TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pinellas News

Two North County Teams Remain

Dunedin and East Lake Keep Hopes Alive

ADVERTISEMENT

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: November 15, 2007

The Battle of Pinellas is on.

Of the four North County Class 5A high school football teams who bumped and bruised their way through the rigors of a ten game regular season, two remain standing to fight another day.

The same can be said for South Pinellas County, represented by Largo High and Gibbs High.

The Dunedin Falcons and East Lake Eagles - Class 5A, District 9 champions and runners-up, respectively - each take to the field once again Friday night hoping to fall on the right side of do-or-die match ups.

East Lake appears to have pulled the tougher of the two challenges, needing to travel to undefeated Largo High. The Packers possess arguably the best running back in the county in Brynn Harvey and already claimed a 20-0 victory over East Lake during the season's first week.

"Our kids believe we can do it," East Lake head coach Bob Hudson said Wednesday evening. "We made some big mistakes (in the first meeting) that they capitalized on."

Hudson says he expects a very similar, but fine tuned Largo team Friday night in comparison to Week 1. That would be a sturdy, fly-around-the-ball defense with an aptitude for creating turnovers to benefit an offense spearheaded by the electric Harvey, quarterback Leonard Johnson and receiver Reginald McCray.

One thing East Lake players, coaches and fans can hang their hats on is that these late season Eagles are a much improved bunch ever since that shutout loss.

The hardnosed Eagle defense has shown up since day one, allowing only 13.5 points per game. But the offense sputtered much of the season as quarterback Blake Robles grew into the offense and running back Micah Powell battled lingering injuries.

Now, the offense has found a much more stable offensive personality that runs - literally - like a four-headed monster.

That would be the running back-by-committee system manned by Powell, big-bodied Erin Murray, Richie Bailey and Billy Byrne.

Eliminating the costly turnovers and running the ball well early and often will be top priorities Friday if the Eagles want to continue soaring.

As for Dunedin, the Falcons locked up their second straight district crown after beating East Lake with three weeks remaining in the regular season.

They have earned the rights to host their first round playoff battle against, according to head coach Mark Everett, a "very underrated" Gibbs High team hailing from South Pinellas.

The Falcons stumbled in their last game, losing 29-14 to Dixie Hollins in a game that - for all intensive purposes - meant nothing.

Though sloppily played throughout, Everett said they rested eight starters in that game to be healthy heading into the Gibbs meeting.

"In Pinellas County you can't win a game with your second string," Everett said, paying homage to Dixie Hollins as well as the area's overall talent while dismissing that the loss was a red flag.

The head coach also said from watching game film of Gibbs, "owning the ball" on offense is a critical component being stressed to his team. To accomplish that, Dunedin will assuredly turn to star junior tailback Adaris Bellamy to retain the ball and dazzle with his footwork as he has all season.

When asked what the key component to eventual victory will be, Everett cited neither the offense nor defense, but special teams rather.

"Number one, we have to neutralize their special teams," he said. "They've scored every way possible like that."

Think he's exaggerating?

Take last week for instance. Gibbs hosted Boca Ciega and had two kick returns for touchdowns by two different young men. They also blocked a field goal that was returned all they way by yet another player.

Overall, Gibbs has had four returns (3 kickoffs, 1 punt) for touchdowns, the blocked field goal score and a blocked punt taken back. They also have a kicker - Tommy Hains - who is good from nearly 50 yards out.

That means they have play makers, and that is exactly what Everett plans to have his boys prepared to stop - or at least contain.

This is the third straight playoff appearance for the Falcons, giving them an experience advantage Everett believes is helpful, though nothing earth shattering.

"It's always exciting to be here again, maybe it's a slight advantage," Everett said. "But after kickoff, everything's equal."

When the dust settles late Friday night, Pinellas County may clearly see which end of the North-South border reigns supreme.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT