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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Brett Bitter

Recapping week 4 in area prep football

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Another week of high school football is in the books, as teams approach the midway point of the season. Here’s a look at how the teams in our coverage area fared in Week 4:

Pasco County

 

(Courtesy of Sunlake High)
The Sunlake Seahawks defeated Land O’ Lakes 21-3 to retain bragging rights in the annual ‘Butter Bowl.’ (Courtesy of Sunlake High)

 

Sunlake 21, Land O’ Lakes 3
Recap: The “Butter Bowl” was once again a one-sided affair as the Sunlake Seahawks defeated the Land O’ Lakes Gators 21-3, marking the Seahawks fifth straight regular season win over the Gators. Equipped with a 7-3 halftime lead, Sunlake (3-1) pulled away from the Gators (0-3) with touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters.

Key Stats: The Seahawks racked up 539 all-purpose yards compared to the Gators’ 187 yards. Additionally, Seahawks had two 100-yard rushers in seniors Justin Metzger (124 yards) and Kevis Warren (111 yards, 1 TD), and a 100-yard receiver in senior Tyler Peretti (7 receptions, 142 yards).

Next up: Sunlake has a home game against Lakewood Ranch (0-3) on Sept. 23; Land O’ Lakes has a bye before facing Lakeland Christian (4-0) on Sept. 30.

Zephyrhills 62, Gulf 0
Recap: The first year of the Nick Carroll Era is going swimmingly for the Zephyrhills Bulldogs, as the first-year head coach guided his team to a 62-0 pounding over Gulf High. The Bulldogs (2-1) led 47-0 at the half, before a running clock was put into effect for the entirety of the second half. The win follows the Bulldogs’ surprising win over Sunlake (27-15) on Sept. 3.

Key Stats: Bulldogs junior quarterback Charles Harrison III completed 10 of 14 passes for 117 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Bulldogs freshman linebacker Ja’varrius Wilson tallied up three sacks.

Next up: Zephyrhills travels to Fivay (0-3) on Sept. 23.

Wesley Chapel 42, Ridgewood 22
Recap: Under first-year coach Anthony Egan, the Wesley Chapel Wildcats (3-0) already has more wins than it did in each of the last two seasons. Despite looking sloppy with penalties early on, the Wildcats shored up their miscues to build a 29-8 lead at halftime. In the second half, the game was put out of reach underneath the speedy legs of junior tailbacks Dexter Leverett (224 yards, 2 TDs) and Malik Melvin (119 yards, 2 TDs).

Key Stats: The Wildcats compiled 394 rushing yards as a team, averaging a whopping 10.1 yards per carry.

Next up: Wesley Chapel heads to Gulf (0-2) on Sept. 23.

Sickles 30, Wiregrass Ranch, 29 (Overtime)
Recap: A two-point conversion call in overtime by Wiregrass Ranch head coach Mark Kantor ended up backfiring, as the Bulls (1-2) fell to Sickles High in front of its home crowd. Cantor called an inside run to junior tailback Chase Oliver, a bruising 220-pounder, who was stuffed at the goal line, sealing the win for Sickles.

Wiregrass led 23-20 halfway through the fourth quarter, before Sickles kicked a field goal to force the extra period, then lead for good on a 16-yard touchdown pass in overtime.

Key Stats: The loss notwithstanding, Wiregrass senior quarterback Chris Faddoul made an impact with his arm and legs. Faddoul threw for 113 yards and a TD, rushed for 91 yards, and kicked a 30-yard field goal.

Next up: Wiregrass Ranch has a road contest against Leto (0-3) on Sept. 23.

Hillsborough County

 

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Gaither High tailback T.J. Wiliams (32) accounted for all three of the Cowboys’ touchdowns in their 16-7 victory over Wharton on Sept. 16. (Courtesy of Gaither High)

Gaither 19, Wharton 7
Recap: Buoyed by the punishing running style of senior tailback T.J. Williams, the Gaither Cowboys (2-2) notched a home win against the Wharton Wildcats (1-2), snapping a two-game losing streak. The Cowboys never trailed, getting on the scoreboard first thanks to a 15-yard TD run by Williams in the second quarter.

Key Stats: Williams scored three times—including a highlight-reel 89-yard reception—en route to 124 total yards on 10 touches.

Next up: Gaither travels to Sickles on Sept. 23; Wharton has a home matchup against Freedom on Sept. 23.

