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WEEK 4 PREVIEW: Falcons First Road Test

Dunedin (3-0) @ Countryside (2-1)

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: September 25, 2008

CLEARWATER - Dunedin is venturing away from its friendly confines for the first time this season while Countryside is the last team in Pinellas County to finally get a home game.

Both squads are on opposite paths currently, with the Falcons quickly rising and C-Side reeling after last week's 21-9 let down at St. Petersburg.

Dunedin is also looking for three in a row against their North County, Class 5A, District 9 foes.

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

LAST YEAR:

Dunedin overpowered Countryside 39-21 in 2007. It was the first win en route to a perfect 4-0 district record.

DUNEDIN (Class 5A, District 9):

It's been smooth sailing thus far for the Falcons in 2008, outscoring their three opponents by a combined score of 108-16. Since a hard-fought, season-opening 14-9 triumph over Boca Ciega, the Falcons have dominated the last two weeks. That includes Week 3's complete decimation of Osceola that saw running back Adaris Bellamy (Sr.) rumble for a school-record six touchdowns.

What makes Dunedin's first two wins scary for anyone not wearing the Red and Black is that they came with much more subdued contributions from Bellamy. Senior tailback Emmitt Emery is averaging over 7.0 yards per carry and offers Falcons head coach Mark Everett a different look to bring at opposing defenses.

The Falcons are a run-dominated offense, but quarterback (and Countryside transfer) Ryan Singer (Jr.) is capable of making plays with his arm when needed. He has only thrown 15 times this season, completing eight, but has posted 258 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions – that's 17.2 yards per pass attempt and 32.3 yards per completion.

The 16 points allowed should quickly let everyone know that Everett and his staff have pieced together another stingy defensive unit. The performance against Bogie was impressive, but Countryside will act as another litmus test.

COUNTRYSIDE (Class 5A, District 9):

After jumping out to a quick 2-0 start following a merry-go-round offseason of transfers coming and going – but mostly going – the Cougars were yanked back to reality with the 21-9 loss at St. Pete. They squandered the opportunity for 3-0 by surrendering 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points.

Countryside has come at opponents primarily with tailbacks Dawrence Roberts (Sr.) and Terry Johnson (So.), but they stay relatively balanced in their run-pass ratio. Quarterback Jimbo Chmelik (Jr.) is averaging over 20 pass attempts per game, keying primarily on junior receivers Todd Shorter and Alton Taylor.

The Cougars were run over in the box and outside of it by St. Pete last week, allowing 301 yards on 46 carries. In Week 2, the defense allowed only 2 yards on the ground to Gibbs and preceded that with a sub-100 yard performance against Pinellas Park during the opener. Pinellas Park was the only team to try and throw the ball around on Countryside and completed 6 of their 21 attempts. Gibbs threw out of sheer necessity 16 times and completed only 6 for 44 yards.

THE SKINNY:

This game is getting quite a bit of attention throughout the area and you never know what will happen in a district game. But if last week's defensive performance against St. Pete was more serious than simply a minor slip up, the Cougars could be in for a very long night – especially if Bellamy decides to blow up again. If both are the case, Dunedin can pile it on with the quickness.

Like most Falcon opponents, the defensive strategy is to make Dunedin win through the air – which is much easier said than done. Although they have performed well through three games, the Falcons offensive line is still coming together. The defensive front of Countryside may not need to exactly shoot gaps and bring down Bellamy on the initial hit, but at least succeed at plugging them up and forcing the runner to change his course.

As rudimentary and cliché as it is, the Cougars' hopes may hinge largely upon winning the turnover battle by a large margin – i.e. two or more.

Chmelik and the efficiency of his performance – especially early – should factor in largely, but falling behind by a couple scores in the first half could be insurmountable against these Falcons.

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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