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WEEK 6 PREVIEW: PHU Looking To Surprise C-Side

Countryside (3-2, 2-0) @ Palm Harbor (2-2, 0-0)

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: October 9, 2008

PALM HARBOR - This matchup may not have seemed intriguing at the season's onset, but Palm Harbor University's newfound confidence after back-to-back victories should have visiting Countryside taking notice.

The Hurricanes have never won more than four games in its brief history. 2008 is attempt No. 12 at hitting .500 or beyond.

Despite a close loss last week to undefeated Tarpon Springs, the Cougars can be a mysterious bunch. They have risen up to outgun Dunedin and go wire to wire with the Spongers, but have also struggled against lesser opponents.

Game coverage, stats and photos will be available here, at www.suncoastnews.com, following the contest.

LAST YEAR:

Countryside rolled, 38-14, in 2007.

COUNTRYSIDE (Class 5A, District 9):

It will be interesting to see which Countryside Cougar team shows up on Friday night: The one that exploded on Dunedin and put the Falcons to bed before they realized what hit them, or the unit that squeezed by Pinellas Park and Gibbs to open the season.

The Cougars – led on offense by quarterback Jimbo Chmelik – operate a statistically balanced attack through the air and on the ground, but they also have the ability to deliver game-breaking plays. Twice last week Chmelik hooked up on long touchdown passes of 57 yards to No. 1 receiver Todd Shorter and 58 yards with his No. 2 read, Jalen Goodloe.

Tailback Dawrence Roberts handles the primary load on the ground and can get by most defenders once he's around the corner for big plays of his own. He's averaging 5.61 yards per carry this season. Sophomore Terry Johnson spells Roberts and comes in frequently for carries in the red zone.

Tarpon and their aerial assault is the only team to pass for over 100 yards on the Cougar defense this season. The unit is solid all around, but can be susceptible of giving up large chunks of yards on the ground.

PALM HARBOR (Class 5A, District 9):

After being outscored 73-13 by Tarpon Springs and Largo, respectively, in its first two games in 2008, Palm Harbor has rebounded to square their record back up at 2-2.

Quarterback Sean Shelton stepped up to form with his best game of the year during last week's 37-19 beating of Dixie Hollins. The senior threw for 121 yards and a score and also rushed for 140 and two touchdowns. Shelton is a nice passer with a good arm and will need to keep showing that he knows when to get out of a frequently collapsing pocket to make sure the Hurricanes aren't consistently moving in the wrong direction.

PHU has used a running back-by-committee strategy throughout the beginning of this season. Three backs (J.J. Rivera, Phillip Gandolfo and JaTyuan Landing) have shared on most of the carries, but Landing was featured during last week's win over Dixie. He ran 15 times for 53 yards and two touchdowns.

The Hurricane defense is has also shown a stoutness not seen previously. Their ability to get to into the backfield and make stops has increased from week to week. It's not a defensive unit that will hold many teams to below 200 yards of total offense, but they can play good enough to keep games close and winnable.

THE SKINNY:

Countryside is the clear favorite to come out on top Friday night, but it will be interesting to see how PHU responds to another quality test. Tarpon (Week 1) and Largo (Week 2) are two of the counties best squads and the Hurricanes got trounced. Seminole (Week 3) and Dixie Hollins (Week 5) are, in no disrespect to either, more toward the bottom of the Pinellas County Athletic Conference and PHU defeated each relatively thoroughly.

The Cougars look to be playing more consistent football and may be due to put together an offensive and defensive display during the same game for the first time this season.

It looks as though PHU will need to be able to run the ball to keep the Countryside defense honest. If not, the Cougars could go stunt and blitz crazy on Shelton when he drops back.

The Hurricanes surrendered 540 combined yards through the air against Tarpon and Largo and Chmelik is capable of slinging the ball around. The PHU secondary may be wise to sit back, so as not to get burnt deep and fall into a quick hole.

Are the two-straight Palm Harbor wins what woke up a sleeping Category 5? Can Countryside keep on the upswing after getting tripped up at Tarpon? This week's district game will put these questions to the test.

Check out www.suncoastnews.com after the game to see the results.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com

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