BULLETIN BOARD MATERIAL!

This is what Venice coach Brian Wheatley told the Venice Gondolier after watching Plant -- which plays Clearwater Thursday for the region championship -- celebrate following the Panthers' win against the Indians in Saturday's region semifinal.

"This was pretty much the state championship," reasoned Wheatley.

What? Now it is well know Wheatley has a ...uh-um ... high opinion of himself and his team, but that's a flat-out slap in the face to a pretty darn good Clearwater team. That said, is Wheatley right? Plant is a powerhouse, featuring an all-star cast led by Miami-bound Christine Williamson. What do those of you in the area think of Clearwater's chances Thursday?

--BRANDON WRIGHT, Times Staff Writer

TIME MANAGEMENT?

Okay, Jefferson is leading 13-10 with about 1:40 remaining in its football game against Plant. The Dragons have the ball inside Plant's 30-yard line. It's third down. Plant has no time outs.

What should Jefferson do?

Throw? An incompletion is basically a free timeout for Plant. Two incompletions is two timeouts for Plant.

Jefferson proceeds to throw two incompletions.

Plant scores a touchdown to win from the 3-yard line with 19 seconds remaining after Panther QB Robert Marve completed his first pass for 52 yards.

Should Jefferson have run on that third and fourth down, thus giving Marve much less time -- around 30 or seconds -- to move down field? What would you have done?

--SCOTT PURKS, Times Staff Writer

Week 10 football

The Times will publish scores from each of tonight's football games in Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties as we receive them. If you don't see the game you're looking for, check back. We'll be updating the list throughout the night.

(Pictured: Countryside's Richard Shockley and East Lake's Richie Bailey. Times photo -  Ted McLaren. Click to enlarge.)

Largo 41, Pinellas Park 7

Northside Christian 34, Shorecrest 0

Hillsborough 28, Gaither 0

Countryside 15, East Lake 13

Admiral Farragut 20, Indian Rocks Christian 7

Plant City 20, Bloomingdale 0

Land O'Lakes 18, Wharton 0

Ridgewood 53, Springstead 14

(Pictured: Citrus' Antoin Scriven. Times photo - Maurice Rivenbark. Click to enlarge.)

Wesley Chapel 38, Mitchell 0

Sarasota Riverview 21, Durant 0

Frostproof 39, Berkeley Prep 10

Zephyrhills 23, Pasco 14

Newsome 27, Middleton 21

Chamberlain 23, King 13

Armwood 38, Lake Region 0

Citrus 16, Hernando 12

Crystal River 43, Lecanto 0

Plant 17, Jefferson 13

Gulf 41, Hudson 6

Alonso 40, Sickles 13

Calvary Christian 20, Bishop McLaughlin 14

Hernando Christian 25, Ocala Christian 19

Central 25, River Ridge 14

Nature Coast 33, Mulberry 28

Jesuit 34, Robinson 21

Sarasota 15, Riverview 14

Brandon 42, East Bay 28

Blake 18, Leto 6

Tampa Catholic 39, Bishop Verot 7

(Pictured: Zephyrhills quarterback Sederrik Cunningham. Times photo - Lance Aram Rothstein. Click to enlarge.)

Osceola 33, Northeast 27 (2OT)

Cardinal Mooney 19, Clearwater Central Catholic 14

Boca Ciega 41, Bradenton Bayshore 7

Clearwater 27, Tarpon Springs 7

Gibbs 23, Dixie Hollins 7

Dunedin 42, PHU 7

Southeast 38, Lakewood 0

St. Petersburg 19, Seminole 6

SPC 48, Lake Placid 25

Freedom 28, Tampa Bay Tech 10

ON DECK

This is a new installment on the Times' blog that will spotlight a freshman athlete in Pinellas County every Thursday, with the purpose being to give readers a glimpse of future County stars. These players don't have to dominate in the present, but are ones who will likely be household names in the future. Feel free to let us know if you're privy to a freshman athlete who is deserving of consideration.

CASSANDRA ROY

Roy's playing time on Palm Harbor's volleyball team may have remained the same throughout the season, but her play did not: the redheaded outside hitter just kept getting better. PHU coach Tara Kuk said "She's been in our rotation all year, it's just that people started to notice her as her play got more consistent." Being an unknown freshman coming onto a playoff-caliber team, fans started noticing the newcomer with the bright red locks. "People kept asking me 'Who is that new girl with the red hair?'" Kuk said. "But she's shown she can play with this team." And finding her first classes at PHU hasn't been the only challenging thing about this year. "There was some pressure playing for (PHU) because you're the youngest player on an older team and you don't want to be the one who messes up." Roy, who's been playing volleyball since fifth grade, competed with her (Under) 14-Black Tampa Bay Juniors club team at the Junior Olympic Championships in Atlanta this summer.

