Chamberlain focused on ‘big challenge’ against TBT

Posted Sep 21, 2011 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Sep 21, 2011 at 04:14 PM

There’s something of a glimmer Chamberlain football coach Joe Severino can see off in the distance.

The end of the tunnel isn’t exactly near, but progress is being made in that direction. Sure, his Chiefs are 0-2 and the best team his squad has seen all season, Tampa Bay Tech, is headed to John Adcock Stadium Friday night for a district clash. But a win could have Chamberlain sitting pretty in the race for one of two Class 7A-District 7 playoff spots.

“This will be a good test this week because this will be the best team we’ve faced so far, I’m sure,” Severino said of the district opener. “We’re getting better. This would be a great time to break out with a ‘W.’”

One could say Chamberlain’s in the same boat as Freedom (0-3) and Wiregrass Ranch (0-3) and they have to take a seat behind Steinbrenner (2-1) and Gaither (1-2). Severino doesn’t believe so.

He has the likes of RB Xavier Johnson, who has 379 rushing yards and four scores in two games as well as talent on defense, which includes SS Carlin Scott (two blocked punts, two safeties and a sack).

“A lot of people picked differently for our district. I would have said Tech was definitely the favorite going in and they should be because of the past couple of years,” Severino said. “The key is, if we could pull the upset, you’d be in charge of the district.”

And if that first win doesn’t happen Friday night, well, he understands there are four more district games to be played.

“It’s not the end of the world, but it would be really good to be in charge of your district. Then they’d all be chasing you. … Don’t get me wrong, it’s a big challenge. There aren’t many people who think we can do it, but we do.”

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