Florida Football: Week 5 Preview Part Deux
September 28th, 2007 Posted in Florida Sports, Florida, High School Sports, Florida Football, football, High School FootballWell, I’ve discovered that it’s much easier to preview the Thursday games separately. Since a lot of this involves linking to newspaper stories, we’ve discovered that we often have to wait for those stories to be published, which doesn’t happen in some cases until late Thursday. Obviously, we can’t link to something that doesn’t exist. But we want to get preview information in for Thursday’s games.
So we’ll start doing daily previews for football next week. For now, be aware that there’s lots of information on this week’s Friday games here in our Thursday preview. But there’s lots more in this post. So you might be jumping around a bit.
Before we delve into the day’s previews for tonight’s games, I want to alert you to something I witnessed Thursday in Daytona Beach. Class 4A powerhouse Seabreeze pummeled DeLand 56-6.
The real news, though, is of another nature. In the fourth quarter, Seabreeze player Dylan Van Rij went down with an apparent injury. He complained of tingling and neck pain, and there were reports—rumors, really—that he had difficulty moving his legs. His coach said he didn’t know whether Van Rij could move his legs. The defensive end was taken to a local hospital by ambulance. So, as you hit the field tonight, keep Van Rij in mind. Hopefully, he’s just fine now. We’ll report more as information comes in.
The Fort Myers News-Press has some capsules up on tonight’s games with score predictions. The big matchup, though, is Saturday’s game featuring 4-0 Naples at 2-1 Gulf Coast. We’ll have video coverage from that game. So check out the TeamCard for each squad on Sunday. Also on the slate are road games for two 3-0 teams. Desoto is at LaBelle, and Bishop Verot is at Evangelical Christian.
The Bradenton Herald has several stories in today’s edition. There’s something on Out-of-Door Academy, which is 2-1, and something on a struggling Lakewood Ranch team. Sarasota hosts Manatee in another big game the paper has covered with this preview, and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has some extra info on Sarasota, as well as some special info on Manatee. The Herald also has tonight’s capsules with score predictions. The paper also has something on Venice linebacker Ethan Mix.
And, hey, the Jacksonville Times-Union has finally told me about Fernandina Beach, which is 4-0. Here’s a great story on the team. The paper also has its full preview of Friday night’s local action. Among the top games is 3-1 Bartram Trail’s battle with visiting Lake Brantley, one of the state’s top 6A squads.
Perhaps even bigger is 3-1 Daytona Beach Mainland hosting Ponte Vedra Beach Nease. It’s almost a shame that one of these teams must lose. If you know which one it will be, you’re a better prognosticator than I. I’d call it a toss-up.
Guess what? It’s happened again. Our new favorite Florida prep is Blake High senior Kevin Lynch. Here’s why.
Of course, lots of folks already know about another great athlete, Florida High’s Santuan McGee. If you’re not familiar with him, here’s all you need to know, courtesy of the Tallahassee Democrat.
By the way, the Tampa Tribune has named tonight’s Gaither-Jesuit matchup its game of the week.
In the forest, tonight is all about 2-2 Belleview and 3-1 Dunnellon.
Meanwhile, Orlando Sentinel sportswriter Buddy Collings has for his 5 Things To Watch. Buddy should know that our list includes high school football, college football and pro football. Unless we can work some magic, the other two will probably be the grass as we mow the yard and the kids, as they mow the house to shreds.
Here are the previews for Palm Beach-area games.
Up in the Panhandle, we have Choctawhatchee doing battle with a talented Milton team.