Who's next on deck?

BRANDON WRIGHT, Times Staff Writer

10th Question: Who's the Best Blogger in Pinellas County?

Just kidding.

Reading Bob and Joe's never-ending list of questions -- Who's the best pooch punter in Pinellas County? Who's the best ball-boy? Who's the best tee jockey (you know, the kid who runs onto the field after the kickoff) -- got me thinking.

Who are the best players in the entire Bay Area?

Give it to me:

Best RB?

Best QB?

Best WR?

Best OL?

Best DL?

Best LB?

Best CB?

Best S?

Best K?

Best P?

And, yes, best blogger?

Crew Coach Sought

The Academy of the Holy Names is seeking a crew coach for the spring season and beyond. For information, contact Athletic Director Pete Young at (813) 839-5371, ext. 320.

Scout's Honor

Eight games into his final high school season, Plant quarterback Robert Marve still finds ways to amaze his coach, Bob Weiner.

Case in point: a recent practice in preparation for Friday night's superhyped showdown at sixth-ranked Jefferson. While running the fifth-ranked Panthers' offensive scout team (Hey, who better than Marve to simulate Dragons counterpart Stephen Garcia?), the Alabama-bound senior threw an interception on the day's final play to Patrick Carter, who had a clear path to the opposite end zone.

We'll let Weiner take it from there.

"(Marve) is trying to get over a sickness, it's the last play of our scrimmage, he's just the scout-team quarterback. He goes 80 yards full speed -- and makes the tackle. ... He's a competitor. He's not going to back down from anything, and that's what makes him great."

Kickoff for the Plant-Jefferson game is Friday at 7:30 p.m. A crowd of roughly 6,000 is expected.

the question

The ninth question was answered. PHU's Bobby Santana was voted the county's best defensive back. Now on to the next question. Who is the county's best special teams player? This can be a kicker, punter, returner, whatever. You can vote until Tuesday at 1 p.m.

FHSAA's Transfer Rule Dead: Good or Bad?

It was hard not to feel bad for John Stewart Tuesday. The FHSAA commisioner (not the "Daily Show" host) was in attendance at the third meeting of the Student Athlete Recruiting Task Force at Armwood and pretty much had to watch helplessly as his much-ballyhooed transfer rule was officially proclaimed dead.

First, for those who need to catch up, here's some links to previous stories we've done covering the situation, dating back to January:

10/24: On the lack of diversity on the panel. . .

8/27: The first meeting of the task force

3/29: Transfer rules challenged by legislature

3/5: A story about some of the possible unintended consequences of the new by-law

1/25: Initial reaction to the proposed transfer rules

1/25: FHSAA passes new transfer by-laws

Stewart became commisioner a couple years ago, and one of his pet projects was to institute tough rules that would stem the transfer of students from school to school for athletic reasons. In January, the FHSAA passed what it called "a comprehensive" transfer policy that would, for the most part, require any student-athlete who transferred high schools to sit out a year of varsity sports. There were 10 exceptions built into the rule, but pretty much it came down to this: unless it was blatantly obvious that an athlete wasn't transferring for athletic reasons, he or she had to sit out a year of sports. Coaches were tired of watching players hop from school to school like free agents, and principals and the FHSAA were tired of dealing with recruiting allegations.

But there was a faction of people -- most from private schools -- who felt the new rules violated Florida state law regarding school choice. That faction lobbied legislators to intercede, which they did, passing a bill that forced the FHSAA to hold off on instituting its new by-laws for a year. In the mean time, the Student Athlete Recruiting Task Force was created to study recruiting in the state.

Which brings us back to Tuesday: Throughout its first two meetings, the task force served a dual purpose: to study recruiting, and to study students who transferred for athletic reasons (but weren't necesarilly recruited). The FHSAA has been attempting to lump both together. But on Tuesday, committee chairman Dudley Goodlette, who is responsible for recommending to legislature what the proper rules to institute, said he wouldn't support penalizing all transfers because it would violate school choice and leave the FHSAA open to litigation.

From this point forward, the task force will deal solely with recruiting, cutting athletic transfers out of the equation.

Stewart obviously isn't happy about the decision. And, in all honesty, his solution was the only realistic way to eliminate recruiting. Anything short of eliminating the ease with which student can transfer will simply be tilting at wind mills. It boils down to this: if you get caught recruiting, you are either unhealthily brazen or completely stupid. There are so many ways around the rules, so many ways to implicitly encourage a kid to attend your school, that you'd be foolish to do anything that would leave you tangibly culpable.

