55 of 92 pass attempts for 1,096 yards), running back Rodney Williams (41 carries for 430 yards) and wide receiver Charles Lovett (19 receptions for 485 yards), the Class 4A Terriers are averaging nearly 47 points per game and have out-scored their last two opponents 123-14. Hillsborough is currently ranked No. 6 in the 4A state poll while 3A Blake has lost eight straight games and 14 of its last 15.

The Terriers have been so successful on offense that in their last four games, they have forced a running clock by leading by 35 or more points in the second half. Tonight at James "Big Jim" Williams Stadium, it could probably be the same situation unless the Yellow Jackets produce their best effort of the season.

CLEARWATER CENTRAL CATHOLIC (3-2) AT TAMPA CATHOLIC (4-0)

NEED TO KNOW: Considering CCC has beaten Tampa Catholic the last two seasons, Crusaders coach Bob Henriquez says he has experienced no trouble motivating his players for this non-district game. TC, ranked No. 3 in the Class 2B state poll, will be looking for payback on their Pinellas County rival, which is a 1A squad.

The bulk of the Crusaders' offense this fall has been provided by senior running back Hank McCloud (604 yards and five TDs on 72 carries) and senior quarterback Christian Green (165 yards passing, 296 yards rushing). But it's been the play of TC's offensive and defensive lines that many have not noticed. Senior lineman Chaz Green (6-foot-6, 295 pounds) has anchored an offensive line that has overcome a 6A opponent (Groveland South Lake), last year's 2B state runner-up (Ocala Trinity Catholic) and the No. 5 team in the 2B poll, Orlando Lake Highland Prep.

If TC can avoid looking ahead to next week's district game with Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, it should lock up its fifth win of the season and it's best start in more than a decade.

Compiled by Nick Williams, Katherine Smith, Bill Ward and Adam Adkins.

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