Bored on the 4th of July? Answer this ...

During the past several weeks, we've written over and over about the stars and the star-studded teams. But for a moment, let's turn our attention to the underdogs. We know who the favorites are this fall on the football field (see Armwood, Plant, Chamberlain), but who are the sleepers?

Which team is flying under the radar and deserves more of our attention?

Who will come from nowhere and shock us? And why?

I think I mentioned this in a recent post, but if I had to pick one sleeper team it would be Wharton. Very little is being written or said about this group, but something tells me that will change. Good players. Solid coaching. Favorable schedule. And don't forget, the 'Cats gave Chamberlain all it could handle in the playoffs last fall. I may be little more than a tabloid writer someone recently suggested, but I see 9-10 wins here, and maybe more.

Okay, folks, what's your take ??? Who's on the move in 2008?

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Comments

[jim johnson]

I just don't see Wharton getting past Gaither. With Giles running the ball and the big receiver Justin Lattimore over the top it's impossible. For the past two seasons all Gaither did was run the ball and they beat Wharton twice. This year with Gaither going to the air to Justin Lattimore I just don't see it. The big receiver is the difference maker in this upcoming contest.

This is and will always be a great football game. The past 3 seasons the games have been like 14-13,16-7,& 17-14. This game always has district title on the line.

Looking at Wharton's schedule is seems to me to be a tough schedule. Plant(fall classic game),Armwood,Middleton,Riverview,Gaither,East Bay,& Plant City of which are all good teams. Not sure what Wharton has coming back, Heard of Jones saftey,Clifford QB, but thats it. I predict 6-4 and make the playoffs.

ALONSO will show out this season

Gibbs High <--sleeper,top 5 in the area before the end of the season

[central is nasty]

i feel that central is being overlooked because of not only the area but because of the lack of reporting on this bears squad they are looking 2 be solid this year with there veteran o and d lines.... you watch

[footbaalll fanatic]

wiregrass bulls-great coaching,alot of returning players,make it to first round playoffs as a secound year school.

[UM305]

Gaither High School is definately a sleeper in Hillsborough County. With the Cowboys large and mobile offensive line, look for Jarvis Giles and Justin Lattimore to have many touchdowns. The Cowboys defensive is also no joke with returning linebacker George Daines. The Cowboys defense will make it tough for opposing Offenses. Look for the Cowboys to be a number one contender.

[usf813]

i like pasco and wiregrass ranch in pasco county..pasco pirates has many talented players skill wise..wiregrass has the heart an talent to be sleeper this year see them both in playoffs.. also gaither in hillsb giles an justin make a crazy offensive threat ..

[NOT LARGO]

NOT LARGO THIS YEAR

SORRY GUYS

[Reality]

I think Tampa Catholic will win the State Title with their only loss coming to the Jesuit Tigers.

[Keith Niebuhr]

You know, NOBODY is talking about TC. And I don't think the Crusaders mind that one bit. For all the hype surrounding Madison County last year, TC was right there for much of the championship game. Certainly will be interesting to see what this team can do in the fall.

[Oh Keith]

How many teams in this county would have destroyed them last year Mr. Niebuhr?

[sportie]

Springstead is going to be the best Hernando County team this year. They are going to demolish NCT!

[Keith Niebuhr]

Destroyed TC? You're kidding, right? According to most who follow the sport (that would be respected coaches statewide), Madison County was the state's 2nd or 3rd most talented team last year. And I don't remember Madison County (which has the state's top DT on the team back and another player headed to FSU) blowing TC out. Instead of looking only at the Jesuit loss, study the whole body of work. And please, be specific and tell me which county team (besides Armwood and Plant perhaps) that would have blown TC out in '07?

[football4ever]

FREEDOM PATROITS
young but has the abilty

wharton wont even beat freedommm ahahahahah

[bigboy]

wharton 17 fremdom 0

[the count]

wharton 24 freedom 0

freedom 24-14

[DATKIDRAW]

GOOOOO WIREGRASSRANCH BULLLLLLSSSSSSS!!
OO AN ID LIKE FREEDOM OVER WHARTON 14-0

[da stampede]

