Female Hot Shot of  the Week 

The River Ridge volleyball team might be young, but it hasn’t held the Royal Knights back so far. And senior captain Jessica Babcock is a main reason why. 

Since Babcock is just one of two seniors on an 11-person roster, coach Nicole Rossman holds the 5-foot-10 middle hitter to a higher standard. 

“She has to not only lead as a senior, but she has to lead because she’s a captain,” Rossman said. “Not everyone is going to have a perfect game all the time, but I expect from my captains, that when they’re in a funk, they keep their heads up.”

Working hard and seeing the results, though, is something on which Babcock prides herself.

Aside from her contributions on the volleyball court — Babcock recorded 54 kills, 15 service aces and 50 blocks last season — the senior owns a 4.5 grade-point average while taking four AP classes. 

“She still remembers one B that she got in elementary school,” Rossman said, “and it haunts her.”

Last year the Knights finished 8-13 and in the middle of the pack in a tough district. But with wins against Zephyrhills and Gulf, the Knights have already found early success. Babcock hopes it’s a sign of things to come. 

“I think it’s really just about being together as a team, no little ruffles in the feathers,” she said. “There’s definitely a new attitude, I’d say.”

Why she won: In matches against Zephyrhills and Gulf last week, Babcock totaled 15 kills, five blocks, 20 digs and nine service aces — 60 percent of her ace total from the entire 2013 season. She did all of this while making a total of just six errors. “She gives 150 percent,” Rossman said, “no matter what she does.”

Have an athlete who should be considered for our next voting cycle? Email hometeam@tampabay.com.

As any coach would, Academy of the Holy Names’ Jeff Davis is looking forward to the kind of competition his Jaguars will face in this weekend’s AHN volleyball invitational. 

The tournament, which is in its 10th year, will bring together eight of the Tampa Bay area’s best teams — including three 2013 state semifinalists in Berkeley Prep, Steinbrenner and Robinson.

But aside from the Jaguars getting a chance to be tested so early in the season, Davis has challenged his team with yet another goal.

“It would be nice to win the tournament you host,” Davis said. “We haven’t done that since I’ve been here.”

Though the tournament has featured teams from other counties in the past, Davis, who is in his fourth year at AHN, said he’s excited about limiting the pool to just Hillsborough County teams. 

“It’s a good mixture of some of the best teams in the county,” he said, “And we’re excited to see where Academy of the Holy Names ranks in that competition.”

The Jaguars’ first and only time winning the tournament was in 2010, when they beat Northside Christian 2-0 to take home the crown. Last year AHN got close but fell to Durant — a team that didn’t lose until the playoffs — 2-1 in the tournament final. 

Though his Jaguars are certainly hungry for a tournament title, Davis admits that, win or lose, his team will eventually reap the benefits of participating. 

“We want to be battle tested,” he said, “so when we get to the end of the season, we feel like we’re ready to face whatever team is thrown at us.”

AHN Invitational

Contact Kelly Parsons at kaparsons@tampabay.com. Follow @_kellyparsons.

East Lake's Michelle Turek has committed to swim at Auburn University.

"It's a school I've always wanted to go to," Turek said. "I like the facilities and location. The campus is beautiful, and most of all I like the people."

Turek, ranked 14th in the state among seniors by collegeswimming.com,  is part of the Eagles' heralded 2015 class that includes Sydney Pickrem and Alexandra Aitchison. Turek chose the Tigers over Alabama, Florida State and Vanderbilt.

"Auburn was the only school I visited, but I had such a strong feeling about it that I knew that's where I wanted to go," she said.

At last year's Class 4A state meet, Turek was second in the 100 and 200 free, and swam anchor legs on the winning 200 medley and 400 free relay teams. 

Welcome to another season of glorious numbers crunching and inane statistics that mean something and nothing all at the same time. It’s good to have you back. If you have any notable numbers or milestones to report, you know the drill: email johncotey@gmail.com or follow @JohnnyHomeTeam.

Top 10 games of the week

1. Largo (1-0) at East Lake (1-0): Toughest game of the week to pick. But to be the man, you have to beat the man, and until I see the man beaten by another man I must assume he is still the man, man. Huh? East Lake, 21-20.

2. Jefferson (1-0) at Hillsborough (0-0): The Terriers have had an extra week to prepare. I think that might matter. Well, that and having the best player on the field with the ball in his hands at all times. And yet, I’m pulled in the other direction by a Dragon defense that surprised last week. Eh, I’ll go with Jefferson, 20-17.

3. Tampa Catholic (0-1) at Clearwater Central Catholic (1-0): I don’t doubt the Crusaders still have a ton of talent on the roster even with the injuries. But mentally, I suspect they are bruised. Gimme CCC, 30-7.

4. Indian Rocks Christian (1-0) vs. Carrollwood Day (0-1) at Skyway: I think the Golden Eagles have a sneaky good and improved defense. Therefore, give me IRC, 35-20.

5. Weeki Wachee (1-0) at Springstead (0-1): The Eagles showed last week they still have a nasty defense. That’s enough for me to pick them to bounce back with a 26-0 win.

6. River Ridge (1-0) at Sunlake (1-0): Not sure what score to pick, but I think at least 11 ounces of blood and four teeth will be spilled in the trenches. I’ll take the Seahawks, 13-12. 

7. Osceola (1-0) at Tarpon Springs (1-0): Last week was the first time in four games that Sponger Michael Ford didn’t rush for 100 yards. New week, new streak? Sure, why not. I’ll take the Spongers, 28-21.

8. St. Petersburg (1-0) at Clearwater (0-1): Two teams that did better than everyone expected last week. The Green Devils will be the team that does better this week. Green Devils, 28-17.

9. Brandon (1-0) at Bloomingdale (1-0): Isaiah vs. Isaiah, Alexander vs. McIntyre. Both had good games last week. Who will be the best this week? I say McIntyre, as the Bulls win 31-14.

10. Victory Christian (1-0) at Berkeley Prep (1-0): Well, it’s about time the Bucs face some competition. Are the Polk County All-Stars a step up, or a flight of stairs up? I think the Bucs are tuned up for a battle and win 26-24.

Five things to know about Mitchell’s rushing attack

1. Ryan Marsh ran for 236 yards on only 10 carries Friday.

2. His previous career high was 161 yards, set as a sophomore in 2012.

3. It was the third time in the last five games dating to last season that the Mustangs produced a 200-yard rusher. Last year, Nate Boler went over 200 yards in Week 8 and the regular-season finale.

4. It was the ninth 200-yard rushing performance for Mitchell going back to 2006. Ricky Trinidad has four of them — 249, 221, 257 and 210.

