At Nature Coast Tech Score: Nature Coast 33, Tarpon Springs 24 Spring game-breakers: Nature Coast appears to have found a suitable replacement for star RB Matt Breida, as DeShawn Smith broke loose for 221 yards and two first-half touchdowns. On his 80-yarder that opened the scoring, Smith fumbled the handoff ...
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Fri. May 24, 2013 at 11:41 p.m. | Darek Sharp
Nature Coast OL Christian Pellage landed his first college offer Thursday morning, after Virginia extended him a scholarship, Sharks coach Charles Liggett announced. Pellage was listed at 6-foot-7, 215 pounds as a sophomore but has bulked up considerably heading into NCT’s spring game against Tarpon Springs on Friday. After practice ...
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Thu. May 23, 2013 at 9:38 a.m. | Matt Baker
As first-year Wesley Chapel coach Tico Hernandez tries to get his 35 players to buy into his philosophies, he’s making the Wildcats earn their stripes. • “So many times with kids, everything’s given to them,” said Hernandez, who took over after Ben Alford resigned. • “That’s not the way the ...
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Wed. May 22, 2013 at 7:53 p.m. | Matt Baker
Spring football gives coaches time to test out players who are new to the sport or evaluate players who have seen little varsity action. • Here are four of the North Suncoast’s secret weapons who saw little or no varsity time last fall but could become game changers this upcoming ...
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Thu. May 16, 2013 at 3:02 p.m. | Matt Baker
HOLIDAY Despite Anclote’s reliance on the run last fall, the Sharks needed the leadership and skills of quarterback John Forgione to make their first playoff run. • That’s why one of Anclote’s big challenges this spring — along with developing the offensive line — is to find the replacement for ...
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Mon. May 13, 2013 at 8:18 p.m. | Matt Baker
Rohan Blackwood, Nature Coast DE (6-5, 208) The latest: The senior-to-be is up to a dozen college offers. Cincinnati became the second Big East program (after USF) to give him a scholarship offer after making a visit Monday morning. In the evening, he landed his 12th offer, from Marshall. ...
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Mon. May 13, 2013 at 9:57 a.m. | Matt Baker
Rohan Blackwood, Nature Coast DE (6-5, 208) The latest: The senior-to-be picked up his 10th offer Tuesday after Tulane stopped by campus, Sharks coach Charles Liggett said. The Green Wave hasn’t always recruited Tampa Bay heavily but will join USF in the new-look Big East starting in 2014. Offers: UMass, ...
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Tue. May 07, 2013 at 12:32 p.m. | Matt Baker
Fivay has plenty of holes to plug after a 6-4 season, losing all-North Suncoast quarterback Tyler Degen, star receiver Andrew Meyer and key parts of the offensive line. All of these questions fade to the background once you talk to coach Chris Taylor about his starting tailback. Rising senior Davion ...
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Mon. May 06, 2013 at 6:02 p.m. | Matt Baker
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
Rohan Blackwood, Nature Coast DE (6-5, 208) The latest: The senior-to-be picked up his eighth and ninth scholarship offers Thursday, from FIU and Minnesota, Sharks coach Charles Liggett said. West Virginia also visited the school. The Golden Gophers are the second Big Ten school to offer Blackwood, after Wisconsin. ...
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Thu. May 02, 2013 at 1:21 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
When we went looking for the stars of 2013, we zipped right past the pretty-boy quarterbacks, the speedy running backs, the hard-hitting linebackers and the fancy-footed wide receivers and defensive backs. This year, they’ll be taking a back seat to those referred to, lovingly, by their coaches as the big ...
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Tue. April 30, 2013 at 8:34 p.m. | John C. Cotey
Photo gallery JACKSONVILLE — When we last saw Courtney Prengaman high jumping, she was sailing under the bar at regionals, unable to clear 5 feet, 4 inches, breaking into tears as she rolled off the mat. “I was angry,” she said, then she was gone, driving back to Wesley Chapel ...
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Sat. April 27, 2013 at 9:25 p.m. | John C. Cotey
TRINITY — Land O’Lakes and host Mitchell set up a Class 6A, District 10 final showdown with mercy-rule victories. The Gators finished off Sunlake 10-0 in six innings before the Mustangs followed suit beating River Ridge 11-1 in six. Both teams are 21-5 and will turn the ball over to ...
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Wed. April 24, 2013 at 11:06 p.m. | Darek Sharp
BROOKSVILLE — Sparked by an outstanding performance from senior ace Sydney Boynton, Academy at the Lakes captured its second straight Class 2A, District 4 championship Thursday at Hernando Christian. The Wildcats defeated Seven Rivers Christian 9-2 behind a one-hit effort from their starting pitcher. After walking the leadoff batter, Boynton ...
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Thu. April 18, 2013 at 10:49 p.m. | Derek J. LaRiviere