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Doug Crawford

Prep football regular season recap

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With the 2018 prep football regular season coming to a close — and playoffs set to begin — here’s a look at some of the storylines and highlights from schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Zephyrhills notches perfect campaign
The 2018 campaign will be one to remember for the Zephyrhills Bulldogs.

Zephyrhills High finished the regular season with an undefeated 10-0 mark. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)

They finished 10-0 and captured their second straight Class 5A, District 8 title — becoming the only public school in Pasco County to finish the regular season undefeated, and, marking the first time the program has had a perfect regular season since 1995.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs closed the year with a 49-0 shutout of the Pasco Pirates — the largest margin of victory in the long-standing 9-Mile War rivalry game that dates back to 1941.

Of course, the Bulldogs recent success is no fluke.

The program has posted eight straight winning seasons and five playoff appearances under its last two coaches, Nick Carroll and Reggie Roberts. Carroll is now 28-5 through his first three seasons as head coach. That includes 19 straight regular season wins dating back to last season.

Now Zephyrhills hopes for a deeper run in the playoffs than last season, when they lost an emotional 52-49 home contest to Green Cove Springs Clay in the Class 5A regional semifinals. They host Crystal River (8-2) on Friday in the Class 5A regional quarterfinals.

Gaither finishes strong to reach playoffs
Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Gaither Cowboys were on the outside looking in to the Class 7A playoffs. But, a remarkable 21-20 win over Tampa Bay Tech in the regular season finale — as part of a three-game winning streak — propelled them to a No. 6 seed in the Class 7A, Region 2 bracket.

The win gives Gaither (7-3) some momentum in notching its second straight playoff berth, something the Cowboys will need this Friday against Plant (9-1) — a team they haven’t beaten in 10 contests, including a 44-34 loss back on Sept. 21.

But, don’t totally discount the Cowboys, who feature a balanced offensive attack and a dangerous pass rush to hang with many teams.

Land O’ Lakes thrives under new head coach
While the Land O’ Lakes Gators narrowly missed the playoffs, it was undoubtedly a successful  season for first-year head coach Chad Walker.

The Gators (7-3) notched its first winning season since 2013.

And, they finally upended crosstown rival Sunlake in the annual Butter Bowl game — winning for the first time in the series since 2009.

The big question is whether Land O’ Lakes can maintain the newfound success after losing a large senior class that includes a bevy of contributors on offense and defense. Working in the team’s favor, however, is the expected return of junior quarterback Ethan Forrester, who posted a 51.6 completion percentage for 1,252 passing yards and 12 touchdowns (three interceptions).

Local private schools are playoff-bound
It’s been a solid year for private schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, as Carrollwood Day School, Zephyrhills Christian, and Academy at the Lakes (eight-man) each qualified for the playoffs. Carrollwood Day (5-5) and Zephyrhills Christian (7-3) locked up No. 3 seeds in their respective Class 2A regions. Carrollwood Day is making its first playoff appearance since 2015, while Zephyrhills Christian is making its third straight postseason appearance.

Academy at the Lakes (6-0), meanwhile, with one regular season game remaining, has already secured the No. 1 seed in the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) eight-man playoffs. The defending FCAPPs state champions, Academy at the Lakes, is on a 15-game winning streak.

Sunlake head football coach Bill Browning retires as one of Pasco County’s most accomplished coaches. (FIle)

Farewell to longtime Sunlake coach
After 29 years as a high school football head coach in the North Suncoast, Sunlake’s Bill Browning is hanging up his headset and putting away his playbook. The longtime coach made the announcement over the weekend after the Seahawks wrapped up its second straight 4-6 campaign.

Browning built the Seahawks program from scratch in 2007, turning it into one of Pasco County’s most dominant programs across the last decade, with a string of seven straight winning seasons. Browning now retires as the seventh-most winningest coach in Pasco County history (73). Prior to Sunlake, Browning coached a combined 17 years for Springstead and Hernando high schools, racking up a combined 92 wins— second all-time among Hernando County coaches.

Browning at Sunlake
2018: 4-6
2017: 4-6
2016: 7-3
2015: 8-3 (district runner-up)
2014: 9-3 (district champion)
2013: 9-2 (district runner-up)
2012: 8-2
2011: 10-2 (district runner-up)
2010: 9-1
2009: 4-6
2008: 1-9
2007: 0-10

Stat Stuffers
A look at some individual players who shined during the 2018 regular season

Dylan Ridolph

Doug Crawford, Zephyrhills, senior quarterback: Ranked among the region’s most efficient signal-callers, with a 72.3 completion percentage for 1,010 yards and 17 touchdowns (three interceptions).

Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, junior linebacker: Leads the state with 20 sacks, to go along with 77 total tackles and 30 tackles for loss.

Kyle Benedict, Carrollwood Day School, senior receiver: Extremely productive wideout tallied 42 catches for 742 yards and six touchdowns. Has over 116 career receptions for over 2,000 yards in four years on varsity.