5. Daniel Barber holds the Mitchell rushing record of 263 yards, set Oct. 5, 2012 — at least going back to 2006. 

Top five quarterback debuts

1. Alec Cromie, So., Weeki Wachee: 12-19-1-201, 5 TDs. Not bad — for one half.

2. Devin Black, Fr., Lennard: 9-17-1-233, TD. Sure didn’t look like a rookie.

3. Austyn Causey, So., St. Petersburg: 9-15-0-149, 3 TDs, 2 rushing TDs. Time for a story on Air Fabrizio? Or nah?

4. Cade Weldon, Jr., Jefferson: 8-16-1-101, 3 TDs, 1 rushing TD. Stabilizer at a crucial position.

5. Cyler Doran, So., Fivay: 10-22-0-130, 5 TDs. Losing effort, but hard to ignore that 50 percent of completions went for TDs.

Honorable mention: Blake’s Sam Oxendine (4-10-1-68, TD), Robinson’s Malik Tyson (16-40-1-216, TD), Gaither’s Dave Mazur (7-11-1-74, 2 TDs), Dunedin’s Tyler Palermiti (7-15-0-151, 3 TDs) and Seffner Christian’s Jacob Couch (8-13-0-177, 2 TDs).

Numbers

4 Touchdown receptions by Fivay’s Trent Soto, on six catches 

Usurped but unbowed

With all the talk of Jefferson transfer Terence Williams taking over as quarterback at Spoto, it’s easy to see why last year’s starter, Kevin Hobley, might be feeling down. But in the Spartans’ 35-2 season-opening win over Wharton, it was Hobley under center, and he was pretty good: 4-for-5 for 152 yards and two touchdowns. We’re not sure how long Hobley stays under center, but dating to last season, the senior slinger has now thrown for at least two touchdowns in six straight games, the longest such streak in Tampa Bay.

And at Lennard, senior Diontae Johnson — the Longhorns’ leader in passing yards and touchdown passes the last two seasons — gave way to promising freshman Devin Black, but shined at his new position. Johnson, an exceptional athlete, caught four balls for 140 yards and a touchdown in Lennard’s win over East Bay.

Numbers

45 Yards rushing by Robinson on 48 carries in its last two regular-season games dating to last year. Yikes.

Did you know?

Even though Pinellas Park had a very nice 299 yards rushing in a win over Boca Ciega, it was just the third time the Patriots have been held under 375 yards in their past 11 regular-season games.

O’Goodness

The previous best game of Weeki Wachee running back Shawn O’Gorman’s career came in last season’s opener, when he rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown. But the Hornet junior must have a taste for Interlachen. Against the same opponent in this year’s kickoff game, O’Gorman ran for 107 yards and a touchdown, and added four catches for 89 yards and two additional scores.

Numbers

1.9 Yards a carry for Brandon, but thanks to some late heroics by Isaiah Alexander, it didn’t stop the Eagles from beating Blake.

Satcher Shines like a Diomi

Dante Satcher’s 263-yard effort in a win over Lakewood was the most yards by a Countryside running back since Diomi Roberts ran for 272 on Oct. 28, 2011, against Pinellas Park.

Causey and effect

We’re not saying St. Petersburg doesn’t pass the ball much, but Austyn Causey’s 149 yards passing were the most for the Green Devils since Nov. 4, 2011, when Keegan Oberholzer threw for 206 in a loss to Countryside. In the 22 games since, the Green Devils had passed for over 100 yards just once before Causey’s nifty debut.

Numbers

124 Yards rushing for Nature Coast’s DeShawn Smith, breaking his previous best of 123 set last year in a win over Pasco.

Five defensive highlights

1. Jefferson had 12 tackles for a loss by a combined eight players in the win over Alonso, which included eight sacks.

2. Gaither had eight sacks: Decalon Brooks (three), Shawn Torres and Quinn Crecy (two each) and Tyler Hill (one).

3. Tampa Catholic’s Cody Endris was credited with 24 tackles, including 14 solo tackles. (Teammate Malik Barrow had 16, with nine solo.)

4. Justin Frain of Seminole was credited with 18 tackles, and Derek Cromartie of Brandon had 17.

5. Mitchell’s Levi Oliveto had three sacks, while Gaither’s Javon Hammon had two interceptions.

Missing targets, good and bad

Alonso’s touted quarterback, Chris Oladokun, had one of the worst games of his career accuracy wise, completing only 11 of 38 passes for 28.9 percent. That’s the second-lowest completion percentage of his career. Only his 7-for-31 against Plant last year was worse. But if you’re looking for a silver lining, consider: he threw 27 incomplete passes and not a single interception. In 258 career passing attempts, Oladokun, a junior, has only thrown three picks, or one every 86 pass attempts.

Numbers

28 Yards a touch Seffner Christian sophomore Karmi Mackey averaged last week. Mackey had four rushes for 113 yards, and caught two passes for 55 yards.

66.7 Percentage of times Mackey touched the ball and scored. He had three TDs on four carries, and one of his two catches was a TD.

Five unsung performances

1. Corey Bennett, Blake: He was probably No. 101 in our HomeTeam 100 deliberations, and don’t we look stupid now. Bennett ran for 227 yards on 36 carries, a career high in both categories.

2. Davontae Harrington, Dixie Hollins: He just makes plays. Maybe the most underrated athlete in the area. Opened with eight catches, 168 yards and a score.

3. Joey Caruso, Hudson: The Cobras quarterback and safety had an impressive debut, passing for 87 yards, rushing for 65 yards and two touchdowns and sacking the opposing quarterback twice.

4. Corey Walker, Jefferson: Made his Dragons’ varsity debut a winning one, with 106 yards rushing stepping in for injured starter Mondrea Lofton, who twisted an ankle.

5. Malik Davis, Jesuit: The sophomore running back burst onto the scene in the win over Tampa Catholic last year, and after 23 carries, 149 yards and four total TDs, he’s hear to stay. 

Numbers

6 Straight games with at least two touchdowns rushing by Hudson.

Heir Jordan

Last year, Dunedin’s leading rusher was Ahmad Middleton with 290 yards. And Kane Taylor led the team with three rushing touchdowns.

For the whole season!

Those numbers won’t be nearly this bad this season, not after Jordan Williams rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns in the Falcons’ win over Dixie Hollins. Heck, even Kendrick Harvey — 13 carries, 101 yards — should eclipse last year’s leading totals. 

Numbers

5 Players for Indian Rocks Christian who averaged 17 or more yards a carry last week: Garrett Ross-Johnson (1 carry, 17 yards), Damian King (1 carry, 24 yards), Tristin Denisac (2 carries, 40 yards), Jacquan Fuller (1 carry, 51 yards) and Theo Anderson (1 carry, 57 yards). The game was called with eight minutes left in the second quarter. 

Land Sharks

Anclote is rebuilding this year after graduating one of the area’s top rushing attacks. Friday, the Sharks managed only 34 yards on 18 carries in a loss to Mitchell.

The Sharks have rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 44 of their 51 games since 2009, and Friday’s total was the programs’s second-lowest, behind a 18-yard effort against Pasco in 2010.

Numbers

8 Straight 100-yard rushing games by Ridgewood’s Glass Wilson, tops in the Tampa Bay area.

Unlucky Team of the Week

You don’t lose many games in which you only allow six points, but that’s what Springstead did Friday when Citrus picked off a pass on the game’s final play and ran it all the way back for a 6-0 win.