But as one person said to me, Stewart's solution was like "throwing the baby out with the bathwater." There were simply too many potential unintended consequences. Many other states have similar rules, but those states don't have Florida's style of school choice.

Here are the transfer laws in other states:

http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/sataskforce/statebystate.pdf

So what now? The task force will attempt to make recommendations on how to curb recruiting.

Feel free to give your input. Is recruiting really a problem? Can it be dealt with? How? Was the FHSAA misguided in its attempt to institute its new by-law? Do you agree with the task force's decision?

Cross Country: Clean Slate

The county's cross country teams begin their postseason runs Wednesday afternoon as District Meets get underway...

YOUR TAKE: Who do you think will be the big winners?

There will be plenty of things to look for, that's for sure:

3A District 5 in Bradenton

Tarpon Springs sophomore Kailand Cosgrove has flown under the radar this season, despite clocking the county's top time of 18:34. Since she hasn't run in a lot of larger weekend meets, so the last time she faced a great number of county competitors was at Chesnut Park in September (when everyone got lost) and she cruised to a huge win

I'll be curious to see if Lakewood senior Ali Crabb can give her a challenge for the No. 1 spot. Crabb (2nd last year) has been running extremely well, and has showed she isn't afraid to go out fairly fast - especially when she's been tested by Seminole freshman Katie Homme. Crabb said she's going to "go for it," so we'll see how Cosgrove (who is scheduled to arrive back from Hawaii today) will respond....

**Seminole appears to be in control of the boys race. Senior Aaron Thomas and Christian Homme have been running like they're on a mission. Northeast could take a crack at the top-3, if their No. 3, Matt Adkins, comes through. He separated his shoulder at the City Meet and failed to finish PCACs....They'll need his best (which is in low-to-mid 17s) to have a chance at challenging the Warhawks

WHAT IF? Seminole star Heather Nicolosi (stress fracture) and Boca Ciega senior Lindsey Brooks (mono) ran at full strength this year......Brooks may run in districts - I know it'll be tough to hold her back -- but it'll also be even tougher to come back from a few weeks of inactivity

Class 4A District 4 at Oscar Scherer (Thursday)

*St. Pete boys are an "X" factor, in my eyes. They've shown their depth in spurts -- running the race of their lives in the City Meet - but didn't show the same mojo at the PCAC. Plain and simple, they'll need their big guns, Garrett Mackey and Wes Reynolds, battling with the top pack. And, of course, this would be a great time for the return of No. 3 runner, Kevin Gates, who broke his arch in his right foot a month ago. Gates finished a solid speed workout last Monday, then began to feel the pain a bit and was held out of PCACs. His participation and place could be pivotal to the Green Devils....

*PHU girls are running well, with a really strong top-4. Can they top defending champ Riverview?

1A District 5 at Keswick on Fri

*Imagine where the Shorecrest twins, Sarah and Lindsey Evans, will be by their senior season. They're only eighth graders, and have already competed with some of the area's best.

*Calvary Christian junior Joe Cathey has put together some of the best workouts of his career this season. He finally has a summer base of miles to work with - to go along with his killer kick. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes a run at districts and regionals

-- JOE SMITH

Week 9 football

The Times will publish scores from each of tonight's football games in Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties as we receive them. If you don't see the game you're looking for, check back. We'll be updating the list throughout the night.

(Pictured: Crystal River's Walter Graden and Citrus' Derek Paquette. Times photo - M.N. Golden. Click to enlarge.)

Victory Christian 47, Calvary Christian 0

Newsome 35, Tampa Bay Tech 14

Springstead 21, River Ridge 3

Nature Coast 13, Hernando 7

Out of Door Academy 28, Hernando Christian 0

East Bay 31, Durant 10

Clearwater Central Catholic 27, Avon Park 21

Wharton 44, Mitchell 0

Tarpon Springs 20, Ridgewood 17

Admiral Farragut 27, Lake City Christian 14

Jefferson 68, Sickles 0

East Lake 31, Palm Harbor University 10

Wesley Chapel 31, Zephyrhills 26

Land O'Lakes 28, Gaither 24

Largo 27, St. Petersburg 0

Middleton 28, Sarasota Riverview (2OT)

Freedom 24, Hillsborough 21

Citrus 37, Crystal River 36

Clearwater 26, Dunedin 24

(Pictured: Nature Coast Tech celebrates its first district title. Times photo - Edmund D. Fountain. Click to enlarge.)

