By Kyle LoJacono
After the 10 game football season, the best teams have risen to the top of their districts and will hit the field Friday, Nov. 19 to extend their playoff dreams. Local schools qualifying for the postseason include Wiregrass Ranch, Pasco and Land O’ Lakes.
WIREGRASS RANCH
The Bulls (6-4) made the playoffs for the first time in the school’s five-year history. They reached the postseason by going 4-0 in Class 4A, District 6 and also finished with a winning record for the first time.
“We had a feeling we’d make the playoffs at the end of the season,” said Bulls coach Jeremy Shobe. “We were able to respond from some early losses and it’s a great feeling to be a part of the history of this school.”
Wiregrass Ranch ended the regular season winning four of its last five games, dropping their last contest to Pasco High 58-13.
Wiregrass Ranch faces Springstead High in the playoff contest, the first meeting between the squads. The Eagles finished the regular season 5-5.
The Bulls offense got off to a slow start this season and averaged just more than 14 points per game through their first four contests. That sluggish beginning was likely because Wiregrass Ranch returned just one starting offensive lineman, but the unit starting clicking halfway through the year.
“We lost 23 seniors from last year and we were able to rebound from that,” Shobe said. “I think it’s a testament to the work the kids put in. When you get all around commitment you can lose that number of good players and still come back and make the playoffs.”
The leader of the offensive attack is quarterback James Tringali, who had 1,270 passing yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season with another 231 rushing yards and two more scores.
On defense the Bulls recorded their first shutout this year against Ridgewood High. They held opponents to less than 10 points in five of their games.
Springstead scored just three more points than it gave up this year. Despite the team’s nickname, the Eagles get most of their offense from the ground, averaging more than 205 rushing yards per contest.
PASCO
The Pirates (10-0) won the 3A-7 championship this year, their fourth straight district title. Pasco has a combined record of 34-6 in the regular season since coach Tom McHugh took over the program four years ago.
“That’s all because of the kids,” McHugh said. “They’ve bought into our program and work hard to get better. They’re the reason we’ve been able to win four straight district titles.”
Pasco entered the regular season as the defending district champion, but lost last year’s starting quarterback D.J. Clower to graduation along with eight other players who received a scholarship to play collegiately.
Quarterback Jacob Guy stepped into that void and immediately fit into the Pirates spread offense. Pasco scored 450 points during the regular season, 94 more than last year. They also averaged 411.8 yards per game to last year’s 308.4. Guy had 1,827 passing yards and 23 touchdowns and three rushing scores in the regular season.
The Pirates defense is lead by a group of very fast defensive backs that fly to the ball and create turnovers. Mike Clower, Trey Dudley-Giles and Cornell Wilson led the unit with three interceptions apiece, but six others had one. Hard-hitting safety Jamie Byrd forced three fumbles while leading the team with 63 tackles.
Pasco will play Lakewood High (6-4) at home in Dade City. The Pirates were eliminated at home by the Spartans 36-25 in the first round of the playoffs last year.
LAND O’ LAKES
The Gators (9-1) have reached the playoffs for the 14th straight time, this season as the 3A-7 runner-up.
That streak is the longest in Pasco County history, but if the Gators are to advance they will have to do so without coach Matt Kitchie and defensive coordinator Jason Hatcher, who were indefinitely suspended Nov. 12 for undisclosed reasons. Kitchie took over the program last season and has a 17-3 record since then.
Offensive line coach Patrick Corcoran was been named the interim coach for the rest of the season Nov. 12, the same day the Gators won their last regular season game 42-10 against Hudson High. Corcoran has never been a head coach before and is in his first season as an assistant. He played football at the University of Colorado.
“Our principal Ric Mellin came to me and asked me to take over and now we’re just trying to get some wins in the playoffs,” Corcoran said.
Senior quarterback Stephen Weatherford has been the leader of Land O’ Lakes’ offense recording a county-leading 2,136 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in the regular season, but he was not present at the Hudson game. Kitchie said the decision to sit Weatherford was made before his suspension to prevent him from injury in the finale. Corcoran would not comment as to Weatherford’s availability for the playoffs.
Junior Ryan Bird took over in that last game and threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns.
“Basically we didn’t want to overwhelm him with the complex offense we have here at Land O’ Lakes,” Corcoran said. “Basically just build up his confidence … He passed the test.”
On defense, the Gators blitz the quarterback from the start of each contest, averaging 7.7 per game. Linebackers Jackson Cannon and Shadow Williams had 13 and 10.5 sacks respectively, followed by defensive end Spencer Michelson’s 8.5.
Land O’ Lakes plays Jefferson High (10-0), a rematch from last year’s playoffs. The Dragons won that game last year 43-22, but the Gators did beat them in the University of South Florida’s 7-on-7 summer tournament with Bird under center. Weatherford was out with a broken hand.
“It’s a lot different, but it means we can run with them,” Bird said. “It does give us a little confidence, but we still know they have a really good team.”
-All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
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