The previous 49 games that Springstead had allowed just seven points or fewer, it won. You have to go back to 1999, in a 7-6 loss to Gulf, to find the last time the Eagles were on the short end of a game they allowed just one score in.

The last time Springstead dropped a game allowing just six points was in 1988, when it was beaten 6-3 by county rival Hernando.

The only lower scoring games in Springstead history were two 3-0 games — a win over Gulf in 1992 and a loss to Zephyrhills in 1994.

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Another shot. That’s what Plant High School’s game against Lowndes was to quarterback Rex Culpepper. 

Friday’s out-of-state season opener meant Plant had a chance to begin its season on the right foot, something it failed to do a year ago. But more than that, Culpepper had the opportunity to overwrite his previous performance, earn back the trust he felt he lost the week before in his very first game as a varsity starter.

The Panthers had won their preseason matchup with a nationally ranked Armwood team. But if Culpepper had learned anything after his first unofficial game, it was that winning didn’t mean he’d sail on to the next week scot-free. Not at Plant. Not when you’re Rex Culpepper.

The son and grandson of former University of Florida football team captains, the sport is in his blood. At 6 feet 3, 215 pounds, the 17-year-old junior already has the size some college quarterbacks only dream about. His father’s alma mater wants him. Ohio State wants him. Eleven other Division I schools want him. Still, Culpepper entered his first season as a starter with almost as many offers as pass completions. 

“Rex realizes that a lot of what he’s reaping the benefits of right now,” Plant coach Robert Weiner said, “the path has been paved for him.”

On that road, though, failure is not an option.

Next in line at a position that has churned out four college quarterbacks in the past seven years, two of whom play professional football, Culpepper is tasked with carrying on that tradition while adding another trophy to the four-time state champions’ already full case.

And this time, the expectations for Culpepper preceded even the first ounce of results. When he walked into the Vikings’ 12,000-seat stadium Friday night, Culpepper desperately hoped to play catch-up.

After meeting the other captains at midfield, Culpepper trotted back to the sideline where Weiner awaited him. The coach who had witnessed so many other elite-level quarterbacks make their debuts put his arm around his newest pupil for a final pat on the back. It was time.

• • •

Weiner was in the back room of the fieldhouse at Dad’s Stadium talking about the Panthers’ game plan for their upcoming preseason matchup with Armwood when Culpepper poked his head out of the coach’s office. 

“Hey, Coach,” Culpepper said. “On the spread, is the tight end the H or is it the tight end?”

Putting in the time to perfect something, though, has never been a problem for Culpepper.

Brad and Monica Culpepper first noticed their son’s attention to detail when he was just a baby. The child to whom they read books in utero stacked his Matchbox cars in perfectly even piles as a toddler. When he was 3 years old, Culpepper would line up his mother’s nail polish bottles by color. 

“Brad would come home from work and move one,” Monica Culpepper recalled, “and Rex would know.”

Those qualities only strengthened when he went to school and his competitive side began to show. Culpepper spent six years on the Hillsborough County math bowl team. If there was a science fair, his mother said, he not only had to be in it, but he had to win it. 

Culpepper, an Eagle Scout who plays piano or tinkers on a motorcycle at night to unwind, has never earned anything less than an A on his report card. So just like any task he has been challenged with, Culpepper went into his reign as Plant’s quarterback determined to be the best he could be. 

During the summer, while most kids enjoyed their time away from school, Culpepper woke before the sun rose to get back to it. Family time at the Culpepper house took place over breakfast at 5:30 a.m. each day before Rex would head to Plant to watch game film, study the playbook and work out.

The dedication paid off. Culpepper, who started his sophomore season weighing 185 pounds, put on 30 more in the weight room. Weiner took him to showcases and camps. The offers began rolling in. 

“I remember (the first) was really a big deal,” said Brad Culpepper, who spent nine years in the NFL, six with the Buccaneers. “Then some others started coming in, and it got to be a little bit like, ‘Look, I haven’t even won a game yet. I appreciate all the notoriety …but I’m ready to go earn it on Plant’s field.’ ”

That, though, was still months away. Culpepper put his head down and went back to work. 

After good days and bad, Culpepper reflected on his progress. If he got an offer, he’d write about how he felt in his journal. If he had a rough day at practice, he’d write about that, too. It was a way to keep things in perspective. 

“The last thing I want to do is … look at the frame instead of the picture,” Culpepper said, “look at this tiny little thing that happened in the course of the whole year.”

• • •

Plant hadn’t even gotten off its first play from scrimmage against Lowndes before the referee threw his yellow flag high in the air. As if a foreshadowing for how long it would take their offense to click that night, the delay-of-game penalty stopped the Panthers in their tracks before they could even get going. 

The offense stalled in the first half, and aside from wide receiver Jordan Reed’s 76-yard halfback pass to Derrick Baity for a touchdown, the Panthers moved the ball just 25 yards in two quarters. 

Early successes may give rookie quarterbacks a chance to build confidence. But after taking on Tampa Bay giant Armwood — Culpepper had two picks and was sacked twice for a loss of 25 yards — before the five-time Georgia state champions, those momentum-grabbing moments were few and far between.

He finished 5-of-15 for 45 yards against the Vikings, including a 23-yard touchdown pass to Reed in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 14. He had more successes; Culpepper followed his blockers to big gains on a couple quarterback keepers. He was sacked just one time and had one turnover, on which the Vikings were unable to capitalize. 

But at the end of the night, only one stat mattered. 

After a 20-14 loss to Lowndes, the Panthers were 0-1. 

• • •

Had any other rookie quarterback started the way he did, nobody would bat an eye. That wasn’t the case for Culpepper.

In the days that followed Culpepper’s unofficial debut against Armwood, the young quarterback couldn’t avoid the criticism. It was on Twitter. It was in newspaper articles. He caught himself wondering if the results were worth the effort.

“The greatest thing about Rex is, despite what other people say, ‘Why is this kid getting an offer?’ Rex is the one who says, ‘None of that means anything. I just need to go play football for my team,’ ” Weiner said.

So before he let himself stew on those negative thoughts for too long, Culpepper took out his journal, the one he’d so often turned to, and wrote a single sentence.

“Don’t ever let yourself in the moment think it’s not worth it.”

Contact Kelly Parsons at kaparsons@tampabay.com. Follow @_kellyparsons.

Palm Harbor University's boys swim program has been undefeated in dual meets for nine straight seasons, a stretch in which the Hurricanes forged one of the bay area's greatest dynasties.

On Wednesday, that streak came to an end.

Countryside's boys beat PHU 101.5-68.5. The Cougars were dominant, winning all but one event. Cooper Hoffman (100 free, 200 free) and Noah Lense (100 fly, 200 IM) each took first in their individual events for Countryside.

"This is a rebuilding year," PHU coach Lisa Bitting said. "Countryside has a real solid team and did well. Still, I'm pleased with our progress. It's a learning experience, but we'll continue to get better."