Robinson 41, Blake 20

Trinity Catholic 60, Gulf 0

Hudson 30, Lecanto 10

Central 27, South Lake 7

Bishop McLaughlin 54, First Academy 6

Plant 42, Alonso 20

Armwood 64, Brandon 7

Chamberlain 42, Leto 0

Celebration 40, Tampa Baptist 0

Berkeley Prep 47, Bradenton Prep 12

Southeast 19, Osceola 16

Northeast 34, Boca Ciega 28 (OT)

Dixie Hollins33, Pinellas Park 14

St. Petersburg Catholic 48, Mulberry 13

Gibbs 29, Seminole 16

Bradenton Bayshore 28, Lakewood 21 (OT)

(Pictured: Land O'Lakes' Joe Weatherford. Times photo - Brian Cassella. Click to enlarge.)

Keswick Christian 52, Orlando Agape 14

Lakeland Christian 28, Northside Christian 14

Fort Meade 57, Indian Rocks Christian 0

Lakeland Santa Fe 29, Cambridge 26

PHU COMEBACK

IRC pulled it off earlier in the year, but this one may have been more impressive considering the stakes. Down 2-0 last night to East Lake in the district semis, the Hurricanes rallied to win three straight games and played their way into the postseason in the process. IRC did the same and earned its first-ever win against Tampa Prep earlier this year, but a loss last night would have closed the book on PHU's season. Instead, East Lake's came to an end.
A couple things stood out in the match and one was fatigue. East Lake's offense ran almost exclusively through Sara Rex and Lindsey Opperman (combined 47 kills). They both played phenomenal, but looked to be worn down in the fourth, and especially the fifth, game. That said, it's always tough to see an athlete's prep career come to an end, especially for a gamer like Opperman. If intensity had a face, it would resemble hers.
PHU's offensive attack, as usual, featured Margo Sultenfuss and Mallory Kiley, but the Canes got an outstanding contribution from Cassandra Roy. Just a freshman, Roy is a name area fans will know well in the coming years. And PHU, after looking sluggish in Games 1 and 2, attacked with tip after tip that fell in front of East Lake's backline from Game 3 on. So PHU will face the Tornadoes tonight at 7 for the district title in the team's third meeting this season. Clearwater has won both matches, but the Hurricanes took the Tornadoes to five games Aug. 28, so expect a good one.
--BRANDON WRIGHT, Times Staff Writer

The question

The eighth question was answered. Northeast's Armando Sanchez was voted the county's best linebacker. Now on to the next question. Who is the county's best defensive back? Voting will stop at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

As side note here, please, please, please, please stop voting from the same IP address. I don't need to single out people because you know who you are. I spend nearly six hours a week trying to go through these polls and eliminate votes from the same IP address. That's why the votes on the blog are not always the same as what appears in the paper. C'mon. Everybody should be grown up enough to know you should vote one time from the same computer or that one person should only vote for their favorite player once. This stuff just really gets old.

BOB PUTNAM

Week 8 football (Friday)

The Times will publish scores from each of tonight's football games in Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties as we receive them. If you don't see the game you're looking for, check back. We'll be updating the list throughout the night.

(Pictured: Dunedin's Robby Mincey tries to get past Countryside's Brandon Lockwood. Times photo - Ted McLaren. Click to enlarge.)

Fort Meade 56, Admiral Farragut 0

Gaither 17, Wharton 7

St. Petersburg 17, Dixie Hollins 7

Dunedin 8, Countryside 6

Armwood 49, Auburndale 7

Clearwater Central Catholic 20, Frostproof 14

Tampa Catholic 37, Mulberry 0

Hernando 27, Lecanto 0

(Pictured: Gaither celebrates its win over Wharton. Times photo - Daniel Wallace. Click to enlarge.)

Osceola 17, Lakewood 10

Largo 41, Seminole 16

Central 18, Springstead 17

Nature Coast Tech 29, Citrus 28 (OT)

Sarasota Booker 23, Jesuit 20 (OT)

Clearwater 41, Palm Harbor University 31

Cambridge 17, Calvary Christian 12

(Pictured: Osceola's Justin Hart. Times photo - Atoyia Deans. Click to enlarge.)

Bradenton Christian 38, Canterbury 35

St. Petersburg Catholic 32, Bishop Verot 25

Northside Christian 32, Indian Rocks Christian 7

Lakeland Christian 14, Hernando Christian 0

Cardinal Mooney 34, Berkeley Prep 20

Robinson 10, Palmetto 3

Week 8 football (Thursday)

(Pictured: Gulf quarterback Alton Voss. Times photo - Zachary Boyden-Holmes. Click to enlarge.)