Freedom 3, Spoto 0
Recap: A 39-yard boot in the second quarter by Freedom’s Noah Tenney was the lone score in this defensive tug-of-war. Freedom’s defense stymied Spoto, holding them to 178 total yards, including just a single passing yard. Freedom (2-1) has looked solid defensively for two consecutive weeks after limiting Alonso High to just eight points on Sept. 9

Key Stats: The Patriots forced four turnovers, including two fumble recoveries by senior Carlos Rodicio.

Next up: Freedom has a road conference game against Wharton on Sept. 23.

Sarasota Riverview 20, Steinbrenner 19
Recap: Key mistakes and missed opportunities, in part, caused the Warriors to fall short in this non-conference road game. The Warriors (1-2) led Sarasota Riverview 19-6 at the half, but a bevy of turnovers and three-and-outs gave Riverview ample field position to orchestrate two impressive scoring drives in the second half.

Key Stats: Steinbrenner’s Josh Harris rushed for 102 yards on 24 carries, but also fumbled three times. Senior wideout Brett Bitter hauled in two TD catches.

Next up: Steinbrenner faces Tampa Riverview (2-1) at home on Sept. 23.

Seffner Christian 27, Carrollwood Day 6
Recap: With the score 7-6 after the first quarter, the game was in reach for Carrollwood Day. But, the Patriots (1-3) were unable to answer as Seffner Christian scored touchdowns in each of the following three quarters. The Patriots (1-3) have now lost three straight games, scoring just 13 combined points in the process.

Key Stats: The Patriots struggled defensively, allowing over 423 total yards of offense (217 passing, 206 yards rushing). In their last three games, the Patriots have been outscored by a 118-to-13 margin.

Next up: The Patriots have a bye before facing Northside Christian (3-1) on the road on Sept. 30.

–Stats and information compiled via MaxPreps.com.

Published September 21, 2016

Area fall football preview: Hillsborough County

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The 2016 high school football season is just around the corner, and several teams in The Laker/Lutz News’ Hillsborough County coverage area enter the year with intriguing storylines, standout players and must-see matchups.

Carrollwood Patriots
Coach: Lane McLaughlin (10th year)
2015 record: 7-4
Spring Game result: 14-7 loss to Victory Christian

Freedom Patriots
Coach: Floyd Graham (1st year)
2015 record: 3-7
Spring Game result: 7-0 win over King High

Gaither Cowboys
Coach: Jason Stokes (6th year)
2015 record: 4-6
Spring Game result: 7-0 win over Sickles High

Steinbrenner Warriors
Coach: Andres Perez-Reinaldo (5th year)
2015 record: 9-2
Spring Game result: 18-0 loss to Alonso High

Wharton Wildcats
Coach: David Mitchell (12th year)
2015 record: 8-2
Spring Game result: 14-0 loss to Hillsborough High

Three teams to watch:

 

The Carrollwood Day School Patriots are loaded with talented playmakers on offense. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)
The Carrollwood Day School Patriots are loaded with talented playmakers on offense.
(Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)

Carrollwood Patriots
The Patriots, coming off a 7-4 season, appear to be one of the more interesting teams in Tampa this year. Despite being a smaller school, their youthful talent rivals many of the area’s larger schools. Armed with a bevy of playmakers on offense — quarterback Raymond Woodie III, tailback Yahsin Wooten, and receivers Nazir Achecar and Markeis Colvin — the Patriots are likely to rack up a lot of yards and touchdowns against foes. But, in order to take the next step forward, the Patriots must find a few pass-rushers on defense that can pressure opposing quarterbacks and generate sacks, due to the departures of Zac Watson-Parcels (team-leading 11 sacks), Devon Connors (10 sacks) and Corey Shamley (seven sacks).

 

The Gaither High Cowboys are looking for a bounce-back season in 2016. (File Photo)
The Gaither High Cowboys are looking for a bounce-back season in 2016.
(File Photo)

Gaither Cowboys
Despite coming off a disappointing 4-6 season, the Cowboys should have plenty to be excited about in 2016. After ending the 2015 campaign on a three-game win streak, the Cowboys return several impact players, including senior running backs Alex Rodriguez (805 yards, five touchdowns) and TJ Williams (391 yards, three touchdowns), and senior linebackers Decalon Brooks (114 tackles, five sacks) and Estefano Feliciano (73 tackles, six sacks). Though the team has several experienced playmakers on both sides of the ball, Gaither’s success may be determined by quarterback play — which must become more efficient. Gavin Deboer, the team’s incumbent quarterback from last season, struggled at times as a sophomore (48 percent rate, 10 interceptions.) If he can improve his touchdown-to-interception ratio and find a few reliable pass-catchers, Gaither may be in store for a winning season.

