FOOTBALL: Pinellas Previews Week 7

Tarpon Springs (3-2) at Dunedin (4-2)
Tarpon Springs may have a tough time stopped a two-game skid. The visiting Spongers looked to be one of the county's best teams this year, especially after dispatching rival East Lake. Since, the Spongers were upset by Countryside and fell to Land O' Lakes in a district game, giving up the most points they have all season in a 39-20 loss.
Dunedin, arguably, is the hottest team around and is arguably the worst two-loss team in the county. Since losing to Boca Ciega in the first week of the season, Dunedin has scored no fewer than 31 points, and that came two weeks ago when the Falcons took powerhouse Largo to double-overtime. Dunedin's offense is absolutely clicking, averaging 42 points a game. Most fans knew Dunedin would have a good ground game with Adarius Bellamy, but few thought the Falcons would develop such a strong passing game.
In short, Tarpon Springs is going to have to get its defense in order quickly to stop Dunedin. The thing is, the Spongers have the talent to do just that.

Countryside (4-2) at Boca Ciega (4-1)
The riddle to this puzzle is, how quickly will the host Pirates be able to forget a stringing loss to juggernaut Northeast last week? Boca Ciega had Northeast on the ropes. But three second half miscues -- a fumble, an interception and a bad snap that sailed into the end zone for a safety -- sealed Boca Ciega's fate, enabling Northeast to rally for a 16-13 win.
If Boca Ciega can shake off the frustration, Countryside will be in for a long night. In the first week of the year, Boca Ciega held Dunedin to one offensive touchdown. Since, Dunedin is averaging 42 points a game. Earlier this season, Dunedin did a number on Countryside.
While the visiting Cougars seem to have gelled since the loss to Dunedin, Boca Ciega may have the strongest defense in the county. If the Pirates can stop Northeast (with Jeff Brinson) and Dunedin (with Adarius Bellamy), they should be able to handle Countryside.
But if Boca Ciega is still lamenting last week's escape by Northeast, Countryside could pull off another surprise like it did against Tarpon Springs two weeks ago.

East Lake (3-2) at Northeast (5-0)
The visiting Eagles have a strong defense. But, is it strong enough to stop Northeast's Jeff Brinson? East Lake got a taste of what stopping a strong back is like when it fell to Largo and stud running back Brynn Harvey 20-0 to open the season. Since losing to Tarpon Springs, the Eagles have allowed a total of two touchdowns in their last two games. But neither Clearwater nor Pinellas Park has a running back in the same league as Brinson.
But it's not as if the Eagles don't have some talent. The key for East Lake will be to play keep-away and control the ball. With Micah Powell, who has verbally committed to Vanderbilt, the Eagles might be able to get that done.
The goal for Northeast is simple: keep Brinson healthy.

Clearwater Central Catholic (4-2) at St. Petersburg Catholic (1-5)
For a few weeks there, Clearwater Central Catholic appeared to be among the elite teams this season in Pinellas County. But then a starter got hurt. Then another. Then another. Soon, the epidemic hit eight CCC starters, including quarterback Brent Henderson.
As a result, the Marauders' defense became Swiss cheese, giving up 45 points in six quarters. CCC stopped the bleeding last week by beating Berkeley Prep 13-10.
Brent Henderson is expected to be healthy enough to start. But is the team healthy enough?
The host Barons are struggling, likely due to a combination of learning a new system under first-year coach Tod Creneti and probation sanctions which led to an exodus of players. The lone St. Petersburg Catholic win came against first-year program Lennard 35-21.
While SPC has some talented players, don't think the Barons won't be fired up to try to win their first home game against their bitter rivals. .

Clearwater (3-3) at Pinellas Park (1-4)
If you like offense you will like this game.
Clearwater brings stud quarterback Luke Loucks and his cannon arm and fleet feet. While opposing defenses have been able to figure out how to cover his receivers and confuse him, Pinellas Park's defense has been struggling, giving up 76 points in the past two games.
The host Patriots are known for putting the ball in the air too. This should be a football version of a track meet.

Lakewood (3-2) at Largo (5-0)
Lakewood's task is simple: stop Brynn Harvey. Good luck with your mission. Few teams have. Last week Harvey rumbled for 346 yards as Largo took apart Pinellas Park. The only team so far that has slowed Harvey has been Dunedin, but Harvey still scored the game's winning touchdown in double-overtime.
Complicating matters for the Spartans is a short week after finishing a suspended game with Bradenton Bayshore Monday evening. But there is no secret to Largo (Harvey). The Spartans Monday showed they can take advantage of turnovers, using two of them to score the winning touchdown Monday and the second to seal the victory. And the Spartans have just enough players to surprise Largo if the host Packers get sloppy.

Oviedo Master's Academy (5-1) at Keswick Christian (5-0)
This should be an outstanding matchup of offense vs. defense. Master's Academy has only allowed one team to score more than 21 points, and that came in the school's lone loss, a 48-23 decision to Winter Park Trinity Prep. Keswick Christian meanwhile has scored at least 28 points in all of its games. Last week the Crusaders offense scored all but one of its touchdowns in the first half in a 48-14 win over Calvary Christian, and that one touchdown came on a kickoff return to start the game.
Jared DiMaggio leads the Crusaders with a 7.5 yards a rush average and has nine rushing touchdowns. But what may be overlooked with Keswick is its defense. Since its opening week win over Calvary Christian, the Crusaders have not given up more than two touchdowns in a game.

Calvary Christian (2-3) at Bradenton Prep (2-2)
Which Calvary Christian team will show up? Will it be the same team that pushed Northside Christian to its limit, the same team that trounced Bishop McLaughlin 49-7 and the same team that hung 70 points on Leesburg First Academy? Or will this be the team that got run over by Jared DiMaggio and Keswick Christian last week?

Shorecrest (3-3) at Lakeland Christian (1-3)
Starting with a young team, Shorecrest struggled early which was not really unexpected. But given how good of a coach Phil Heyford is, he had molded the Chargers into a good squad. Shorecrest got tripped up by a good offensive team in Indian Rocks Christian last week but look for the Chargers to bounce back this week.

Canterbury (1-4) at Jacksonville Cedar Creek Christian (0-4)
Just when Canterbury got its offense out of a prolonged slump by ringing up 46 points in its lone win over Jacksonville Manderin, Canterbury falls flat last week with a 40-8 loss to Fort Myers Gateway. If the offense gets into gear, Canterbury should chalk up its second win against a struggling Cedar Creek, which has scored only six points all season.