Bradenton Southeast 27, Boca Ciega 14

Plant City 23, East Bay 14

Plant 56, Leto 8

Alonso 14, Chamberlain 8

Gulf 22, Pasco 0

Gibbs 19, Pinellas Park 14

King 20, Sickles 10

Northeast 35, Bradenton Bayshore 28

Riverview 42, Durant 0

Jefferson 45, Blake 14

Freedom 44, Middleton 33

Hillsborough 30, Tampa Bay Tech 0

Brandon 28, Bloomingdale 19

Land O'Lakes 23, Wesley Chapel 20

Zephyrhills 48, Hudson 14

Tarpon Springs 49, River Ridge 0

Gibbs 19, Pinellas Park 14

Chat Session: Best Comeback Story of '06?

The Times’ two tech-savviest writers sat down at their terminals to debate which squad has been the better comeback story of 2006: a Pasco team that started 0-5 but entered Thursday’s games with back-to-back wins, or a Nature Coast team that is 5-1.
igould30:  Pasco has to be considered one of the best comeback stories so far.
DMurph003: Because they’ve won back-to-back games? Is that considered a comeback story in Pasco County?
igould30: They were 0-5. (Coach Dale) Caparaso’s job was — is still — in jeopardy. Dade City turned on its team. The players could have given up. Then they were down 28-14 in the third quarter to Wesley Chapel …
DMurph003: Wait let me guess. …The Garbage Picking, Field-Goal Kicking, Philadelphia Phenomenon came on and saved the day
igould30: They scored three unanswered touchdowns and head into (Thursday’s) game with a head of steam.
DMurph003: Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!
DMurph003: Look, all I know is that a win over a Hudson team that has lost six straight games and a win over a Wesley Chapel team that had lost three of its last four isn’t exactly worthy of a Disney screenplay
DMurph003: Look at where Nature Coast was heading into the season
igould30: Let me have it …
DMurph003: In 2004, they won three games playing a JV schedule. Last year, they won two games. Five of their eight losses last year were by double digits. But this year, they knock off a Springstead team that has dominated the county the past few years, and they do it in dramatic fashion, scoring a touchdown with three seconds left. They record their first two district wins in school history.
igould30: They beat Springstead (3-3), Crystal River (1-6), Lecanto (0-6) and Kissimmee Poinciana (0-6). …Why don’t they just schedule West Hernando Middle School?
igould30: Their best win was against the Villages. …by one point. Pasco could beat a team full of AARP members, too.
DMurph003: Hey, their golf carts were intimidating. …
DMurph003: Seriously. I’m glad you brought their schedule up. Last year, Nature Coast was either losing to, or struggling to beat, teams like Lecanto and Crystal River and Poinciana. Case in point: Last year, Nature Coast lost to Lecanto and barely beat Poinciana. This year, they’ve beaten both teams by a combined 141-7.
DMurph003: Let that sink in: 141-7
DMurph003: That’s like me and you facing each other in a battle of the wits.
DMurph003: Nature Coast has given up more than one touchdown in a game just once since its season opener. It has allowed 17 points in its past three games
DMurph003: I’m not calling them world beaters, but it’s a great story
igould30: Each one of Pasco’s losses — except Mitchell — was to a team still in the playoff hunt. Then the Pirates beat Hudson, which went to the region final last season, and came from two touchdowns down to beat rival Wesley Chapel.
igould30: The Gulf win would put‘em in the playoffs …and I know you’ve knocked the playoff system in the past, but even a loss to Gulf wouldn’t knock the Pirates out. Bottom line: They win and they’re in.
igould30: I challenge you to find a dog game on their schedule. …
igould30: I’d love to see how NCT would do against LOL, WC, Ridgewood, Gulf, undefeated ZHills …or even PASCO!
igould30: Booyah! You got served!
DMurph003: I believe boo-yah is hyphenated.
Igould30: Thanks. Gould. Boo-yah!
DMurph003: Murphy out.

Too Light A Sentence

I personally think the judge should have had Detroit Tigers' pitcher Joel Zumaya fire baseballs at this "coach" as punishment, but that's just me. Read this disturbing story:

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=2623002

--BRANDON WRIGHT, Times Staff Writer

Ex-Armwood Star Copes With Reality

Former Armwood High star, Saladino Award winner and current University of Florida baseball player Brandon McArthur spent part of this summer filming a reality television show called "Ultimate Choice." McArthur will be heavily featured in this week’s episode, which will air locally Saturday (Oct. 14) at 10 p.m. on Family Net (Channel 202 on the Verizon FIOS system).

According to the show's Web site, "Ultimate Choice" gives eight young adults the chance to "experience the extreme adventure of their lives, getting thrust face-to-face with challenges that have lifelong implications."

The program follows the participants through an orchestrated extreme adventure in the deserts and mountains of the Southwest. It bills itself as "MTV with a conscience."

The last three years of McArthur's life have made for prime, poignant reality TV. He was injured outside a Gainesville nightclub during an unprovoked attack in the fall of 2003, and subsequently rendered comatose for five days. After two brain surgeries, he made a full recovery, ultimately becoming the starting third baseman for the 2005 Florida team that finished second at the College World Series.