Bitting knew the streak was in jeopardy after graduating nearly every contributor from last year's Class 4A state championship team. Of the Hurricanes three seniors, only one was on last year's team. Most of PHU's swimmers this year are underclassmen.

The Hurricanes can take solace in knowing every swimmer improved upon their times in Wednesday's dual meet.

"It's tough for them knowing that the streak is over," Bitting said. "They all had some awfully big shoes to fill. It's a young team and we'll continue to grow. They all have a chance to be very good in the next few years."

Hudson quarterback Joey Caruso, who is shooting to lead his team in passing and tackles this season, has been offered by Davidson College. 

Though he has played quarterback on varsity since his freshman year and passed for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns -- and scored another eight rushing -- last year, Caruso was offered by the Pioneer League school as a linebacker. This offseason, Caruso bulked up to 6-2, 205 pounds and expects to be one of the county's better defenders.

Last week in a win over Central, Caruso threw for 87 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 67 yards and two more scores and added nine tackles and two sacks on defense.

MaxPreps’ Stephen Spiewak (last week’s guest winner), Plant teacher Bo Puckett (last weeks’ HomeTeam Pick’Em winner), Northeast girls basketball coach Will White and River Ridge girls basketball coach Joeyn Dearsman — our newest guest pickers for the week — join our staff writers in predicting the top 10 games in Tampa Bay:

Last week: Cotey and Spiewak 5-5, Putnam 3-7, everyone else 4-6.

Top 10 games 

Largo at East Lake, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: East Lake, 21-20
Rodney Page: East Lake, 21-14
Kelly Parsons: East Lake, 17-14
Bob Putnam: East Lake 24-21
Stephen Spiewak: East Lake, 28-14
Bo Puckett: East Lake, 27-14
Will White: East Lake, 30-14
Joeyn Dearsman: East Lake, 31-13

Jefferson at Hillsborough, 7:30
John C. Cotey: Jefferson, 20-17
Rodney Page: Jefferson 30-10
Kelly Parsons: Hillsborough, 28-24
Bob Putnam: Jefferson 28-14
Stephen Spiewak: Hillsborough, 30-28
Bo Puckett: Jefferson, 30-17
Will White: Jefferson, 24-21
Joeyn Dearsman: Jefferson, 24-21

Tampa Catholic at Clearwater Central Catholic, 7:30
John C. Cotey: CCC, 30-7
Rodney Page: CCC, 28-14
Kelly Parsons, CCC 31-10
Bob Putnam: CCC 21-7
Stephen Spiewak: CCC, 28-24
Bo Puckett: CCC, 33-20
Will White: CCC, 30-10
Joeyn Dearsman: CCC, 28-13

Indian Rocks Christian at Carrollwood Day (Skyway Park), 7 
John C. Cotey: IRC, 35-20
Rodney Page: IRC, 35-31
Kelly Parsons: IRC, 38-28
Bob Putnam: IRC 42-21
Stephen Spiewak: IRC, 30-10
Bo Puckett: IRC, 20-7
Will White: IRC, 40-7
Joeyn Dearsman: IRC 35-14

Weeki Wachee at Springstead, 7:30
John C. Cotey: Springstead, 26-0
Rodney Page: Springstead, 14-10
Kelly Parsons: Weeki Wachee 10-7
Bob Putnam: Springstead 20-7
Stephen Spiewak: Springstead, 14-0 
Bo Puckett: Springstead, 24-1
Will White: Springstead, 37-7
Joeyn Dearsman: Springstead, 27-7

River Ridge at Sunlake, 7:30
John C. Cotey: Sunlake, 13-12
Rodney Page: Sunlake, 28-24
Kelly Parsons: River Ridge 24-21
Bob Putnam: River Ridge 20-14
Stephen Spiewak: Sunlake, 21-14
Bo Puckett: Sunlake 24-14
Will White: Sunlake, 21-14
Joeyn Dearsman: River Ridge, 21-20

Osceola at Tarpon Springs, 7:30
John C. Cotey: Tarpon Springs 28-21
Rodney Page: Tarpon Springs, 42-1
Kelly Parsons: Tarpon Springs, 35-28
Bob Putnam: Tarpon Springs 17-7
Stephen Spiewak: Osceola 21-10 
Bo Puckett: Tarpon Springs, 32-10
Will White: Tarpon Springs, 24-21
Joeyn Dearsman: Osceola, 28-17

Brandon at Bloomingdale
John C. Cotey: Bloomingdale, 31-14
Rodney Page: Bloomingdale, 20-17
Kelly Parsons: Bloomingdale, 28-7
Bob Putnam: Bloomingdale 31-19
Stephen Spiewak: Bloomingdale, 35-14
Bo Puckett: Bloomingdale, 20-13
Will White: Bloomingdale, 40-17
Joeyn Dearsman: Brandon, 20-13

St. Petersburg at Clearwater
John C. Cotey: St. Petersburg, 28-17
Rodney Page: St. Petersburg, 28-14
Kelly Parsons: St. Petersburg, 24-10
Bob Putnam: St. Petersburg 17-14
Stephen Spiewak: St. Petersburg, 21-7
Bo Puckett: St. Petersburg, 28-20
Will White: St. Petersburg, 27-10
Joeyn Dearsman: St. Petersburg 28-24

Victory Christian at Berkeley Prep 
John C. Cotey: Berkeley Prep, 26-24
Rodney Page: Berkeley Prep, 31-24
Kelly Parsons: Victory Christian, 38-21
Bob Putnam: Berkeley Prep 28-21
Stephen Spiewak: Berkeley Prep 31-24
Bo Puckett: Berkeley Prep, 24-17
Will White: Victory Christian, 21-17
Joeyn Dearsman: Berkeley Prep, 14-10

Rest of the slate

Mitchell at Ridgewood, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Mitchell, 35-14
Rodney Page: Mitchell, 21-17
Kelly Parsons: Mitchell, 38-28
Bob Putnam: Mitchell 20-13

Gulf at Zephyrhills, 7:30
John C. Cotey: Zephyrhills, 29-13
Rodney Page: Zephyrhills, 23-20
Kelly Parsons: Zephyrhills, 35-31
Bob Putnam: Zephyrhills 35-21

Anclote at Land O’Lakes, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Land O’Lakes 42-7
Rodney Page: Land O’Lakes, 35-14
Kelly Parsons: Land O’Lakes, 28-7
Bob Putnam: Land O’Lakes 27-6

Wiregrass Ranch at Hudson, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Hudson, 21-19
Rodney Page: Hudson, 14-13
Kelly Parsons: Wiregrass Ranch, 21-14
Bob Putnam: Wiregrass 21-20

Pasco at Fivay, 7:30
John C. Cotey: Pasco, 30-14
Rodney Page: Pasco, 27-17
Kelly Parsons: Pasco, 30-21
Bob Putnam: Pasco 20-16

Lecanto at Wesley Chapel, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Lecanto 30-11
Rodney Page: Wesley Chapel, 17-16
Kelly Parsons: Lecanto, 14-3
Bob Putnam: Lecanto 13-6

