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Bucs to face No. 1 Fort Meade

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 23, 2009

Updated: 10/23/2009 12:23 am

In his three years at Berkeley Prep, Coach Dominick Ciao has turned the program into playoff contenders again. Tonight against state No. 1 ranked Class 1A Fort Meade, Ciao and company will find out how far they have come, and possibly how far they have to go.

"They're a great football team," Ciao said. "They have tremendous speed and strength. They played for a state championship last year, so we're playing the best. It's a great challenge for us. This is what you play for - to have a chance to play someone you have great respect for."
Fort Meade has posted four shutouts this season and outscored opponents 253-38. They are led by QB Roland Jones, who threw four touchdowns against Avon Park last week.

"We know we have to play a perfect game in every phase," Ciao said. "Every snap's got to be perfect for us to be successful against these guys."

Berkeley is a young team led by a core group of seniors that has been depleted by injuries. Starting FS Bryne Marston was lost for the season to a shoulder injury. Another senior, RB/K Kevin Yent, will be a game-time decision with a broken hand.

PANTHERS SECONDARY READY: Tonight's district showdown between Alonso and Plant looked like it would be a classic shootout. That was until the Panthers started running the ball more than they have in the past.

"We may not be as glitzy as we once were," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "But I think we're harder to defend, because I think you have to defend more things. Our goal on offense is to make you cover a lot of grass with only 11 people."

In defending Alonso and quick-strike QB C.J. Bennett, Plant defensive players can draw upon their daily experiences at practice.

"They're fast, they can catch and their routes are crisp," senior CB Javonte Martin said. "It's just like playing our own guys."

Martin circled today's date on his calendar when the schedule came out. He knew tonight's matchup against Alonso would be a showcase opportunity for the Panthers secondary.

"Our other games have been for the linebackers and defensive linemen," Martin said. "This one is for the defensive backs."

BIG BATTLE ON BRUCE B. DOWNS: Freedom opened just a few miles from Wharton in 2002, and the neighborhood rivalry has gone back and forth, but never with playoff implications. The series is tied 3-3 entering tonight's Class 5A-District 7 matchup.

Freedom won last year's meeting 29-24 to end a two-year losing streak to the Wildcats, and the Patriots need a win tonight to keep their playoff hopes alive. Wharton, meanwhile, can wrap up a playoff berth for the third consecutive season with a win tonight.

LIKING HIS CHANCES: After losing to Plant 27-13 last week, Spoto coach Dale Caparaso felt confident his team would match up well with Jefferson tonight in a game that could decide the Class 3A-District 8 champ.

"I don't know much about Jefferson, but I do know they have a great receiver (Andre Davis) and a great quarterback (Quentin Williams) and they like to throw it up," he said. "We went up against a team that has a great quarterback and a slew of receivers (last week) and we held our own against them."

Plant led 10-7 at the half and Spoto was plagued by turnovers, some of which gave the visiting Panthers good field position.

Jefferson lost to Plant 46-13 earlier in the season.

BIG MAC CLASSIC: Back in the day, Chamberlain vs. Gaither was a rivalry as big as Armwood vs. Plant or Jesuit vs. Tampa Catholic.

The battle for the Big Mac Classic trophy was intense, with neighborhood bragging rights on the line. This year, with both teams struggling, pride is on the line.

Chamberlain is 0-7 and has been outscored 247-49 this season. Gaither (1-5) has been shut out in three consecutive games by a combined score of 145-0. Saturday, coaches Joe Severino and Mark Kantor exchanged game tape, and shared familiar woes.

"We know we're both really young teams," Kantor said. "But we've got kids that want to work and be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. We've both had problems this year, but I think we both have a tough mental attitude."

The loser of today's game is eliminated from the playoffs. The winner gets the Big Mac Classic trophy.

The Big Mac Classic got its name from the lone restaurant the two schools shared and where the players would hang out.

Katherine Smith, Nick Williams, Adam Adkins

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