As the Tampa Bay-area prep football playoffs kick off this week, there are any numbers of players to keep an eye on. But we managed to narrow the list down to 10 for time's sake.
Plant High's Phillip Ely.
Photo by Jim Redman
– Ely may no longer be undefeated as a starter but he still owns two state championship rings and the experience that came with them. The Panthers quarterback completed 61 percent of his passes this season while throwing for 18 touchdowns. A tough schedule and overcoming injuries may help the Panthers on their drive for a third straight title. Plant hosts Plant City to open the Class 5A playoffs.
Carey White, RB, Sickles (Tampa) – During the summer, a total of 2,000 yards was quietly murmured about White's senior season. A nagging ankle injury helped quash that but when he was needed the most, White came up big, running for 982 yards this season and going for more than 3,000 for his career. Sickles plays at Armwood (Seffner) in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Rashad Lewis, RB, St. Petersburg – If anyone watching Pinellas County football did not know of Lewis before the season, they know his name now. Lewis helped lead the Green Devils to a perfect regular season while leading the Bay area with 1,600 yards and 26 touchdowns. St. Petersburg hosts Venice to open the Class 5A postseason.
Quentin Williams, QB, Jefferson (Tampa) – Is there anything left to be said about Williams, the record-setting Dragons quarterback? After capping the regular season with six touchdown passes last week, his season tally reached 38. Along the way he helped Jefferson set a state scoring record with 530 points. Jefferson hosts Land O' Lakes in its Class 3A opener.
Stephen Weatherford, QB, Land O' Lakes – Weatherford is among the area's top passers but the current question if he will play against Jefferson. Weatherford faced disciplinary action for an on-campus incident last week and didn't play in the regular season finale. His status remains unclear for the Jefferson game and if he sits, the Gators will be without their top offensive threat (2,136 passing yards and 30 touchdowns).
Nelson Agholor, RB-WR-KR, Berkeley Prep (Tampa) – The multi-purpose threat can score from anywhere on the field and did this season. Agholor ran for 1,200 yards with 17 touchdowns on the ground and had three touchdowns receptions and another two by kickoff return. The Class A, District 6 runners up, Berkeley opens the playoffs on the road, at Hamilton County.
James Wilder, JR., RB, Plant (Tampa) – The FSU commit rumbled his way to just shy of 1,000 yards despite nagging injuries that plagued him most of the season and a huge target on his back – and front. Wilder finished the regular season strong with 162 yards and three scores as the Panthers won their rivalry game against Robinson (Tampa). Plant hosts Plant City to open the Class 5A playoffs.
The Armwood Defense, Armwood (Seffner) – Strictly the numbers for Armwood's 2010 regular season defense: Four shutouts. Four times allowing a single score in a game and only two times did an opponent score more than 10 points (Hillsborough 15, East Bay 12). And the Hawks' D did all this against a schedule that featured five playoff teams, among them the defending state champ Plant Panthers. Armwood hosts Sickles to begin the Class 4A postseason.
Derrick Doss, RB, Largo – With quarterback Juwon Brown out and running back Jarvis Stewart hobbled, the Largo Packers needed to lean on sophomore running back Derrick Doss in the regular season finale. Doss responded with 300 yards and five touchdowns. The Packers likely will lean on Doss again as the Class 4A playoffs open at home against Hillsborough (Tampa).
Conner Powers, FB, Newsome (Lithia) – Back from a knee injury, the senior fullback led Newsome to six wins in its last seven games, its second straight district title and was the top rushing team in Hillsborough County. Powers and the Wolves open the Class 5A playoffs at home against Alonso (Tampa).
