Pinellas County Football Capsules: Week 8

East Lake (3-3) at Dunedin (5-2)
Pretty much a must win for the host Falcons if they are to clinch a playoff spot. East Lake is undefeated in Class 5A-9 play while Dunedin already has a loss.

As with most opponents, the key for the visiting Eagles is to stop Dunedin running back Adarius Bellamy. The Rivals.com four-star running back who has verbally committed to South Florida has been extremely hot and cold this season.

With so many injuries to Dunedin's running backs (Bellamy himself has battled a sore shoulder), Bellamy is likely to get the majority of carries.

Tarpon Springs (4-2) at Ridgewood (3-3)
The Spongers, who had high hopes of finishing the regular season undefeated, are taking a sudden nosedive with two consecutive losses. Tarpon Springs needs to shake off the rust this week if it has any postseason plans.
The Spongers are tied with Land O' Lakes with a 1-1 record in the Class 4A-8 district. The Gators are the ones who started the Spongers slide with a 24-22 win over Tarpon Springs two weeks ago.
Springstead is atop the district with a 2-0 mark.

Palm Harbor (4-2) at Clearwater (2-5)
The visiting Hurricanes not only have a chance to be 2-0 in Class 5A-9 play, a win would put them on the cusp of their first winning season in the school's history. A win would guarantee Palm Harbor no worse than a 5-5 record.

Osceola (0-7) at Lakewood (5-1)
Barring some sort of collapse, Lakewood should win its sixth consecutive game. The Spartans not only are the biggest surprise in Pinellas County, they are the hottest team.

Lakewood is led by quarterback Jacquez Jenkins, who already has more than 1,000 yards passing and 13 touchdowns. Running back Bernard Reedy is averring more than 9 yards an attempt.

Last week, Lakewood snapped Largo's 15-game winning streak by scoring four unanswered fourth quarter touchdowns capped by a 24-yard interception return by Marcus Jackson.

Largo (5-1) at Dixie Hollins (3-3)
Now proven vulnerable within Pinellas County, the visiting Packers need to bounce back. Largo, which prides itself on its defense, saw its strength collapse and exposed when Lakewood rallied with four fourth quarter touchdowns (three on offense) to upset the Packers.

Dixie Hollins has just enough athletes to take advantage of whatever Lakewood exposed.

Seminole (3-4) at Gibbs (3-3)
The loser is behind the eight ball in the Class 5A-10 district race. Both teams have 1-1 district records. Seminole, which is prone to allowing a lot of points, will have to contain Gibbs quarterback Josh Rembert who has 653 yards passing and has completed half of his pass attempts.

Like Seminole, Gibbs' defense has not been its strength and Seminole has been lighting up the scoreboard of late. The visiting Warhawks have a quartet of running backs who are averaging over five yards a carry.

Bradenton Bayshore (1-5) at Northeast (3-3)
To stay alive in the Class 5A-9 race the host Vikings will have to rack up a win. Currently Northeast trails Lakewood and Southeast by a game.

Bradenton Bayshore's defense has been porous of late. Last week, Bayshore lost to Arcadia, 56-37. It was the most points Bayshore had scored all season.

Pinellas Park (0-6) at St. Petersburg (4-2)
The host Green Devils should win setting up a pair of district showdowns in the next two weeks. Pinellas Park has yet to score more than six points in a game.

Indian Rocks Christian (7-0) at Northside Christian (1-6)
For Indian Rocks, the main goal of this game is for the players to break a sweat and not break anything else. This will be little more than a scrimmage for next week when the Golden Eagles host state power Fort Meade for the Class 1A-5 district title.

Northside Christian's 3-0 win last week over Admiral Farragut was its first points since scoring a touchdown Sept. 12 against Orlando First Academy.

Bradenton Southeast (5-1) at Boca Ciega (1-5)
The host Pirates haven't been the same since they fell to Lakewood in its second game 37-0. In fact the loss sent Boca Ciega reeling on a four-game losing streak.

Meanwhile, Southeast is racking up wins against always tough Manatee County foes. Its only loss was a 16-14 decision to state powerhouse Manatee.

Frostproof (5-1) at Clearwater Central Catholic (4-3)
The Marauders' hopes of a 14th straight playoff appearances could be in danger. CCC is already 0-1 in Class 2B-6 play. Frostproof is tied atop the district with Berkeley Prep which already has beaten CCC. A loss to Frostproof and CCC will need a lot of help with two district games left.

Frostproof isn't exactly a pushover. Its lone loss came in the opening week, a 25-22 decision to Lake Region. Frostproof hasn't allowed more than a touchdown in each of its last three wins.

St. Petersburg Catholic (0-7) at Fort Myers Bishop Verot (5-1)
The Barons seem to be getting better each week. Last week it appeared St. Petersburg Catholic had its first win with a dramatic last minute defensive touchdown over rival Clearwater Central Catholic when a pass play for the two-point conversion and the win was ruled incomplete.

Bradenton Prep (6-1) at Keswick Christian (3-3)
Keswick Christian could be out for some revenge. Bradenton Prep defeated Keswick in the Class 1B state quarterfinals last season, 21-20.

After starting off slowly, Keswick has won three straight in convincing fashion. Bradenton Prep meanwhile is on a roll, its lone loss a 21-14 defeat to Sarasota Cardinal Mooney.

Fort Meade (7-0) at Admiral Farragut (1-5)
This could get ugly. The most points Fort Meade has allowed is eight and that was in Week 1 against Shorecrest. The fewest points Admiral Farragut has allowed is 22, aside of a 3-0 loss to Northside Christian two weeks ago.

Sarasota Out-of-Door (4-2) at Calvary Christian (2-4)
Another game that could get out of hand. Out-of-Door has scored over 40 points in its last two games while allowing a total of six points. Calvary Christian has scored a total of nine points in its last three games.

Canterbury (3-3) at Mount Dora Bible (3-4)
Canterbury is looking to snap a three-game skid. Out-of-Door might be a bit of a challenge. While not having a winning record, Out-of-Door can light up the scoreboard. Last week it beat Ocala St. John Lutheran 48-23.