Kyle Leivas

Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes, senior tailback: Posted 2,180 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns. Also eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second time with 1,252 rushing yards on 6.8 yards per carry.

Kavbion Marbra, Zephyrhills Christian, athlete: Seven interceptions is tied for fourth-most in the state.

Nyhohn Moody, Zephyrhills Christian, senior linebacker: Tackling machine ranks fifth in the state with 132 stops. Also has six tackles for loss and a sack.

Schools in The Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area (and their 2018 regular season records)

Hillsborough County:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): 5-5 overall, 2-2 district

Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): 4-6 overall, district 2-4

Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): 7-3 overall, 4-2 district

Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): 5-5 overall, 4-2 district

Pasco County:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man Florida Christian Region 2): 6-0 overall, 6-0 district (One regular season game remaining)

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): 4-5, 4-1 district

Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): 3-7 overall, 1-0 district

Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): 7-3 overall, 2-2 district

Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): 2-8 overall, 0-4 district

Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): 4-6 overall, 1-3 district

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): 5-5 overall, 4-2 district

Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): 7-3 overall, 4-2 district

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): 10-0 overall, 6-0 district

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): 7-3 overall, 1-0 district

FHSAA football playoff pairings for local schools
All kickoff times are set for Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Class 7A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 6 Gaither (7-3) at No. 3 Plant (9-1)

No. 8 Wiregrass Ranch (7-3) at No. 1 Lakeland (10-0)

Class 5A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 7 Crystal River (8-2) at No. 2 Zephyrhills (10-0)

Class 2A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 6 St. Francis Catholic Gainesville (4-5) at No. 3 Zephyrhills Christian (7-3)

Region 3 Quarterfinals
No. 6 Southwest Florida Christian (2-8) at No. 3 Carrollwood Day School (5-5)

Published November 7, 2018

Pasco Pirates off to solid start

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Just a few weeks into the regular season, the Pasco High football team already has surpassed its win total from all of last season.

In fact, they’ve doubled it.

Pasco High head coach Tom McHugh, in his 11th season, has a career mark of 83-35, which includes a string of seven straight playoff appearances from 2007 to 2013. (File)

The 2016 season was unpleasant for the Pirates, losing nine straight games until they beat Gulf High — a struggling program that’s now lost 22 straight regular season games — in the season finale.

The 1-9 record was its worst since 1978, when Jimmy Sessoms coached the team.

The struggling campaign was a surprise to many, considering the Pirates often have been one of the county’s upper-tier programs under longtime head coach Tom McHugh.

McHugh, in his 11th season, has a career mark of 83-35, which includes a string of seven straight playoff appearances from 2007 to 2013.

Additionally, under McHugh, the Pirates have produced some of the county’s top players who have gone on to collegiate and professional careers, including, defensive tackle Joey Ivie (University of Florida/Dallas Cowboys, defensive back Josh Johnson (Purdue University/Canadian Football League/Jacksonville Jaguars), athlete Janarion Grant (Rutgers University) and defensive back Jayvaughn Myers (Auburn University).

Yet, perhaps the biggest disappointment to the Pirates’ faithful wasn’t the abysmal 1-9 record, but its devastating 46-0 home loss to Zephyrhills High in the annual 9-Mile War — oftentimes a one-sided affair in which Pasco High claims the all-time series record 40-19.

This season, however, appears to be a strong contrast to last year.

The Pasco High Pirates have rebounded from last year’s dismal 1-9 mark. The 2017 squad features 17 seniors, including middle linebacker Cameron Smith. (Courtesy of Tom Ketchum)

The Pirates handily won its first two contests over both Hudson High (22-10) and Gulf High (46-0), and proved dominant in its preseason game, a 36-18 victory over Ridgewood High.

And, unlike the 2016 season, the Pirates have a bevy of experienced depth, both on offense and defense. This year’s roster features 19 seniors. Last year’s had just seven.

Besides a steady, game-managing presence at quarterback in junior Doug Crawford, the Pirates display an explosive rushing attack currently averaging more than 200 yards per game — thanks to a trio of runners in senior Jaleel Hansberry, and juniors Early Knight and Jacquez Mobley.

The defense, too, has shown an ability to create pressure and limit opposing yardage, early on.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Pirates have three reigning All-Sunshine Athletic Conference players in senior offensive lineman/defensive tackle Camron Craig, senior middle linebacker Cameron Smith and senior defensive lineman Cody Mercer.

The Pirates, meanwhile, have several winnable games on their 2017 slate.

In addition to facing upstart Cypress Creek Middle High at home, the Pirates should match up well against Superior Collegiate Academy, along with district foes Sunlake— which appears to be in a rebuilding year — and Land O’ Lakes high schools.

But, contests against the likes of Mitchell, Springstead and Zephyrhills high schools should determine how good this team is.

And, how far it will go.

 

–Stats compiled by Maxpreps.com

Published September 13, 2017