Has any Tampa Bay-area team taken its district change in stride as much as Tampa Jefferson?
Sure, Tampa Sickles has secured its second-ever playoff spot after a shift to Class 4A, District 10, and Tampa Freedom and Tampa Alonso seem likely headed to the postseason, but other squads like Tampa Chamberlain, Tampa Gaither and Tampa Wharton have not fared well.
And Jefferson?
The switch from Class 4A, District 10 to Class 3A-8 has included its usual string of powerhouse opponents like Tampa Hillsborough and Tampa Plant (although no longer district foes) but also plenty of new happenings – unfamiliar and new rivals and trips across the Bay to Pinellas County.
The latest and perhaps best new rival may be Riverview Spoto. The Spartans also were unbeaten in 3A-8 play as they squared off with Jefferson last week.
Jefferson quarterback Quentin Williams threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Dragons scored 24 second-half points in a 24-21 come-from-behind win that all but sewed up the district championship. The Dragons, 5-1 and 3-0 in their new league, make their second trip this season to Pinellas this week.
A win at St. Petersburg Dixie Hollins and Jefferson will claim the 3A-8 championship, its first district crown since 2004 but an 11th straight trip to the postseason. That ranks at the top among Hillsborough County squads.
Other key games last week
Sickles secured its second-ever playoff spot with a 38-0 drubbing of Tampa Leto.
Seffner Armwood outlasted Tampa Hillsborough 34-21 in a 4A, District 9 showdown. Both are headed toward playoff berths.
In Class 5A, District 7, Freedom topped Wharton 16-7 to wrap up a likely playoff spot, and MaxPreps Tampa Bay No. 1 Plant beat Alonso 57-21 to establish the teams' pecking order for the two 5A-5 playoff spots.
Also, Dade City Pasco gained the edge in the Class 3A-8 district race after a 28-16 win against Land O'Lakes. And 8-0 New Port Richey Mitchell stayed unbeaten (the lone unbeaten public school team in the Bay area) after a 16-3 win against Land O'Lakes Sunlake.
Top performers
Tampa Bay Tech quarterback Jonathan Williams threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another in his team'
s win against Brandon.
Despite the loss, Hillsborough quarterback Tarean Austin was outstanding, completing 21-of-39 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns against a stout Armwood defense.
Sickles running back Cary White, who leads all Hillsborough County rushers with 1,200 yards, ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns, as the Gryphons pounded Leto to wrap up a playoff spot.
Carrollwood Day School quarterback Billy Embody threw for 282 yards and six touchdowns in the Patriots'
56-7 win against Naples First Baptist.
On deck
More shaking out of the playoff order certainly will come after this Friday.
Clearwater Countryside (7-1, 3-0) and Tarpon Springs East Lake (5-2, 2-0) vye for the Class 5A, District 8 title.
Meanwhile, St. Petersburg Gibbs (4-3, 2-0) and Pinellas Park (4-3, 2-0) battle for supremacy in 5A-9 and Tarpon Springs (6-2, 3-0) and Hudson (4-3, 2-0) play to determine the 4A-6 district winner.
Also, in a non-district but huge rivalry game, neighborhood foes Plant City and Plant City Durant square off in their annual brawl.
MaxPreps Tampa Bay Top 10
1. Tampa Plant (6-1)
2. Seffner Armwood (6-1)
3. Tampa Bay Tech (6-1)
4. Tampa Hillsborough (5-2)
5. Tampa Catholic (6-0)
6. Plant City Durant (7-1)
7. Tampa Jefferson (5-1)
8. Largo (6-1)
9. New Port Richey Mitchell (8-0)
10. Riverview Spoto (6-2)
Just an eyelash away... Tampa Sickles (6-2), Tampa Robinson (6-1), Clearwater Countryside (7-1), Tarpon Springs (6-2) and Dade City Pasco (6-1).
Recruiting radar
Speaking of Austin, in addition to being near the top of the list for the University of South Florida, he also is being heavily recruited by Iowa State, among others.
The Cyclones also are pursuing Clearwater linebacker Jeremiah George, Tarpon Springs Adrian Golden and already have a verbal commitment from St. Petersburg Gibbs speedster Jarvis West.
Hudson quarterback Zack Wynn is receiving increased interest from Western Michigan while Dunedin linebacker Ali Cheaib is being recruited by Division I-AA Marist.
And while Plant running back James Wilder, Jr. is weighing offers from the likes of Florida, Tennessee, LSU and Missouri, other athletes have began official visits. Tarpon Springs offensive lineman Zack DeBell has traveled to Mississippi and St. Petersburg Lakewood receiver Bernard Reedy recently visited Toledo.
Fall sports playoff time
Riverview'
s Ian McConnell will have plenty of eyes on him as he tees up in the Class 2A region boys golf tournament this week. Among the local players joining him are teammate R.J. Slater, Chamberlain's Gary Buffington, Zach Johnson (Plant) and Gaither's Jimmy Stanger.
Among the Bay area boys players headed to the Class 1A region event are Tampa Berkeley Prep players Blake Morris and Chandler Morris, Tampa Jesuit'
s Anthony Maccaglia and St. Petersburg Calvary Christian's Lee McCoy.
On the girls side, Durant will be a Class 2A contender, led by Madison Opfer and Erika Wardzinski. Top local players competing also include Tampa King'
s Kelsey Gibson and the Plant duo Laura Hendee and Kelsey Eisch.
In Class 1A, Lutz Steinbrenner transfer (from Sickles) Alex Milan should go far. She'
ll be joined in the region event by Berkeley Prep players Desiree Meyncke and Lindsey Weiss and Tampa Prep's Kayla Poff.
Meanwhile, as the state volleyball district tournament tip off, three-time state Class 5A champion Plant begins its pursuit of a 6A crown.
Other area teams to keep an eye on in the playoffs are Gaither, Sickles, Armwood and Riverview in Class 5A; first-year Lutz Steinbrenner (unbeaten in district play) in 4A; perennial state-title contender Berkeley Prep in 3A, powerhouse Tampa Prep in 2A and recent state champion Tampa Bayshore Christian (also holders of 13 straight district championships) in Class 1A.