Wow, looks like I'm not the only one hypin my WRHS Bulls for once.
Wharton is already an 'elit team' in my book, so breakout season? I don't think so. That's like sayin' UF will have a breakout season this year...
TBT looks good. We all know Freedom will be back, it's only matter of time. I can see Blake finally winning more then one game (but I don't have any room to talk there)
Ridgewood is on the decline, so is Chapel, NCT, Gulf...ALOT of Northern teams will be on the decline.
But it's time to hype up my boys...
The 'Treegali' to 'Duff' combo will have the highest passes for TD's in all of the North. The Bulls D will be lights out, warm up the bus, let's go home in the 2nd quarter with all hte pick 6 they are gonna get. Josiah Johnson, Nick Lambaugh, Middleton would be blastin' right past Chapel's slow and hungover line backers. Then Wolfeman and Eads will just be runnin em right over like bowling pins, spinnin' around on the ground.
Then Duff will get some more TD's, then Burch. Then shoot, the water boy Caleb would be gettin in the game and start runnin over random people.
DA BULLS = BEAST THIS YEAR
They will get second in the divison because of a drop in talent at Zhills, and Gulf. The Bulls will be too fast for Hudson. SunLake.... Man they need to drop to 2A or somthin'. And Pasco will win the district.
It's a new Stampede, stronger, faster, and alot better.

[Jack]

Wharton will beat Freedom in a close game.
Wiregrass? You could go 5-5, but that's it.

why not largo? wait till you see the new back. wow

Gibbs Gladiators...very good team on the rise.

They already made it to the semi-finals of the UCF 7 on 7 tourney. Losing to Lake Gibson 14-6

[HEIGHTS]

TAMPA BAY TECHHH

indian rocks pre-season game will be against wiregrass ranch should be an interesting game......

[wildcatfolife]

chapel all day everyday why yall hypin up wiregrass worst team in fl

we gonna kill them first game 45-7
any takers?

look for Bellamy to break Harvey's record...sorry Largo, the torch has been passed!

[chapel sucks]

pasco
pirates

[da stampede]

Haha, thats cute chapel boy. Worst team in Florida? The I guess you should put up a sign in your garbage dump you call a school that says: 'We almost lost to the worst team in Florida, in their first game EVER'
Thats pretty sad boy, a 5A school almost losing to a first year 3A school.
You lost your best player, Greg Jenkins (By the way, what happened to him going to a duvision 1 school? Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College? Ouch, that sucks, so much for chapel's pride and joy go into the nfl)
Next time you wanna talk trash, play some real teams that don't have the name SunLake or River Ridge in them. Your confrence schedule is weaker then Paris Hilton after another month of not eating.
And 45-7? Can you even count that high Mr. Lowest FCAT scores in Pasco County?
Good Luck in finishing DEAD LAST again in your district, and in the bottom of the confrence again (with the easiest schedule)
Oh yea, North Wesley Chapel is a disgrace to Tampa Bay. Put your weed away and work on your houses for once.

Oh yea, Chapel boy...
There is this key on the keyboard called the 'period.'
It could do wonders for you

[lmfao]

da stampede should make his own blog haha
very voical kid.do you even play for wiregrass

Bellamy wont get to play low GPA.

Wow all this hype about Wiregrass. I think alittle to early for that but its cool that they seem to have created some school spirit. I think you might want to take a look at Hudson. They return almost everyone, and have great backups to fill the voids left by last years seniors. They are well coached and get the most out of the talent that they have. I have seen all the schools in Pasco play and Hudson is by far the most physical team year in and out. Zack Wynn is a very good QB and leader, and the
Dylan Luke kid showed very well late last year after some key injuries. Just some thoughts.

[Jack. W.]

Yeah, Hudson has a great offence, but people shrug that off cause they are a 3A school in Pasco. At the end of the regular season, Hudson had Sean Scott, who was fourth in the whole Tampa Bay area in TD's, fourth in Tampa Bay in rushing, Zack Wynn was number three in passing, (number one in the county) and Tony Germano was in the top five in recieving. Put this all together, and stat wise they had the best offence in all of Tampa Bay. You can say all you want about the northern teams not having good 'D', and that may be right. But you can't call a team with over +4,200 yards last season, you just can't do it.
Hudson and Pasco will contend for that district title. With Zhills, Gulf, and maybe Wiregrass Ranch 'on the bubble' of making the playoffs.

[wiregrass #27]

wiregrass vs chapel.. guna be a pretty good game.. wiregrass has the potential to go 7-3 or 8-2.. so dont be shocked if that happens.. we guna be a team to prepare for so watch out

Tampa Bay Tech is taking over

[WOLFEMAN]

i know who "da stampede" is lol

wiregrass vs. WC will be a good game, thats all imma say