KEN LANE

Golden Gate sophomore cornerback Peterson Janvier catches Immokalee running back Chris Ramos from behind in what would be a 29-6 win for the Indians at Immokalee, Oct. 24.

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BARRON COLLIER

Though Cypress Lake comes to the Cougars’ field with a losing record, Barron coach Mark Ivey called this week’s game the most important of the season. That’s because Friday’s district matchup has big playoff implications.

The Cougars are unbeaten in District 4A-15 at 3-0. Gulf Coast and Lehigh are 2-1 in league play, so any slip by Barron would make it more difficult to claim an all-important playoff spot.

If Barron wins its next two games, it will win the 4A-15 title for the second year in a row. Last year the Cougars had to play in a three-way tiebreaker with Gulf Coast and Palmetto Ridge to win the championship. Ivey has no interest in doing that again this year.

“Unlike last year, we control our own destiny,” Ivey said. “We’ve still got a tough road to go, but we don’t have to hope for another team to beat someone else. We’ve got to take care of our business.”

GOLDEN GATE

Coach Dave Tanner was visibly more upbeat following the Titans’ 29-6 loss to Immokalee on Friday compared to his response to his team’s play throughout most of the season.

Several young players had strong showings in the game in spite of what the box score shows, and Tanner has taken note.

“Shawn Knowles and Kenneth Mouton played their best games of the season to date,” he said. “Peterson Janvier also played well on the defensive side of the ball.”

Even with just Naples and winless Estero left on Golden Gate’s schedule, the Titans aren’t out of contention for a runner-up slot in the district, although it seems unlikely with the success that Lely has had this season, but the focus isn’t on advancing after the regular season so much as it is just getting one win.

If Knowles, who has had strong performances in consecutive weeks, and Mouton, who threw for two touchdowns two weeks ago and ran for the Titans’ lone score against the Indians last week, continue to improve, scratching a notch in the win column seems more and more likely. GULF COAST With its big district win Friday over Lehigh, Gulf Coast now moves into second place in 4A-District 15, strengthening its playoff hopes.

“We cannot afford another loss,” Sharks coach Frank Tudryn said as his team prepares this week for Palmetto Ridge, another district matchup.

Tudryn handed out games honors from the Sharks 42-21 victory Friday.

Offense: Left tackle Danny Diaz. The 5-11, 185-pound senior took on the Lightning’s 6-4, 240-pound defensive lineman Archie Russ all game.

“(Russ) is big and fast, and a very good player and Danny shut him down,” Tudryn said. “He had the most difficult blocking assignment and was terrific.”

Other award winners were lineman Geoff Cuccuini on defense and sophomore running back Sebastian Zuluaga earned Tudryn’s “unsung hero” award.

LELY

The Trojans took care of business, downing Estero, 42-7 last Friday night. Now they have two weeks to prepare for Naples in the Class 3A-14 championship game on Nov. 7.

“The starters got their work in the first half and no one got hurt,” coach Steve Pricer said of the game.

Inside linebacker Neal Keaney was sidelined with a sprained pinkie on the right hand. He will be ready for Naples.

“The next two weeks gives us time to work on our game plan,” Pricer said. “We think that both teams are pretty equal. In the next two weeks we will work on the basics, where we think we are weak and work on our skills. It’s nice to be the home team.”

PALMETTO RIDGE

What’s the reward for a player having what his coach called “the best week of practice ever?” Well, if you’re Bears running back Torrey Campbell, it was 35 carries against Cypress Lake last Friday, three more than he had in his previous four games combined.

The sophomore went wild against the Panthers, rushing for 264 yards and three touchdowns.

“We challenged Torrey last week in practice,” said coach Tim Speakman. “We told him he’s one of the best athletes in the whole area in terms of speed and he needed to show it on the field.

“Torrey came out with all guns firing and hit the holes at full speed. He wants to cut everything back, but we told him most defenses can’t catch him if he uses his speed.”

Speakman said as long as Campbell continues to have outstanding practices, he will receive most of the workload in the backfield.