Central at the Villages, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Villages 21-14
Rodney Page: The Villages, 24-23
Kelly Parsons: Central, 17-14
Bob Putnam: The Villages 28-24

Hernando at Bishop Kenny, 7
John C. Cotey: Bishop Kenny 35-6
Rodney Page: Bishop Kenny, 26-16
Kelly Parsons: Bishop Kenny, 31-14
Bob Putnam: Bishop Kenny 35-14

Bishop McLaughlin at Northside Christian, 7
John C. Cotey: Northside Christian 35-7
Rodney Page: Northside Christian, 34-6
Kelly Parsons: Northside Christian, 21-0
Bob Putnam: Northside Christian 38-14

Robinson at Plant, 7:30
John C. Cotey: Plant, 35-20
Rodney Page: Plant, 37-21
Kelly Parsons: Plant 42-20
Bob Putnam: Plant 31-14

Lennard at King, 7:30
John C. Cotey: Lennard 21-13
Rodney Page: Lennard, 27-10
Kelly Parsons: Lennard, 35-17
Bob Putnam: Lennard 24-7

Steinbrenner at Alonso, 7 
John C. Cotey: Alonso, 30-13
Rodney Page: Alonso, 27-23
Kelly Parsons: Alonso, 38-14
Bob Putnam: Alonso 17-14

Plant City at Wharton, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Plant City 28-27
Rodney Page: Plant City, 32-14
Kelly Parsons: Plant City, 37-7
Bob Putnam: Plant City 31-13

Strawberry Crest at Spoto, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Strawberry Crest, 23-19
Rodney Page: Strawberry Crest, 20-18
Kelly Parsons: Spoto, 21-10
Bob Putnam: Spoto 20-14

St. Stephen’s at Seffner Christian, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Seffner Christian, 40-7
Rodney Page: Seffner Christian, 42-35
Kelly Parsons: Seffner Christian 35-31
Bob Putnam: Seffner Christian 27-13

Sickles at Durant, 7:30
John C. Cotey: Sickles, 26-16
Rodney Page: Sickles, 48-14
Kelly Parsons: Sickles, 42-17
Bob Putnam: Sickles 31-16

Gaither at Newsome, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Newsome, 20-14
Rodney Page: Gaither, 20-10
Kelly Parsons: Gaither, 24-21
Bob Putnam: Gaither 21-16

Armwood at Blake, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Armwood, 35-0
Rodney Page: Armwood, 42-21
Kelly Parsons: Armwood, 49-13
Bob Putnam: Armwood 38-0

Jesuit at Lakewood Ranch, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Lakewood Ranch, 20-17
Rodney Page: Lakewood Ranch, 23-21
Kelly Parsons: Jesuit, 31-21
Bob Putnam: Jesuit 27-21

Leto at Chamberlain, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Chamberlain, 28-0
Rodney Page: Chamberlain, 23-6
Kelly Parsons: Chamberlain, 21-7
Bob Putnam: Chamberlain 20-6

Bradenton Christian at Cambridge Christian (Skyway Park), 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Cambridge Christian 30-28
Rodney Page: Cambridge Christian, 24-7
Kelly Parsons: Cambridge Christian 18-17
Bob Putnam: Cambridge 32-17

Middleton at Freedom, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Freedom 21-0
Rodney Page: Freedom, 26-17
Kelly Parsons: Freedom 13-7
Bob Putnam: Freedom 27-7

Riverview at East Bay, 7:30
John C. Cotey: East Bay 9-7
Rodney Page: East Bay, 17-6
Kelly Parsons: East Bay, 10-0 
Bob Putnam: East Bay 21-14

Out-of-Door at Citrus Park Christian, 7
John C. Cotey: Citrus Park Christian 20-7
Rodney Page: Out-of-Door, 10-7
Kelly Parsons: Out-of-Door, 25-10
Bob Putnam: Out-of-Door 27-23

Pinellas Park at Gibbs, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Pinellas Park 35-28
Rodney Page: Pinellas Park, 44-12
Kelly Parsons: Pinellas Park, 35-28
Bob Putnam: Pinellas Park 42-20

Palm Harbor U. at Bogie, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Boca Ciega 29-17
Rodney Page: PHU, 24-14
Kelly Parsons: PHU, 14-7
Bob Putnam: PHU 17-13

Northeast at Dixie Hollins, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Dixie Hollins 28-14
Rodney Page: Northeast, 23-22
Kelly Parsons: Northeast, 35-17
Bob Putnam: Northeast 28-27

Dunedin at Seminole, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Dunedin 21-14
Rodney Page: Dunedin, 17-14
Kelly Parsons: Seminole, 14-10
Bob Putnam: Dunedin 28-14

Bradenton Southeast at Countryside, 7:30 
John C. Cotey: Countryside 35-31
Rodney Page: Countryside, 21-18
Kelly Parsons: Countryside, 31-21
Bob Putnam: Countryside 38-14

Calvary Christian at St. John Neuman, 7 
John C. Cotey: Calvary Christian 35-0
Rodney Page: Calvary Christian, 28-7
Kelly Parsons: Calvary Christian, 14-3
Bob Putnam: Calvary Christian 26-14

Lakewood at Palmetto, 7:30
John C. Cotey: Palmetto 29-19
Rodney Page: Palmetto, 25-20
Kelly Parsons: Lakewood, 26-20
Bob Putnam: Palmetto 28-21

St. Petersburg Catholic at Pine Ridge, 7
John C. Cotey: Pine Ridge 19-6
Rodney Page: Pine Ridge. 10-7
Kelly Parsons: St. Petersburg Catholic, 12-10
Bob Putnam: Pine Ridge 28-7

Windermere Prep at Keswick Christian, 7
John C. Cotey: Windermere Prep, 30-14
Rodney Page: Windermere Prep, 28-17
Kelly Parsons: Windermere Prep 24-10
Bob Putnam: Windermere Prep 23-14 

Shorecrest at Canterbury, 7 
John C. Cotey: Canterbury, 14-7
Rodney Page: Canterbury, 28-6
Kelly Parsons: Canterbury, 17-
Bob Putnam: Canterbury 27-13

Admiral Farragut at Cardinal Mooney, 7 
John C. Cotey: Cardinal Mooney, 28-25
Rodney Page: Admiral Farragut, 21-7
Kelly Parsons: Cardinal Mooney, 21-7
Bob Putnam: Admiral Farragut 28-16

The best of the guests will get to stick around another week, while we bring in three new pickers. Think you have what it takes to hang with the experts? Hit up @JohnnyHomeTeam, and maybe you’ll be in the mix next week.

On Zeke McGaughy’s first carry in last year’s Class 2A state semifinal game, he was tackled awkwardly, forcing his right knee to bend in a way knees are not supposed to bend.

The Indian Rocks Christian High School running back knew something was wrong, but he did not know how bad the injury was until a trainer asked him to run along the sidelines.

