Friday's football games
All at 7:30 unless noted
Zephyrhills (5-3, 5-1) at Pasco (8-0, 6-0)
What’s at stake: Playoffs, to go with traditional bragging rights from the 9-Mile War. Pasco has already qualified for the postseason and becomes the Class 5A, District 6 champion with a win. Zephyrhills takes the district title if it can upset the Pirates. The Bulldogs can still make the postseason with a loss but need some help.
Who’s hot: Pasco RB David Emmanuel, who’s averaging 17 yards per carry over his past three games, and ATH Janarion Grant, who has accounted for seven touchdowns in two games since returning from a broken hand. …Zephyrhills QB Mike Smith, who threw for three TDs in last week’s 35-28 win over Fivay. Jaylen Pickett added a touchdown run and two TD catches.
Matt Baker’s pick: Zephyrhills has its best team in years and was the last county team to knock off Pasco — but don’t expect a 9-Mile upset this year. The Bulldogs have plenty of athletes, but the Pirates have more depth and speed than the rest of the county. Pasco, 52-14
Derek J. LaRiviere’s pick: The Pirates have been a finely-tuned machine and seem to be hitting their stride at the perfect time. Grant and the host of other athletes on the Pasco roster should have no issue running over the Bulldogs. It would be the 36th straight regular-season win for the program dating to 2009. Pasco, 56-7
Anclote (4-4, 4-2) at Hudson (3-5, 3-3)
What’s at stake: Anclote can keep its playoff hopes alive with a win coupled with a Zephyrhills loss. The Sharks can secure their first .500 season with a victory and keep their hopes of a winning record alive. Hudson has already made monumental strides this season but would love to finish at .500 with wins over Anclote and River Ridge to close the season.
Who’s hot: Hudson S C.C. Schroder, who had two interceptions last week and leads Class 5A with five picks. RB Noah Siegrist has rushed for 100 yards in four of his past six games, including a 145-yard, three-TD performance against Gulf last week. …Anclote RB Trent Crawford, who scored two touchdowns — including the winner — in a 21-14 victory over Wesley Chapel. Lineman Terry Linton added a TD, and RB Willie Barrett rushed for 113 yards.
Baker: The Cobras have had a successful season, but Anclote has too much speed and too much to play for to drop this one. Barrett and the Sharks will pound their way to guarantee a .500 season. Anclote, 28-20
LaRiviere: If Anclote can’t contain the power running attack led by Siegrist, Hudson could just pound its way to a win that stomps out Anclote’s playoff hopes. The Sharks need to avoid the slow start that characterized their past few games. Anclote, 34-28
Ridgewood (1-8, 1-5) at Fivay (5-3, 4-2)
What’s at stake: Fivay’s playoff hopes. The Falcons need a win over the Rams and some help to force a three-way tie for the runnerup spot in 5A-6. Ridgewood has been bitten with four losses by five points or fewer and would love to spoil the Falcons’ season.
Who’s hot: Ridgewood RBs Tyler Vito and Elton Grigley, who have combined for more than 1,100 yards on the season. …Fivay QB Tyler Degen, who had his fifth game with at least three passing TDs last week, and WR Andrew Meyer, who tallied 152 receiving yards and two scores in the loss to Zephyrhills.
