Following an appointment with a back specialist Wednesday morning, Plant starting quarterback Phillip Ely is day-to-day and could play in Friday's regular season opener against Tampa Bay Tech, Plant coach Robert Weiner said.

Ely's injury was diagnosed as a stress fracture in his back by highly regarded orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Small. Weiner said the junior quarterback is "day-to-day."

"The news is very good," Weiner said. "We feared the worst. Some doctors said it was to the point where he wouldn't be able to stand at practice."

Weiner said Ely has hab about 10 days off from taking practice reps. Still, he's calling plays and directing his lineman at the line of scrimmage, while backup James Few takes snaps.

Ely, who thrw for 1,767 yards and 19 touchdowns last season in relief of injured All-American Aaron Murray, will begin physical therapy sessions twice a week starting Thursday. Because of that, he might be held out of Wednesday's practice, Weiner said.

"We'll have to see how he feels," Weiner said. "He's doing well. His spirits are good and he's happy with the doctor's report."

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

Sharks first-year athletic director Kristen Peeples announced several new coaching hires at Nature Coast.

Among them, Pete Ruiz has been promoted to varsity head baseball coach. He replaces John Frascatore, who was not retained despite leading the Sharks to the Class 4A playoffs in his only season.

Peeples also announced Mary Jo Artura will coach boys and girls swimming, and Vivien Tolley will coach varsity cheerleading.

Also of note, Nature Coast has added a varsity bowling team, which will be coached on a voluntary basis by Carrie Piechowicz.

"They wanted to have a bowling team," Peeples said of the players. "It was pushed by parents and students. Carrie took on the responsibility of it as a volunteer. She said she would make it run, fund raise and all those things."

In the face of budget woes, Peeples said the bowling program will essential run itself leaving the school with minimal or no cost. 

Nature Coast already had a successful bowling program with the boys and girls teams reaching the 2007 state final (the boys team won state. But the program ended in Sept. 2008 due to lack of funding.

Land O'Lakes junior Stevie Weatherford's return last Thursday was preceeded by uncertainty.

How would he respond to playing in his old stadium after the brief defection to Tampa Catholic? And how would he mesh with first-year coach Matt Kitchie?

The answer proved to be just fine.

Kitchie has entrusted Weatherford to command the offense on the field and said he's "really starting to own it."

"He goes through a check list of three rules before evey play," Kitchie said. "If he sees certain things he automatically checks to other plays. I think the first three plays (Thursday) he audibled out of everything we called and did his own thing within the system. For a 17-year-old kid to be doing that is pretty special."

Weatherford was 3-of-6 for 36 yards and a touchdown after one quarter of play. The game second half was canceled due to weather.

-- IZZY GOULD, Times staff writer

Matt McDermott helped open Sunlake High two years ago as the school's first athletic director.

After completing his master's degree at Saint Leo University in educational leadership, McDermott has accepted an offer to become an assistant principal at Wesley Chapel. He officially begins his new post Sept. 15. 

In doing so, McDermott must step aside as athletic director and the varsity wrestling coach.

"It's a great step in my career," McDermott said. "Unfortunately, I have to give up the AD and coaching aspect of my job."

McDermott spent the past two years at Sunlake working in graduation enhancement. Prior to his arrival, he spent 11 years at Zephyrhills where he coach wrestling and football and taught honors biology and AP environmental science.

McDermott said he expects his vacancy to draw a lot of interest and expects at least three internal candidates. Also available is former Land O'Lakes athletic director Chuck Moehle, now teaching at Anclote.

"I feel bad, I love my kids at Sunlake and Zephyrhills," McDermott said. "I will definitely miss it."

-- IZZY GOULD, Times staff writer

Plant will find out Wednesday whether ailing starting quarterback Phillip Ely will be able to play in Friday's regular season opener against Tampa Bay Tech.

Ely, who missed Friday's kickoff classic against Manatee with lingering lower back pain, will see a specialist Wednesday and will go over the MRI taken last week.

"He's been bothers by it all summer, but it's been a muscular thing," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "We didn't it was anything more than that. The first week, unfortunately, was the first week it really really started to bother him so that's when we went to get it checked out."

If he can't go, sophomore James Few will start in his place. Few threw for 188 yards, ran for one touchdown and threw for another in Plant's 49-33 preseason loss to Manatee.

"Injuries don't wait for us," Weiner said. "(Ely) came in and prepared like he does every week, and on the field he’s not taking the snap but he’s doing everything else. He directs every lineman. He directs every play. That’s the way we’ve tried to prepare so far."

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

One concern at Pasco was how it would replace 1,000-yard running back Jamall Haynes, who was a huge part of Pasco's run to the Class 3A state semifinals.

Based on Friday's performances, the Pirates have a pair of tailbacks capable of filling the void. In fact, coach Tom McHugh said the race is even and the duo could end up sharing the load with equal playing time. 

Pirates sophomore Jacolby O'Neal (5-6, 135 pounds) and freshman Janarion Grant (5-10, 170) got the bulk of the carries each showing they are worthy of first-team consideration. As they battle for the starting job, it has become clear both will see significant playing time.