SMITH'S INSIDE SLANT

OK, unlike ESPN’s signature clown/commentator, Lee Corso, I have no mascot masks to throw on when I make my picks. But hopefully I’ll deliver a little more insight than Lee in my previews for this week’s big games.
Which team will bounce back from last week? Which team will suffer from, as I call it, the “Joe Smith Jinx”?
Find out, beginning tonight:

(Players scramble for the ball in last year's Dunedin-Countryside game/ Times photo by Ted McLaren. Click to enlarge)

Dunedin (5-1) at Countryside (6-1) - Friday, 7:30 p.m. 
Both teams stumble into this showdown, which promises to feature many helmet-rattling hits. Dunedin barely got past winless Gibbs last week – and may have lost their leading rusher in the process – while Countryside made some uncharacteristic mistakes in its loss to Tarpon Springs.
Cougars coach John Davis said he blames himself for the team’s first loss, saying he made “bad play calls.” The one that stings him the most is the bootleg he called near the goalline late in the fourth quarter, when QB L.D. Crow threw an interception in the end zone.
“I put him in a bad spot,” Davis said. “And we lost the game because of it.”
Coincidentally, the key in this week’s game could be how many plays Dunedin allows Davis to call. In last year’s matchup, a 14-13 Countryside win, the Falcons used a ball-control attack to eat up the clock, giving the Cougars just 28 offensive plays (half their average).
The Falcons may have trouble with ball control if star sophomore tailback Daris Bellamy (sprained knee) is unable to play, or merely can’t go at full-speed. If so, Dunedin will likely have to rely on its opportunistic “D” to overwhelm Countryside’s battered offensive line (two starters are out for the year and two more are playing hurt).
DID YOU KNOW? Until last week’s loss against Tarpon Springs, Countryside’s “D” gave up an average of just one big play (15 yards or more) per game. The Cougars surrendered four such plays against the Spongers.
GAMEBREAKER: Dunedin senior Matt Gilghrest. The WR/CB is one of Dunedin’s biggest playmakers, and he may have to repeat his performance from last week (2 INTs, 1 TD reception) to beat the Cougars.
JOE’S PICK: Countryside

(Osceola fullback Bryce Williams. Times photo by Ted McLaren)

Osceola (5-1) at Lakewood (3-3) - Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Osceola fullback Bryce Williams must be licking his chops after watching Northeast eat up Lakewood’s defense for 362 rushing yards two weeks ago. The Warriors “O-line” has been a big reason why they’ve more than doubled their win total from last season. Osceola will likely continue to pound the ball offensively, with dives and traps to Williams and sweeps to speedy RB/WR Justin Hart.
It’s up to guys like Lakewood NG David Woods and LB Kevin Hartzog to help the Spartans stuff the run (something they’ve struggled with all season long).
Hartzog, however, will be busy on both sides of the ball. The third-string quarterback saved the day last week against St. Petersburg, spearheading an 80-yard drive in the game’s final minutes, passing for 62 yards and running for 11 more to lead the Spartans to a win.
Lakewood coach Otis Dixon was so impressed, he said he plans to rotate starter Corey Henderson and Hartzog much like the University of Florida mixes Tim Tebow and Chris Leak.
“I’m a big copy-cat,” Dixon said. “If it works for one of the best teams in college football, it could work for us. So we’ll see.”
DID YOU KNOW? Henderson sprained his ankle against St. Petersburg last week, but will be ready to go, Dixon said. 
GAMEBREAKER: Osceola RB/WR Justin Hart. Hart, a 6-1,178-pound slasher, hasn’t let cramps cramp his style the past few weeks. Hart racked up 130 yards receiving, 83 yards rushing and three TDs last week against Clearwater.
JOE’S PICK: Osceola

Boca Ciega RB Josh Bellamy. Times photo by Lara Cerri

BOCA CIEGA (3-3) vs SOUTHEAST (3-3) - Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
For Boca Ciega, this is likely a must-win game if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Even though Southeast is a bit down compared to previous seasons, they’ll still provide a tough test for the Pirates.
Lately, the Pirates have been beating themselves. In their showdown with Osceola two weeks ago, Boca Ciega found themselves in double-digits in penalties and triple-digits in penalty yards – thanks to nearly a handful personal fouls.
Equally as enigmatic is the team’s use of star running back Josh Bellamy. Bellamy, a shifty slasher, racked up 85 yards in the first half against Osceola, but rarely carried the ball in the second.
I’ll admit, that was partly because they were forced into 2nd and 3rd-and-longs following penalties. But, in my opinion, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Bellamy gives the Pirates the balance they sorely need, even when they are battling from behind.
The Pirates primary playmakers -- Bellamy, QB Orhian Johnson and WR Sherard Allen - will need to play complete games in order to beat Southeast.
GAMEBREAKER: Boca Ciega linebacker Mundrae Francis. The short, but steady linebacker has come up big for Boca Ciega in spurts this year – including a blocked field goal late against Osceola.
JOE’S PICK: Boca Ciega

-- JOE SMITH

Poll Question

The seventh question was answered. Tarpon Springs' Donnel Engram was voted the county's best defenive lineman. Now on to the next question. Who is the county's best linebacker?

