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Prep football: Gulf Coast trying to stay on track for playoffs at Palmetto Ridge tonight
GULF COAST (5-2, 2-1 4A-15) at PALMETTO RIDGE (1-6, 0-3 4A-15), 7:30 p.m.
Key players: Gulf Coast -- QB Jeff Schmidt, WR Zac Rittberg, RB Sebastian Zuluaga, DE Randy Clark, LB Paul Dunbar; Palmetto Ridge -- QB Mike Pinter, RB Torrey Campbell, WR Sean Smikle.
Watch to watch for: Gulf Coast coach Frank Tudryn and his Sharks are not taking Tim Speakman’s Bears lightly. Tudryn knows Palmetto’s offense can generate some major sparks with the likes of running back Torrey Campbell and 6-foot-5 receiver Sean Smikle. Gulf Coast has every reason to be motivated, for if the Sharks want to remain alive in the district chase and advance to the playoffs, they must win their two remaining district games. A win tonight will set up a showdown with Cypress Lake at Gulf Coast on Nov. 7. Gulf Coast and Lehigh are both 2-1 in the district right now. Barron Collier (3-0 in the district) is in the driver’s seat, hosting Cypress Lake tonight and Lehigh on Nov. 7.
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NAPLES — The shoe is definitely on the other foot tonight when Palmetto Ridge hosts Gulf Coast in a Class 4A-District 15 football game.
Last year in a three-way district tie-breaker, it was Frank Tudryn’s Gulf Coast Sharks that spoiled the playoff hopes of Tim Speakman’s Palmetto Ridge Bears.
Tonight, the Bears have an opportunity to play the spoiler role. They haven’t won a district game yet this season, while Gulf Coast needs to triumph to keep its playoff hopes alive.
“To make the playoffs, we must win the last two district games,” said Tudryn. His Sharks will host Cypress Lake on Nov. 7.
It hasn’t been a typical Palmetto Ridge-type year for the Bears, whose lone victory came against yet-to-win Golden Gate back in the season opener in early September. Palmetto is trying to shake off a six-game drought tonight against the Sharks.
Gulf Coast will be led by quarterback Jeff Schmidt, who has thrown for 1,488 yards this season, completing 107 of his 181 attempts and throwing for 11 touchdowns. He has been picked off eight times, however.
His counterpart for Palmetto Ridge will be Mike Pinter, whose favorite target is tall wideout Sean Smikle. The lanky Smikle has 26 receptions for 571 yards and has caught nine TD balls.
While holding down its opponents has been an issue for Palmetto, the Bears’ offense came alive last week despite a 51-34 loss to Cypress Lake.
The game featured the emergence of running back Torrey Campbell, who rambled for 264 yards on 35 carries and scored three TDs against the Panthers. Pinter threw for 203 yards in the game, hitting nine of his 15 attempts.
“They have an explosive offense with a 6-foot-5 receiver and a very fast running back,” Tudryn warned.
Gulf Coast’s ground game is led by Sebastian Zuluaga. He has 467 yards rushing this year on 89 carries and has scored four touchdowns.
At 3-0 in the district, Barron Collier appears to be in the driver’s seat, hosting Cypress Lake tonight and Lehigh on Nov. 7. Gulf Coast can ill afford a second district loss.
“We must be disciplined and we must execute,” Tudryn said.
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