Steinbrenner High’s Warriors look to build off their stellar 9-2 mark in 2015. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High football)
Steinbrenner High’s Warriors look to build off their stellar 9-2 mark in 2015.
(Courtesy of Steinbrenner High football)

Steinbrenner Warriors
Coming off a breakout 9-2 season, the Warriors are looking to keep the upward momentum going in the 2016 campaign. With holes to fill on offense and defense, Coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo will need several players to step up this season. Gone are the team’s top two offensive skill players — running back Jay Dantley (1,269 yards, 13 touchdowns) and wide receiver Justin Moffatt (41 receptions, 641 yards, 8 touchdowns) — and the team’s top four leading tacklers from last season. On a positive note, junior quarterback Colin Wray looks to build off his stellar sophomore season (56 percent completion rate, 1,634 yards, 13 touchdowns) with a few reliable targets at his disposal in seniors Brett Bitter (35 receptions, 600 yards) and Carson Kaleo (34 receptions, 277 yards). Helping the Warriors immediately is the addition of hybrid linebacker Devon Connors (53 tackles, 10 sacks), a 6-foot-3, 234-pound senior transfer from Carrollwood Day School.

Three players to watch:
Gaither senior linebacker Decalon Brooks
Decalon Brooks, the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer great and NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks, is quickly making a name for himself. Brooks, who led the Cowboys in tackles (114) in 2015, holds several Division I offers, most notably from Florida State University and the University of Louisville. An inside linebacker at Gaither, the undersized Brooks (5-foot-10, 197-pounds) figures to transition to the safety position in college. Brooks, a consensus three-star recruit, is lauded by scouting services for his “aggressiveness, agility, athleticism and blitzing ability.”

Carrollwood sophomore quarterback Raymond Woodie III
Raymond Woodie III, the son of University of South Florida defensive coordinator Raymond Woodie Jr., will be a name to remember for the next several years. Just a sophomore, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound dual-threat quarterback already has seven Division I offers, highlighted by the University of Southern California. In 2015, Woodie III put together a stellar season (1289 yards, 11 touchdowns.) More refined, he’ll likely raise his completion percentage (53 percent) and cut down on turnovers (nine interceptions) in 2016. Recruiting services praise the young quarterback for his “strong arm” and “ability to extend plays with his feet.”

Steinbrenner senior kicker Noah Ruggles
It’s not often a kicker makes a player-to-watch list, but Noah Ruggles is a rare case, considering he’s one of the top prep kickers in the nation. According to KohlsKicking.com, Ruggles is ranked No. 5 for the class of 2017, and holds an offer from Vanderbilt University. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound senior is known for his “leg speed and athletic frame.” Last season, Ruggles made 37-of-38 extra-point attempts and 8-of-13 field goals with a long of 51 yards for Steinbrenner. Kicking runs in the family — Ruggles’ older brother, Michael, earned a scholarship as a punter for the University of Texas at El Paso in 2013.

Three games to watch:
Sickles High at Steinbrenner High, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Two teams coming off terrific 2015 seasons face off in a Week 1 rivalry game. Steinbrenner has the benefit of not having to matchup against former Sickles quarterback Chris Oladokun (1,390 yards, 15 touchdowns), who recently graduated. The last time these teams met was in 2014 — Steinbrenner won 15-7.

Tampa Catholic High at Gaither High, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Gaither appears to be overmatched in this contest, but fans will get to see a lot of Division I talent on the field for both sides. If Gaither can play a ball-control game, leaving the prodigious Tampa Catholic offense on the sidelines, they have a chance to keep it close.

Carrollwood Day School at Cambridge Christian School, Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m.
With ample experience on offense, Carrollwood will look to avenge last season’s 21-12 defeat to Cambridge Christian School. It won’t be easy, considering Cambridge returns most of their impact players from its 12-1 team in 2015. Also of note, Cambridge was undefeated (8-0) at home last season. Nevertheless, expect to see a lot of big plays and offensive highlights in this contest.

