Wesley Chapel football headed in right direction

Posted Sep 15, 2010 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Sep 15, 2010 at 11:19 AM

From week-to-week high school football coaches understand they’re team can go from a product that needs plenty of work, to one they’d like to see on the field on a weekly basis.

Wesley Chapel appears to be headed in that direction.

After being embarrassed, 35-3, by Clearwater Central Catholic in Week1, the Wildcats returned the favor, mauling Hudson, 48-14.

What difference can seven days make?

“My running backs played hard, my offensive line played well, but the biggest thing for us in that game was the downfield blocking by the receivers,” Wesley Chapel coach Ben Alford said. “We had some big runs break and if we didn’t have that downfield blocking by our receivers, those runs … would have never happened.”

Those blocks by receivers were apparent on at least three Wildcats (1-1) scores. Each of Wesley Chapel’s seven touchdowns was scored on the ground, three of which came from 19, 31 and 72-yards out.

Their latest test comes Friday when they travel to Wesley Chapel’s newest public school – Wiregrass Ranch. The Bulls (1-1), which began varsity play in 2007, was served humble pie in their opener, like Wesley Chapel, losing to Sunlake, 43-6.

Following some tweaks on defense, Wiregrass made a major rebound last week against Zephyrhills, winning 22-6, despite a slow first-half start. They one again looked like the team that went 5-5 in 2009, falling a few points away from a playoff berth.

Wiregrass Jeremy Shobe admitted this team will take a new approach to this year’s contest. The Bulls entered the ’09 contest 2-0 and a bit overconfident and lost, 23-8. This time around, Shobe wants the rivalry talk to subside.

But considering what’s at stake – supremacy inside the borders of Wesley Chapel – that might be tough.

“There’s still a lot of trash talking going on,” Shobe said. “Last year we tried, ‘This is the biggest game of the year’ rivalry-type thing and it didn’t work, so I’m trying to take this different approach. Take the pressure off, relax, this is just another football game. Don’t worry about who it’s with.

“It’s sure going to be great to get a win, but in the same regards, this has no implications on our future or our playoff status or our district race. I’m trying a different angle because last year we definitely had the better, more talent team, but it didn’t work. So being in my second year, I’m trying a different route.”

Meanwhile, Alford’s quip may add a little something to that rivalry speak.

“We really have to be prepared this week because Wiregrass is considered the ‘Football Factory,’” Alford said, referring to Wiregrass Ranch’s moniker. “That means they produce great athletes, so we have to be prepared. We have to be ready to go Friday night.”