"They're different kinds of kids," McHugh said. "Jamal would bang you. These kids just run away from you. ...We're pretty fortunate."

Pirates fullback Clifford Phillips (5-10, 175) had two huge second-half runs showing he could be a third option. And don't forget junior Willie Jackson (5-9, 175), who once was a projected starter, has not touched the field while recovering from a broken leg in the spring.

Jackson had the most experience returning with 19 carries for 57 yards. Phillips and O'Neal combined for 11 carries for 20 yards in 2008.

"We have very good athletes," McHugh said. "We're working on isolating them in different situations. ...The defenses are going to have to do something."

-- IZZY GOULD, Times staff writer

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Even though Hudson is one of his program’s fiercest rivals, Gulf coach Jay Fulmer can’t help but admire the Cobras’ offense.

“They’re very good at what they,” Fulmer said.

What Hudson, which plays Gulf on Friday, does, is pass. A lot.

A year ago, Cobras QB Zack Wynnthrew for 2,035 yards on 280 attempts. In last week’s preseason win over Mitchell, he completed 22 of 34 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns, including a 38-yarder to standout WR Jamie Tello. Wynn also runs well, which gives defenses something else to think about.

“Zack gets rid of the ball in 2.5 seconds or less every time,” Fulmer said. “And he puts it on the money every single time.”

Fulmer also praised Wynn’s blockers.

“Their offensive line is very good at pass blocking,” he said. “It’s hard to get to (Wynn). Putting pressure on him is not an option.”
 
--KEITH NIEBUHR

In his weekly press conference Tuesday, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier essentially confirmed what many have suspected all along: Tailback Jarvis Giles, an ex-Gaither standout, will play right away for the Gamecocks.

USC opens the college football season Thursday night at North Carolina State in a game to be televised live by ESPN.

"We want to give everyone a chance in the real games as much as we can, and after that we want to find out which one the best is," Spurrier said. "Brian Maddox is scheduled to start (at running back), and after that Jarvis and Kenny Miles will get some shots also."

Giles is the only true freshman of the aforementioned trio.

JOEY KNIGHT

TARPON SPRINGS – Because Tarpon Springs ran the ball so effectively at times in last week’s 27-2 preseason win over Gulf, it was easy to overlook the efforts of starting QB Wyatt Wikle.

But make no mistake, he performed well.

“He ran the team very efficiently,” Spongers coach George Kotis said. “We’re very happy with his progression.”

A first-year starter who succeeds standout Danny Reyes(now at Grambling), Wikle made only one mistake against Gulf, Kostis said. He was intercepted on a deep ball over the middle, a pass the coach said never should have been thrown.

“We had two guys open on the play,” Kotis lamented. “We had a tight end open over the middle and I would have liked to have seen what he could have done with the ball.”

Aside from his own talents (which the coach said are very good), the 6-foot, 165-pound Wikle, a junior, has three things working in his favor.

1. A big, physical offensive line.
2. A solid running game that has four excellent backs, one of which being Adrian Golden, a Gulf transfer who rushed for more than 2,000 yards last season.
3. A defense that appears to be quite good.

In other words, Wikle won’t be asked to drop back and throw 30 times a game – even though Kotis said he certainly could if asked.

“We’re going to surprise some people,” Kotis said. “Before we get too deep into district play, you’ll probably see us throw it 60 percent in one game just to get him more comfortable.”

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Three days before the local prep football season formally kicks off, several area quarterback battles remain unresolved, and probably will stay that way.

While at least one competition -- at Sickles -- was decided during Friday's preseason action, other schools have at least two players taking snaps at practice this week. The well-documented Wharton QB derby -- where three players are alternating --remains the most intriguing, but others are pretty intense, too. 

Here's a look at a few area competitions:

Sickles
Coach Pat O'Brien confirmed Tuesday 6-foot senior John Melvin Hendrick, (pictured, above left) who threw a touchdown pass in both halves of Friday's jamboree at Freedom, has earned the job outright for now.

The consolation for Scott O'Donoghue and Jeff Wilton: Both will play elsewhere. O'Donoghue, a senior 198-pounder, will start at fullback in offensive coordinator Brian Turner's triple-option attack and play middle linebacker. Wilton will log time at receiver.

"It's kind of a nice little conundrum to have," O'Brien said. "With our numbers low like we are with Steinbrenner (High) taking a lot of kids from our JV team, it kind of opens things up for us."

Gaither
Coach Mark Kantor, who employed 6-1 sophomore Zach Condon and 5-10 freshman Shug Oyegunle in Friday's 7-0 preseason loss to Durant, indicated Tuesday both will play in this week's game against rival Sickles. Condon started against the Cougars.

"Plan to use both a la Steve Spurrier," Kantor said via text message.

Chamberlain
A mild hamstring injury to junior Thadeus Baxley means senior Travis Hanchett probably will start in Friday's season opener against Durant.

But until one distances himself from the other, both will play, Chiefs coach Joe Severino said.

"They both did okay, so I'm going to use them both," said Severino, who emptied his bench in Friday's 40-0 preseason loss to Jefferson. "If one of them (steps to the forefront) they'll become the starter."

JOEY KNIGHT