Baker: Ridgewood has shown it’s good enough to scare teams, nearly knocking off Zephyrhills two weeks ago. But the Falcons have enough depth and talent at the skill positions to avoid the upset. Fivay, 35-21
LaRiviere: Ridgewood has been improving exponentially week by week, but the Falcons seem as focused as they’ve been in two seasons. The offense is clicking with Degen accounting for 17 touchdowns through the air and Davion Sutton breaking records every time he touches the ball. Fivay, 42-14
Nature Coast (5-4, 4-2) at Springstead (9-0, 6-0)
TV: BHSN
Baker: The Eagles have already wrapped up the district title. Now they’ll fight off a strong effort from Joey Berrios and the Sharks to secure the school’s first undefeated regular season. Springstead, 17-14
LaRiviere: When asked whether he’d play his starters against the Sharks with an undefeated season on the line, Springstead coach Bill Vonada said: “If you’re asking if Peyton Manning will start, he’ll probably start.” Bad news for Nature Coast. Springstead, 24-14
Freedom (2-7, 1-3) at Wiregrass Ranch (0-8, 0-4)
Baker: Ryan Shea, Elias Galvan Jr. and the Bulls have their best chance at a district win. They’ll get close, but a young Wiregrass team doesn’t have enough just yet. Freedom, 35-13
LaRiviere: The Patriots have struggled this season, but wins over Brandon and Steinbrenner show they can hang in tough contests. Of the 11 touchdowns Freedom has scored this season, QB Taylor King has had a hand in nine of them. Freedom, 38-0
Central (1-8, 0-6) at Sunlake (6-2, 4-2)
Baker: The Seahawks’ playoff hopes are done, but their ground game will dominate against a Bears program that’s on the right track. Sunlake, 45-7
LaRiviere: The improvement that Bears coach Mike Einspahr has made with his club has been overshadowed by the fact that Central has only one victory. The Seahawks should have no problem dispatching the Bears this week, however. Look for big numbers out of Eddie Burgos. Sunlake, 38-6
Landmark Christian (10-0) at Bishop McLaughlin (4-4)
Baker: Bishop has a strong squad but is up against a very tough Patriots team. Noah Clanahan and the Hurricanes will take some lumps in their regular-season finale. Landmark, 42-7
LaRiviere: Patriots RB Keland White has 20 touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards on the ground. The Patriots have yet to score fewer than 39 points in any game this year and have scored more than 50 six times. Landmark, 52-28
Hernando (5-4, 5-1) at Mitchell (6-3, 3-3)
Baker: The Leopards have sealed a playoff appearance. Jeremiah Jackson and company will head into the postseason with momentum against a banged-up Mustangs team. Hernando, 28-14
LaRiviere: The Leopards became the first program in Hernando County to reach the playoffs three seasons in a row. To make an impact in the postseason, the offense will need to cut down on turnovers and add more big plays. Mitchell’s injuries will limit its chances at an upset. Hernando, 31-14
Gulf (0-8, 0-6) at Wesley Chapel (2-6, 1-5)
Baker: The Bucs and Wildcats have both caught some bad breaks this fall. A rebuilding year continues at Gulf after Wesley Chapel snaps a two-game skid. Wesley Chapel, 35-7
LaRiviere: Gulf averages only 79 yards per game on offense and has scored only one touchdown all season. Wildcats RB Daquan Caesar went for nearly 200 yards against both Wiregrass Ranch and Ridgewood. He could surpass that mark against Gulf. Wesley Chapel, 27-6
River Ridge (2-6, 1-5) at Land O’Lakes (2-6, 1-5)
Baker: Both teams are better than their records show and have battled through tough seasons. The Royal Knights’ size and ground game will make the difference. River Ridge, 17-14
LaRiviere: The Gators have shown signs at times that they have a great deal of young talent on their roster. The Royal Knights, led by Josh Maisel, have had some very good performances, holding Springstead scoreless for a half and blowing out Central. The nod goes to the more experienced River Ridge. River Ridge, 31-28
Duval Charter (1-7) at Weeki Wachee (2-6, 1-5)
Baker: The young Hornets will get some confidence with a big non-district victory to give themselves another school first — a two-game win streak. Weeki, 35-7
LaRiviere: RB Jon King, RB Marcus Allen and QB David Tinch should have the opportunity to put some numbers on the board against the floundering Panthers. Weeki, 49-0
Class 5A, District 6 playoff scenarios
Pasco: The Pirates have already clinched a playoff appearance. Pasco wins the district with a victory over Zephyrhills or becomes the runnerup with a loss to the Bulldogs.
Zephyrhills: The Bulldogs become district champs with a win over Pasco. If Zephyrhills loses and Anclote loses to Hudson, the Bulldogs make the playoffs as the No. 2 seed. Zephyrhills is eliminated from contention with a loss to Pasco, a Fivay loss to Ridgewood and an Anclote victory.
Anclote: The Sharks are eliminated with a loss to Hudson or a Zephyrhills win. Anclote makes the playoffs as the No. 2 seed if it wins and Zephyrhills and Fivay both lose.
Fivay: The Falcons cannot clinch a playoff appearance but can force a three-way tie with a win over Ridgewood and some help. Fivay is eliminated from contention if Zephyrhills beats Pasco or if Zephyrhills and Anclote both lose.
Three-way tie: Zephyrhills, Anclote and Fivay could all finish tied for the No. 2 seed with identical 5-2 district records. That happens if Zephyrhills loses to Pasco, Anclote beats Hudson and Fivay beats Ridgewood. Fivay would be the host school because its overall record would be the best (6-3). The tiebreaker would take place Monday at 7 p.m. Anclote and Zephyrhills would play for a quarter, with the winner facing Fivay for another quarter to decide the final playoff berth.