“As soon as I tried running, it felt as if someone tied a rope around my ankles and pulled it out from under me,” McGaughy said. “My knee just gave out.”

The diagnosis: a torn posterior cruciate ligament.

Worse than the physical pain was the psychological toll. McGaughy, who gained 12 yards on his lone carry, watched helplessly as the Golden Eagles lost to eventual state champion Miami Champagnat Catholic 28-14.

“That was the toughest night I’ve ever had to go through, just going down and not being out there,” said McGaughy, a junior.  “I could have been a big help.”

The PCL tear did not require surgery. Instead, McGaughy had to endure months of rehabilitation to get his knee back into playing shape. He worked relentlessly with squats, single leg presses and resistance training.

“I didn’t have to deal with a ton of pain, but my knee was just real weak,” he said. “I had to get stronger.”

McGaughy was released May 18 and no longer has to wear a brace. He resumed workouts with his team, but was not back at full strength until the summer.

“Zeke has done an incredible job of working to get back to where he was,” coach Mark Buchanan said.

In last week’s regular-season opener, he ran for 21 yards and scored once in a 35-0 win over St. Petersburg Catholic that ended early in the second quarter because of lightning. His running will be key be in Friday's game at Carrollwood Day that will go a long way toward determining the Class 2A, District 5 champion.

Last season, McGaughy had a team-high 103 yards rushing in a 14-6 win over Carrollwood Day.

“I don’t how much I’ll get the ball or how many yards I’ll have this week,” McGaughy said. “To me, it’s all about the offensive line. They open the holes, and I just try to run as hard as I can. I’m a north-south runner. There’s no real moves. I’m just making one cut and going.”

McGaughy is a throwback, a 200-pound bruiser with deceptive grace who is at home running between the tackles. His hard-nosed style, though, can lead to injuries. Besides the PCL tear, McGaughy also had a high ankle sprain last season that forced him to miss three games. Still, he rushed for 920 yards, second most on the team.

Now, he’s trying to dish out the same punishment without absorbing too much of his own.

“I battled through a lot of injuries last year, and that might have hurt me getting looks from colleges,” McGaughy said. “I’m just trying to stay healthy so I can be there the whole season and help us win a state title.”

Contact Bob Putnam at putnam@tampabay.com. Follow @BobbyHomeTeam.

TAMPA — While simmering over a heartbreaking loss for a lengthy period of time is frowned upon in most high school football programs, the past definitely motivates Carrollwood Day School. At least for Friday's Class 2A, District 5 opener against Indian Rocks Christian.

Nearly a year ago, a harrowing 8-point loss to IRC on a rain-soaked September evening ended the Patriots’ hopes of a second straight district championship.

Coach Lane McLaughlin recalls it vividly.

His team trailed 14-6 late in the fourth quarter, but the offense looked to be putting together a tying scoring drive.

With four minutes to play, quarterback Taylor King connected on a long pass to Mike Smith, who shook off a defender and raced down the sideline.

A few yards before the goal line, Smith was hit and fumbled. The ball rolled through the back of the end zone for a touchback.

Carrollwood Day never threatened to score again.

Weeks later, IRC clinched the district title by one game and went on to host three playoff games, including its first appearance in a state semifinal. Carrollwood Day finished as the runner-up and lost in the first round against Naples First Baptist Academy.

McLaughlin, the only coach in the program’s eight-year history, said that night has turned into a learning experience for his 23 players. One he hopes will translate into a better result this time around.

“You’ve got to be ready out of the gate,” said McLaughlin, who moved tonight’s game from Carrollwood Day’s on-campus field, which does not have lights, to Skyway Park to give it a primetime effect.

“We’re excited about playing in it, and we’ve been thinking about it all year.”

McLaughlin’s enthusiasm has carried over to his players.

Senior running backs Elias Earley and Willie Parker are eager to outperform IRC’s offense, which includes three potential 1,000-yard rushers — senior Damian King and juniors Theo Anderson and Zeke McGaughy.

Parker had 1,019 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns last season. The two-star recruit said he considers King one of the best backs in the area but is confident he can be contained.

“He’s a great athlete and a cool kid, too,” Parker said. “Everybody works hard and I have to understand that I have to work hardest to be the best. Understanding and knowing how many great athletes (IRC has), I have faith in my team that we’ll be able to stop them.”

Earley, who scored the Patriots’ lone touchdown in last year’s game, said despite the fact that this game could have playoff implications going forward, he doesn’t believe there is any additional pressure.

“We take all of our opponents as serious as possible,” he said. “We don’t mess around. Obviously this game is a district game and the first (district) game of the season. It’s going to be a challenge. They’re a heck of a team. But we have some athletes of our own, too.”

With that confidence, Earley believes that his team will come away with a victory and get its revenge.

And if history is any indication, maybe a district championship as well.

“We circle this game as our biggest game of the year,” Earley said. “Playing them early in the season and with this game potentially determining who’s going to win the district championship is exciting. It’s exhilarating. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Tarpon Springs will induct 23 former athletes and coaches into its inaugural Hall of Fame class Friday night.

The inductees were selected by a committee and will be recognized at halftime of Friday's home football game against Osceola. They will each receive a plaque.

The creation of a Hallf of Fame was a long time coming. Tarpon Springs After all, the graduating class was in 1906. The players and athletes selected go back to the 1940s.

Here are the inductees: Evie Alexopoulos (basketball/1990s), Atif Austin (football/1990s), Jaime Bielenda (volleyball/1990s), Leonard Conley (football/1980s), Steve Craven (football fan/1960s), Tommy Gamble (soccer, 1980s), Jeff Geier (soccer/1980s), Libby Gianeskas (soccer/2000s), Mark Hardy (football/1980s),  Nick Hatzie (football coach/1960s), John Karaphilis (football/1970s), Mike Karaphilis (football/1950s), Carol Kidman (volleyball coach/1990s),  Jed Lehrer (soccer coach/1980s), Jack Pappas (football/1940s), Bill Paskalakis (football/1950s), Frank Pitts (football/1970s), Russ Schenk (wrestling/1980s), Don Smith (football/1970s), Kipp Vickers (football/1980s), Teddy Watts (football/1970s), Kris Wilson (baseball/1990s), Monica Wilson (volleyball/1980s).

Calvary Christian senior pitcher/infielder Johnnie Schneider has committed to Polk State College, according to coach Greg Olsen.

Schneider was busy both in the field and on the mound for the Warriors last season. He hit .296 with 13 RBIs in 88 plate appearances as a junior. As a pitcher he was 5-4 with a 2.62 ERA.

Polk State College is a two-year school athletically. The baseball team was 39-14 last season.

Alec Cromie spent last season as Weeki Wachee’s junior varsity quarterback. His only varsity action came in the last game of the season against Nature Coast. This season, Cromie is the Hornets’ sophomore starter. At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds he is a big pocket passer who has allowed the Hornets to switch from an option to a pro-style offense. In his first regular-season start, Cromie set the bar high by hitting 12 of 19 passes for 201 yards and five touchdowns against Interlachen. Now comes a tougher test against neighborhood rival Springstead. Cromie talked about his fast start and Friday's game.

