Quarterbacks get the headlines, the pressure and the scrutiny — even in spring ball. The North Suncoast didn’t graduate any superstar passers, but it lost several veteran starters and ended last season with a few battles still brewing under center. Here’s a quick look at some of the quarterback situations ...
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Thu. May 02, 2013 at 8:45 p.m. | Matt Baker
SPRING HILL — Less than 45 minutes into Springstead’s opening day of spring practice, three players fell atop coach Mike Garofano’s practice plans. “Get off my clipboard,” Garofano said. Now more than ever, Garofano needs those notes. Garofano spent more than a decade as an assistant under Bill Vonada before ...
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Wed. May 01, 2013 at 9:49 p.m. | Matt Baker
LUTZ — His Carrollwood Village backyard was a resplendent testament to his botanical side. John Benedetto, son of a Long Island gardener, cultivated roses and run-block schemes in equal profusion. “He could take an old swingset and turn it into a botanical miracle,” Al Claggett, who met Benedetto at the ...
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Sat. April 27, 2013 at 4:04 p.m. | Joey Knight
His 68-year-old eyes gleam as the memory bubbles to the surface. His smile widens as it crashes upward, dripping with joy and irreverence after decades of submergence. Al Claggett can just see his best friend, John Benedetto, spinning a throng of second-graders on one of those manual merry-go-rounds — the ...
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Thu. April 25, 2013 at 2:13 p.m. | Joey Knight
Land O’Lakes DB Eddie Schiffer has signed to play football at Averett University, Gators coach Brian Wachtel said Wednesday in a text message. Schiffer, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound senior, tallied 30 tackles and five pass breakups for Land O’Lakes this fall. He also snared two interceptions, returning one 50 yards for ...
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Wed. April 24, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. | Matt Baker
A memorial service for longtime Land O’Lakes football coach John Benedetto will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Grace Family Church, 5101 Van Dyke Road, in Lutz. Benedetto, Pasco County’s all-time winningest coach, led the Gators for 32 years before leaving after the 2008 season. He died peacefully in ...
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Tue. April 23, 2013 at 2:48 p.m. | Matt Baker
Although John Benedetto will be remembered as an old-school coach who cared deeply for his players, his former players and friends still laugh about a silly quirk the former Land O’Lakes coach showed at the end of the day. “The end of most practices, when we were all worn out ...
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Mon. April 22, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. | Matt Baker
LAND O’LAKES — Four years after John Benedetto coached his last game at Land O’Lakes High, the Gators were ready to honor the man who turned a shiny, rural school into a Pasco County powerhouse. It was one of the last games Benedetto ever saw. Benedetto, one of the most ...
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Mon. April 22, 2013 at 9:54 a.m. | Matt Baker
Land O’Lakes punter Dino Tsilionis will attend Jacksonville University as a preferred walk-on, Gators coach Brian Wachtel said Friday morning in a text message. Tsilionis averaged 32 yards per punt during his senior year, with a long of 59 yards. He booted nine of his 33 punts inside the 20. ...
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Fri. March 29, 2013 at 11:18 a.m. | Matt Baker
Land O’Lakes twins Kyle and Justin Forchion have accepted scholarship offers to play football at West Virginia Wesleyan, Gators coach Brian Wachtel said Monday night in a text message. Both Forchions had productive careers at Land O’Lakes. Kyle, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound receiver/linebacker led the team with 249 receiving yards this ...
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Mon. March 18, 2013 at 7:52 p.m. | Matt Baker
We’re starting to get some signing day lists rolling in. Here are the student-athletes who plan to sign at Land O’Lakes on Feb. 6, courtesy of Gators athletic director Karen Coss: Zachary Whitaker (baseball): Shorter University Katie Monds (cross country): PHCC Sean Young (soccer): North Florida Holly Nasello (soccer): Point ...
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Sat. Jan. 26, 2013 at 9:51 p.m. | Matt Baker
Land O’Lakes long snapper John Kranendonk has been offered a spot as a preferred walk-on at Jacksonville University, Gators coach Brian Wachtel said Thursday in a text message. The 5-foot-9, 220-pound Kranendonk also has an invitation to be a preferred walk-on at Georgia Southern and has received interest from USF ...
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Thu. Jan. 17, 2013 at 2:20 p.m. | Matt Baker
Two quick recruiting notes from over the holidays: * Land O’Lakes offensive lineman John Kranendonk has been offered a spot as a preferred walk-on at Georgia Southern, Gators coach Brian Wachtel said in a text message. The 5-foot-9, 220-pound long snapper also earned interest from USF and Stetson. * Hernando ...
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Sun. Dec. 30, 2012 at 10:41 p.m. | Matt Baker
Offensive player of the year: ATH Janarion Grant, Sr., Pasco Grant, a three-way standout, watched his Pirates dominate the first six games of the year as he sat out with a hand injury. “When I came back, that’s when all eyes were on me,” Grant said. “I had to put ...
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Sat. Dec. 22, 2012 at 11:28 a.m. | Matt Baker
North Suncoast Super 7 1. Pasco (10-0): The Pirates finished off a third consecutive undefeated regular season. And Janarion Grant scored four touchdowns four different ways for the second time in the four games since his return from injury. 2. Springstead (9-1): This team has already surprised the North Suncoast ...
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Sat. Nov. 10, 2012 at 1:55 p.m. | Matt Baker