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North Suncoast: Sunday morning quarterback

 
District champs: Pasco running back David Emmanuel runs through a hole during a 56-17 victory over Zephyrhills.
District champs: Pasco running back David Emmanuel runs through a hole during a 56-17 victory over Zephyrhills.
Published Nov. 3, 2012

North Suncoast Super 7

1. Pasco (9-0, 7-0): In a certain offensive formation, DL Joey Ivie lines up in the backfield with RB David Emmanuel and ATH Janarion Grant, a trio with 37 college offers. How many teams have that luxury?

2. Springstead (9-1, 6-1): Now that the dreams of a perfect season are over, the resurgent Eagles can focus on a bigger prize: a deep playoff run.

3. Hernando (6-4, 6-1): The playoff-bound Leopards have three of the North Suncoast's top two-way players: Jeremiah Jackson and Robert Hill Bronson and Tyrail Hawkins.

4. Sunlake (6-2, 4-2): The Seahawks' 39 first-quarter points against Central came on a Matt Watson interception, two Eddie Burgos rushes (and one punt return), a Will Alvarez fumble recovery and a Connor Gilboy field goal.

5. Nature Coast (6-4, 5-2): Not to rub it in, but the Sharks might be playoff-bound had they not picked up a late penalty against Sunlake in the rain.

6. Fivay (6-3, 5-2): RB Justin Erwin came out of nowhere to have one of the best games of Fivay's season: 198 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.

7. Anclote (5-4, 5-2): The Sharks have their first non-losing season and a legitimate shot at their first trip to the playoffs.

Do-or-die performances

Willie Barrett, Anclote: The junior running back rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-12 win over Hudson that put the Sharks into the Class 5A, District 6 runnerup tiebreaker.

Janarion Grant, Pasco: The senior athlete rushed for 146 yards and four touchdowns, and returned a kickoff for a score as the Pirates clinched the Class 5A, District 6 title.

Austin Meyer and Willis Reeves, Fivay: The receivers averaged 30 yards per catch, totaling 270 yards and five touchdowns in a 55-28 win over Ridgewood that helped the Falcons secure a spot in the 5A-6 tiebreaker.

Jaylen Pickett, Zephyrhills: The sophomore receiver had more than 100 receiving yards and scored on a 67-yard reception in a loss to Pasco.

Offensive MVP

Matt Breida, Nature Coast: The senior running back rushed for 118 yards and both touchdowns, including the winning 67-yarder, in a 14-7 victory that ended Springstead's hopes for a perfect season.

Defensive/special teams MVP

Kyle Forchion, Land O'Lakes: The senior linebacker blocked River Ridge's attempt at a winning field goal as the Gators escaped 15-14.

Breaking down the tiebreaker

Who's involved: Anclote, Fivay, Zephyrhills

What's at stake: Class 5A, District 6 runnerup spot and playoff berth

When/where: 7 p.m. Monday, Fivay

How it works: Anclote plays Zephyrhills for one quarter. That winner plays Fivay for one quarter. The winner is the district's No. 2 seed and advances to the playoffs.

Anclote wins if: It controls the ground game. RB Willie Barrett has rushed for at least 100 yards in four of Anclote's last five games. But Zephyrhills held him to 3 yards per carry, and he mustered only 78 yards in a loss to Fivay. But if the Sharks can churn out yards and chew up the clock, Anclote can make its first-ever playoff appearance.

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Fivay wins if: Its defense holds. The Falcons' quick-strike offense won't be a problem. QB Tyler Degen, a loaded backfield and a stacked receiving corps can score on practically any play. But Fivay gave up more than 30 points to both tiebreaker foes in the regular season and allowed 28 first-half points to the Bulldogs. The defense will have to find its groove quickly against a team that has already warmed up.

Zephyrhills wins if: It overcomes distractions. Eligibility concerns forced the school to hold out three players, including leading rusher Willie Williams and Division I prospect Jordan Roberts, in a loss to Pasco. The trio will likely be unavailable Monday, too. Zephyrhills' speed takes a hit, so it will have to make up for it with greater focus and intensity to get to the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Late Friday

Weeki Wachee 58, Duval Charter 0: Sophomore quarterback Marcus Allen tossed three touchdowns and ran for another as the Hornets (3-6) ran out to a big lead over the Panthers (1-8). Allen threw a 53-yard score to Jon King and followed with a 14-yard touchdown run. The third Hornets' score came on his 20-yard pass to Hiram Matos.

Weeki Wachee running back Jacob Cimino ran for more than 100 yards and scored a touchdown. Jacey Tarter rushed for two scores as well.

The fireworks didn't end until Willie Peterman scored late in the second half on a 1-yard run. David Tinch kicked his seventh extra point to go with a 38-yard field goal.

Derek J. LaRiviere, Times correspondent

Wesley Chapel 34, Gulf 0: The Wildcats (3-6, 2-5) played one of their best games of the year and shut out the Buccaneers (0-9, 0-7).

"We finished," Wesley Chapel coach Ben Alford said.

Senior quarterback Jordan Primus threw for more than 200 yards and hit sophomore Ty Tanner eight times, twice for touchdowns. Tanner also threw for a score on a reverse.

The Wildcats recorded their first shutout of the season as linebacker Nalu Freticelli led a defense that flew to the ball.

"They did what they had to do," Alford said.

Landmark Christian 81, Bishop McLaughlin 15: The Hurricanes' regular season ended in a blowout loss to an undefeated Patriots team. Bishop McLaughlin (5-5) has already surpassed its win total from all of last year.

Recruiting nuggets

Nature Coast RB Matt Breida will visit Georgia Southern this weekend, his mother, Terry, said in a text message.

Pasco ATH Janarion Grant said he plans to visit Rutgers on Nov. 29 when it plays Louisville. The three-star recruit said he also plans to set up visits to Texas Tech and West Virginia.

Playoff pairings

Class 6A

Ocala Vanguard (5-4) at Springstead (9-1)

Hernando (6-4) at Gainesville (10-0)

Class 5A

Citra North Marion (5-4) at Pasco (9-0)

Fivay/Zephyrhills/Anclote winner at Gainesville Eastside (5-4)