Having played only junior varsity last season, how were the nerves before your first start in the preseason game against Lecanto?

“I was a little nervous. I wanted to perform well and it took me a while to settle in. But I knew there were good players around me. I just had to relax and get them the ball.”

Did that game help you to relax a little more against Interlachen?

“I think I settled in pretty good from the start. I definitely felt better. Once I started throwing some passes I got more comfortable. I did have a few mistakes but I’ve just got to keep working hard and try to eliminate them.”

And I’m sure it helps to have players like Shawn O’Gorman (107 yards rushing, 89 receiving vs. Interlachen) around you.

“It’s great to know there are players like that. Shawn contributes to the team in so many ways. Nobody works harder and he’s always willing to stay after practice and work on some things if I need him too. All of the upperclassmen have been great. If I have questions I know I can go to them.”

Have you been the big quarterback type since your youth league days?

“Actually I didn’t start playing football until the eighth grade. I’m a basketball player. I got talked into trying out for football by one of my middle school coaches.”

And have you become a football player year round?

“No. I still play basketball. I’m going to continue to play both sports until it becomes apparent I’m better at one than the other. If there’s a chance to play one in college then I’ll focus on that sport.”

Lastly, you play against Springstead this week. How nice would it be to beat the neighborhood rival?

“They were very good last year. I believe they won the district and were in the playoffs. So yes, it would be nice to beat a team like that. It’s good to play a team like that so you can see how good you are.”

Contact Rodney Page at page@tampabay.com. Follow @RodneyHomeTeam.

LARGO — Donavan Hale possesses the size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) and skills (elusiveness, strong arm) that make him one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the bay area.

The Largo senior’s greatest talent is one that can’t be taught: the ability to turn a busted play into a positive one. It is one of the main reasons first-year coach Marcus Paschal had the offense tailored to Hale’s strengths.

“We just want to put the ball in Donavan’s hands and have him make plays,” Paschal said.

But every time Hale eludes the rush or takes off on a wild scramble, there are some coaches at the school who have a few anxious moments.

“I know I hold my breath whenever Donavan takes off running,” Largo basketball coach Phil Price said of his best player. “I just don’t want him to get hurt because I know how valuable he is in both sports.”

Hale spent most of last season bruised, bandaged or beat up in both sports. Therefore, all prognostications about the Packers’ success this season come equipped with a disclaimer about the health of their biggest star, bringing new meaning to the term make-or-break season.

“I have to try to stay healthy, that’s one of the biggest goals all year,” Hale said.

Hale’s battle with injuries started in last season’s game against East Lake. Hale sprained his ankle in the first half and watched Largo lose 22-0, snapping the Packers’ 15-game regular-season win streak and marking the first time the program had been shut out in more than a decade.

The injury forced Hale to miss two games. He came back and led Largo to a district title, but his ankle never fully healed. Then he sprained his other ankle in basketball.

“It was tough because I kept trying to push, but I could get back to being 100 percent,” Hale said.

Tonight comes the rematch against the Eagles, one that Hale has been looking forward to.

“I’m just glad that I’m healthy and have another shot,” he said.

Hale has one of the deepest receiving corps in the area with Dakarai Allen, Jonathan Crawford and Brandon Drayton. They’ve played well so far, cruising to a 40-0 victory over Northeast in the season opener.

East Lake (1-0), led by a veteran defense, poses a challenge. Last year, East Lake pressured Hale, forcing him to make plays on the run before he went down with an ankle injury.

To make sure he stays in one piece this season, Hale worked hard in the weight room to make his body strong enough to absorb the punishment he takes as a dual-threat quarterback.

“Donavan’s always been in the weight room and taken care of his body,” Paschal said. “But I think now that he’s in his final season and his high school career is that much closer to ending, he’s taking everything to another level.

“I know we need him. He’s the total package. If he can stay healthy he’ll put up some big numbers and get us to where we want to go.”

Contact Bob Putnam at putnam@tampabay.com. Follow @BobbyHomeTeam.

In last year’s big Class 6A, District 8 tilt between Jefferson and Hillsborough, the Dragons won thanks to some last-minute heroics by defensive back Chavez Pownell. But Hillsborough quarterback Dwayne Lawson, a Miami commitment and the best player on the field, passed for 291 yards and ran for 124. That probably can’t happen again tonight if the Dragons want to win. But consider: Last year, Lawson had more than 280 yards (passing and rushing combined) against everyone but Armwood. He’s a tough dude to stop.

Depending on the D: The Dragons are equipped to stop Lawson  thanks to a defensive backfield that is always one of the best around. This year’s group is no exception. Senior safeties Ernest Mills and Quinton Rogers, the heart and soul of the defensive backfield, were starters last year, and Jeremiah Baltrip, Jamarcus Harris and Randy Bradford saw plenty of time. The Dragons will rotate as many as six players in pass coverage, with not much of a dropoff. Even freshman Tyrese Spain is a contender to start games. Last week, he led the team with four passes defended and a fumble recovery. “He came in as a freshman and just started guarding people,” Lionel Bryant said. He should know. He coaches the wide receivers.

No fly zone: In the last 13 games it has played, Jefferson’s secondary has allowed only three teams to complete 50 percent of their passes, with some 10-for-35, 9-for-27, 9-for-24 and 3-for-15 performances mixed in there. Five teams threw for fewer than 100 yards, and no one passed for more than 200. And the Dragons have intercepted 15 passes in that span, while allowing just six touchdown passes. “We have a pretty good group,” Baltrip said.

Nice warmup: Last week, the Dragons sacked Alonso’s Chris Oladokun eight times. Defensive backs coach Jeremy Burnett attributed all eight of those to great coverage. He also said at least half of the 27 incomplete passes thrown were the direct result of excellent coverage, rather than bad throws. Oladokun doesn’t run as much as Lawson, but he is a scrambler. The Dragons were able to contain him and held the Ravens to 34 yards rushing overall. “I think that was a real good test for us,” Burnett said. Lawson, however, is much more dangerous with his legs and prone to burn defenses with a big run.

Take him down: Baltrip describes Lawson as slippery, and Burnett agrees. The key to the stopping him from passing for big yards will be bringing him down before he throws the ball. “We have to tackle him,” Burnett said. Given his choice, the Jefferson assistant would cage Lawson between the hashes and make him throw. And when he does? “It doesn’t matter to me where he throws it,” Burnett said. “I know once the ball is in the air, every one of my guys will run towards it and try to make a play.”

After nine months of anticipation and three years of intrigue, East Lake receiver George Campbell’s recruitment comes to a conclusion Friday.

It will end without much fanfare. No big stage. No room full of students and players. No cameras flashing. Instead, Campbell, one of the most popular and charismatic players in the 2015 class, will make his announcement in a cramped office at school. He will gaze into a camera and render his decision on ESPN.com’s Recruiting Nation.