-- BOB PUTNAM

Week 7 football

The Times will publish scores from each of tonight's football games in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties as we receive them. If you don't see the game you're looking for, check back. We'll be updating the list throughout the night.
(Pictured - Pasco's Justin Smothers. Times photo -- Lance Aram Rothstein. Click to enlarge.)

Thursday's result

Dunedin 13, Gibbs 12

Tonight's results

Largo 35, Palm Harbor University 14

Gaither 31, Alonso 0

Bishop McLaughlin 35, West Oaks Academy 14

Lakewood 23, St. Petersburg  21

Citrus 23, Ocala Lake Weir 12

Newsome 16, Durant 3

South Sumter 55, Crystal River 0

Calvary Christian 27, Lakeland Santa Fe 20

Tampa Catholic 32, Miami Baypoint 6

Osceola 35, Clearwater 14

Pasco 34, Wesley Chapel 28

St. Petersburg Catholic 42, Clearwater Central Catholic 16

Springstead 17, Hernando 16

(Pictured: Clearwater's Chris Sackman and Osceola's Juan McKinney. Times photo - Ted McLaren. Click to enlarge.)

Nature Coast Tech 40, Poinciana 7

Tarpon Springs 14, Countryside 7

Freedom 19, Bloomingdale 7

East Bay 21, King 7

Victory Christian 33, Keswick Christian 7

Jesuit 14, Chamberlain 13

Wharton 34, Brandon 0

East Lake 35, Seminole 7

Plant 28, Hillsborough 21

Land O'Lakes 35, River Ridge 0

Mitchell 45, Hudson 30

Gulf 21, Ridgewood 0

The Villages 48, Lecanto 0

Hernando Christian 21, Tampa Baptist 8

(PIctured: Plant's Robert Marve. Times photo - Daniel Wallace. Click to enlarge.)

Armwood 45, Middleton 17

Riverview 32, Blake 6

Jefferson 25, Robinson 7

Leto 30, Sickles 29

Plant City 30, Tampa Bay Tech 6

Vero Beach St. Edwards 46, Cambridge 13

Victory Christian 33, Keswick Christian 7

St. John Neumann 31, Shorecrest Prep 7

Northside Christian 39, Out of Door Academy 0

Canterbury 34, Deland Lighthouse Christian 0

ANOTHER GREAT MATCH

Fans of Pinellas County volleyball should count themselves lucky. Last night's five-game match between Clearwater and Countryside was another display of the fine talent the area possess. It ranks right up there with the best I have seen all year. IRC coming back from two games down at Tampa Prep is still No. 1, but Countryside's five gamer against PHU and the Hurricanes going five with Clearwater also deserve consideration. Limited by space issues last night, here are a few thoughts about the C-Side/Clearwater match.
1) C-Side's gym had a playoff atmosphere, but not until the third game. The Cougars' student section, one of the loudest and most beneficial in the area, didn't get into gear until Game 3 when C-Side started making its run. I found that surprising, since the Cougars had a legit shot at quieting all the "undefeated" talk. There is a direct correlation between crowd participation and momentum, especially in a game like volleyball. When that gym got rockin in Games 3-5, it helped change the match.
2) Clearwater was a little shorthanded, with five players suffering from the flu. Channing Salava, who looked like she was going to fall over after the match, was one of the players most affected but managed to turn in a gritty performance under the circumstances.
3) Clearwater coach Tracy Sedley had to do some lineup shuffling and Katie Betourne responded. Betourne, who normally just plays int he back row, stepped up to the front and had 10 kills. She was also responsible for many key tip overs at the net, a problem that plagued C-Side all night.
4) Madison Truluck (match-high 16 kills) was consistent in Games 1-5, but I thought Danielle Biaso really turned things around for the Cougars in Game 3. Five of her nine kills came during that game and she played with great energy throughout the entire match.
5) As far as Kristin Fisher being the entire "Team", consider this: Five players for the Tornadoes had at least seven kills, including their setter Salava. C-Side had three; Biaso, Truluck and Taylor Wilson.
6) C-Side could have folded its tents after two games, but really showed a lot of heart making the run they did. And yes, there were MANY questionable by the officials that went against both sides. Maybe pulling people out of the stands to be linesmen isn't the best idea in the world, especially for a matchup of such quality teams. Agree?