Published August 17, 2016

Area spring football preview: Hillsborough County

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Spring football practices are underway for Hillsborough County schools in our coverage area. Programs such as Gaither High and Freedom High are hoping for turnarounds, while Steinbrenner and Wharton high schools are trying to build off last season’s successes. Carrollwood Day School fits the bill as a possible team on the rise for 2016.

 

Carrollwood Day School
Coach: Lane McLaughlin (10th year)
2015 record: 7-4       

Carrollwood Day School prep fans should be excited about the potential for an entertaining season, and not just because the private school’s football team will be playing at a brand-new athletic complex in 2016. A majority of Carrollwood’s young playmakers on offense return, including incumbent quarterback Raymond Woodie Jr., leading rusher Yahsin Wooten (740 yards, 8 TDs) and leading receiver Markeis Colvin (20 receptions, 501 yards, 4 TDs.) The Patriots also return their top two tacklers from last season in linebackers Ryan Verscharen and Stephen Walters, who will be seniors. Replacing the production of two sack artists in Zac Watson-Parcells and Corey Shamley will be key to take a step forward in 2016.

Freedom High School
Coach: Floyd Graham (1st year)
2015 record: 3-7

Freedom High School Coach Floyd Graham is likely in for a rebuilding year. (File photo)
Freedom High School Coach Floyd Graham is likely in for a rebuilding year.
(File photo)

It’s likely a rebuilding year for new Freedom coach Floyd Graham, who was officially hired on April 1. The good news for those that closely follow Freedom’s program is it’s something Graham should be able to handle, considering he created football programs from scratch at both Newsome and Steinbrenner high schools. However, Graham will have some uphill battles to climb in year one. Being hired in April doesn’t give him much time to implement his coaching philosophy, and develop a rapport with both players and assistant coaches. Also, the team is losing a plethora of seniors from 2015, including do-it-all playmaker Nasir Core.

Gaither High School
Coach: Jason Stokes (6th year)
2015 record: 4-6

In order to improve in 2016, the Cowboys must make some strides on the offensive side of the ball. The team scored nine points or fewer in six out of their 10 games. Luckily for Coach Stokes, bellcow running back Alex Rodriguez returns. Getting quarterback Gavin Denboer to cut down on his interceptions (10) is a must. The Cowboys defense should be able to hold its own, with the return of linebacker Decalon Brooks, last year’s leading tackler (114). The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Brooks, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks, is widely viewed as one of the top players in all of Tampa. The consensus three-star recruit already has Division I scholarship offers from Florida International University, Florida State University, University of Illinois and University of South Florida.

Steinbrenner High School
Coach: Andres Perez-Reinaldo (5th year)
2015 record: 9-2

The Warriors finally had a breakout season in 2015 under the tutelage of head coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo. Thanks to a potent offense and an at-times smothering defense, Steinbrenner’s only two setbacks last season were against dynasty prep programs in Manatee (Bradenton) High and Dr. Phillips (Orlando) High. On offense, quarterback Collin Wray (56 percent completion, 1,634 yards) returns, as do two of his favorite targets in Brett Bitter (35 receptions, 600 yards) and Carson Kaleo (34 receptions, 277 yards). Replacing the production of 1,000-yard rusher Jayquese Dantley is something the team will need to address. On defense, Coach Perez-Reinaldo and his staff must find some players that can carry the load, since the Warriors lose three leading tacklers in Tyler Mirabella, Patrick Lukert and Zack Deitz.

Wharton High School
Coach: David Mitchell (12th year)
2015 record: 8-2

The Wildcats enjoyed a successful 2015 campaign, with sizable victories over the likes of King High, Gaither High, Wiregrass Ranch and Leto High. However, it won’t be easy to replicate the scoring outputs (at least 30 points in seven games) from 2015. Coach Mitchell will have to replace quarterback Bryce Martin, leading rusher Miles Williams (1,102 yards, 10 TDs) and leading receiver Devontres Dukes (18 receptions, 360 yards) from last year’s squad. They also lost defensive stalwarts in linebacker Hayden Parks (75 tackles) and defensive lineman Godey Coleus (six sacks). One possible breakout candidate to watch is two-way player Shannon King, who will be a junior. The powerful 5-foot-10, 210-pounder rushed for nearly 400 yards, adding 6.9 yards per carry.

Published May 4, 2016