This final act comes down to three schools: Florida, FSU and LSU. After that, Campbell can exhale as an exhausting search to find the right school is complete.

“I mean it’s not too bad if you just let it all come to you and not let it stress you out, but yes I am ready for it to be over and to be able to just worry about my team and our plans on getting that ring,” Campbell said.

The process has been full of hype. Since his sophomore season, Campbell has rocketed up the recruiting rankings, thanks to his blend of size (6-foot-3) and speed (4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash) that he put on display in dazzling performances at combines. Last year, he was ranked as the top overall athlete in his class (he is now ranked 10th by ESPN).

He was a coveted recruit who captivated fans, so much that he gets pictures, footballs and jerseys sent to his house or school from people wanting autographs. Campbell has become such a household name that he is one of two athletes in ESPN’s top 100 for the 2015 class that has his own Wikipedia page.

Still, Campbell did not want a college announcement spectacle that would befit his national appeal.

“George said he would wait until he signs to have something big,” said his uncle, Ahmad Jackson said. “He just wants to the process to be over. He’s exhausted. We’re all exhausted.”

Campbell’s recruitment turned ugly last year after he pledged his allegiance to Michigan in July 2013, then decided to decommit from the school in December. He received plenty of backlash from fans on social media, including some who used racial epitaphs.

“It’s tough, but at the same time I’m not worried about it because I know it won’t effect me on the field or off,” he said.

Even with the decision coming to an end, Jackson said he still gets messages from fans criticizing him for steering Campbell away from Michigan (Campbell made the decision on his own.)

“It will be a great day with his college plans becoming official,” Jackson said. “It’s a thorough process we’ve been through. He knows now there are no do-overs.”

In an intensely anticipated moment, East Lake receiver George Campbell announced his commitment to Florida State on Friday, ending a frantic recruiting period over the past nine months.

Campbell made the decision during a webcast on ESPN.com's Recruiting Nation. The setting was subdued, held inside an office at school with a few family members in attendance.

But his announcement reverberated throughout the recruiting world. Within minutes of making his decision, Campbell was trending on Twitter. That is not too surprising considering Campbell is one of two players in ESPN's top 100 for the 2015 class that has his own Wikipedia page.

Campbell said he made his choice after talking with his family and coaches and looking at the depth chart.

"Academically it was a big factor and I'm not too far away from my family," Campbell said of FSU.

The Seminoles now have 21 commitments, including nine ranked in ESPN's top 100. Campbell is FSU's first ESPN five-star recruit in this 2015 class and joins Wharton's Auden Tate as the two receivers from the bay area who have pledged their allegiance to the Seminoles.

Campbell said he plans to visit when FSU hosts Clemson on Sept. 20. He will be able to watch former East Lake teammate Artavis Scott, now a freshman for the Tigers.

One of the most sought after recruits in the class of 2015, Campbell is rated 10th overall by ESPN and has nearly 50 offers from major Division I schools. He initially decided to attend Michigan in July 2013, then decommitted from the school in December.

It wasn't until late last month that he narrowed his choices to three schools: Florida, FSU and LSU. He originally was going to make his decision during the Under Armour game in January, but did not want to wait because he wanted to end what had been an exhausting process. He also did not want the decision to become a distraction for the Eagles, who are in position to make a deep run in the playoffs. 

This time, Campbell said there is no wavering on his commitment.

"I'm a "Nole," he said.

TARPON SPRINGS — Trailing 7-0 after Osceola’s Nick Shytle returned an interception 15 yards, Tarpon Springs got to work scoring 24 unanswered points. Touchdown runs by Michael Ford and Daniel Davis gave Tarpon the lead at halftime. Tarpon added to it in the third quarter on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Casler to Mitchell Wilcox. Louis Zervos kicked a 24-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give Tarpon Springs a 17-point lead.

Drive of the game:  Tarpon rallied from a 7-0 deficit by driving the ball 69 yards in 5:59 on eight plays, capped by Ford’s 10-yard.

Play of the game: Davis ran for a 70-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter to give Tarpon the lead and added a 54-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Stars of the game: For Tarpon, Davis finished with 294 total yards — 152 yards receiving and 142 yards rushing — and two touchdowns. Ford rushed for 150 yards on 23 carries with one touchdown. For Osceola, Shytle rushed for 67 yards on 13 carries, completed a 58-yard pass to Wilan Harvey on a trick play to set up a touchdown and had a 15-yard interception return.

Stat of the game: Tarpon won despite turning the ball over four times, with two interceptions and two fumbles. It also had nine penalties for 96 yards. Tarpon Springs won the total-yards battle 530-298.

ST. PETERSBURG — For most of four quarters, Dixie Hollins and Northeast traded scores like two heavyweights going at it in the ring. They each did it their way — the Rebels through the air, while the visiting Vikings chewed up yards on the ground to reach the end zone.

Drive of the game: Trailing by six points with fewer than five minutes in the game and at the Vikings 20 yard line, the Rebels threw incomplete on fourth down.

Play of the game: Northeast took over after Dixie Hollins gave the ball over on downs and ran two plays on the ground. Then, Devin Bowers took the ball on a pitch out from quarterback Cory Hart and completed an 80-yard pass to Jalynn Williams which gave the Vikings a two-score cushion with fewer than three minutes remaining.

Stars of the game: For the Vikings, Tavon Jones carried the ball 24 times for 168 yards and two scores. Devin Bowers rushed 27 times for 137 and three touchdowns. He also passed for a score. Dixie Hollins quarterback Tyrie Adams also had a monster game, completing 25 of 43 passed for 481 yards and five touchdowns through the air. He also added two scores on the ground.

Stat of the game: Both teams combined for nearly 500 yards of offense at the half.

SEMINOLE — After Dunedin posted big Week 1 numbers, Seminole knew it had to step up big. Five turnovers, four on consecutive second-half possessions, broke open a close contest and earned the Warhawks their first win.

Drive of the game: Trailing 13-0 late in the second quarter, Dunedin rode Jordan Williams (52 rushing yards) and Kendrick Harvey (61) down to the Seminole 15. On third down, the ball popped loose and senior nose guard Nahdeem Ali Bey El grabbed it at the 13, his second fumble recovery of the night. Dunedin never got that close again.

Plays of the game: In a 33-second, fourth-quarter span, Warhawks running back Chris Garza-McLean (123 rushing yards) sprinted 53 yards untouched to the end zone followed by a dazzling 67-yard interception return for a TD from Lakendrick Staley.

Stars of the game: Ali Bey El, Staley, Jamal Jackson and Dequan Ober had the takeaways that made all the difference, leading to 12 Seminole points.

Stat of the game: Dunedin’s possession chart: punt, punt, lost fumble, punt, lost on downs, interception, lost fumble, interception, interception, end of game.

Final word:“We had a 16-3 lead against Dunedin with the ball and four minutes left in the spring game and ended up tied. We were a young team that didn’t know how to finish and we worked hard to change that. I’m very proud of our guys.” — Seminole coach Chris Miller