Once again, great input on here regarding volleyball, but please keep in mind attacking individual players isn't acceptable. Not that everything has to be sunshine and dimples on here, but understand that these players are just kids and take "shots" psoted about them to heart.

BRANDON WRIGHT, Times Staff Writer

The question

The sixth question was answered. Largo's Kyle Peters was voted the county's best offensive lineman. Now on to the next question. Who is the county's best defensive lineman? 

The 50 Percent Rule: Cheers or Jeers?

Wondering what everyone thinks about the FHSAA's offseason rule change that will essentially allow high school coaches to coach their players in the offseason on club teams.

Before, a coach was not allowed to coach a team that consisted of more than half of his varsity players. Now, he or she can enter his entire varsity team into a spring club soccer league or a fall baseball league or basketball league.

Opponents fear it could lead to year-round competition and a pressure to specialize.

Proponents think it will enable coaches to spend more quality time with their kids.

Here's the story that ran in today's paper. What does everyone out there in the Bay Area think?

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/03/Sports/A_100_percent_headache.shtml

Tuesday Morning Quarterback: Sizing up 3A-6

While the Class 4A, District 8 picture became a bit clearer on Friday, nobody is quite sure what to make of Class 3A, District 6.

The only given right now is that Lecanto, a 61-0 loser to Nature Coast Friday, will not be making the postseason.

Other than that, who the heck knows?

Through Week Six, the five teams in the district had a combined overall record of 8-18, the worst mark of any district in Class 3A. Furthermore, Citrus, Lecanto, Crystal River, Hernando and Nature Coast have won just four games against non-district opponents. District six also is one of only three districts in Class 3A that has fewer than two teams with a winning record.

"It's the same way it was last year," Nature Coast coach Jamie Joyner said last week. "It's not a strong district. It's up for grabs. Everyone has a shot."

That's not to denigrate any of the district's teams. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find a tougher set of non-district schedules than 3A-6 teams have played. Hernando, for example, scheduled games against Dunnellon and Zephyrhills, both of whom have just one loss. Citrus has played South Sumter (5-1) and Gulf (3-2). And the non-district opponents Crystal River has played are a combined 18-5.

So what did we learn this weekend?

Well, Lecanto is done. Nature Coast and Citrus are the two front-runners for playoff spots, but Crystal River and Hernando are still very much alive.

In other words, we didn't learn much of anything.

Tuesday Morning Quarterback: Cue the Jim Mora Byte

The date is October 2nd, which means three things:

I can occasionally drive to work without my air conditioning on.

Football season is half over.

Any day now I will receive an e-mail from my mother asking what I would like for Christmas.

Yes, Mrs. Murphy has always liked to plan ahead. So as you read the following and wonder what in tarnation has possessed me to proclaim Central a postseason participant after just six games, realize this: It's genetics.

Now, onward:

The first thing Central principal Dennis McGeehan asked me when I ran into him after the game was, "Did Springstead win?"

At the time, I told him that I did not know. Because I didn't. But now I do. And, for those of you who either missed the past three editions of the paper, or for those of you who subscribe to Hernando Today, here's the newsflash: Springstead lost to Tarpon Springs.

The loss was a big one for the Eagles, who will likely have to win all of their remaining district games to make it to the postseason. But it was an even bigger one for the Bears, one that will almost surely pave the way for Central to gain a playoff berth.

How do I figure?

Central has already defeated Tarpon Springs and Ridgewood, meaning they own the tiebreaker over both teams. Which means that, in order to miss the playoffs, Central would have to lose both of its remaining district games.

Possible? Anything is.

But one of their remaining games is against River Ridge, which is currently 0-5. To put that in further perspective, River Ridge lost to Ridgewood 41-6. Central, of course, held a 23-point lead at halftime over Ridgewood. Which, using the transitive property of athletic prognosticating, means the Bears should beat the Royal Knights by about a bazillion.

Obviously Central would love to clinch a playoff berth by beating Springstead on Oct. 13th (which would also clinch the Class 4A, District 8 title). But even if it doesn't, the Bears have a 99.9 percent probability of making the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

In layman's terms: it's Game Four of the 2004 American League Championship Series, and Central has a 3-0 lead.

Wait. Bad analogy.

YOUR TURN: What are Central's of winning a game or two (or three or four) if it does, indeed, qualify for the playoffs?

VIDEO: See what Jim Mora thinks of Central's playoff chances: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGrewst9tnM&mode=related&search=Jim%20Mora