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Hernando Today

Eustis: A Great Test

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

NCT junior quarterback C.J. Baker and back-up, senior Michael Fields, have never thrown a pass in varsity competition heading into the Kickoff Classic against Eustis.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: August 29, 2008

Updated:

Nature Coast Technical enters the 2008 season seeking its third straight regional playoff berth. Yet the Sharks have some critical question marks in need of answers.

Tonight Nature Coast (7-4 in 2007) hosts Eustis (9-3 in 2007) at 7:30 p.m. at Shark Tank Stadium, in a preseason battle of two Class 3A playoff teams from last season, hoping to solve some of those queries.

"We're looking forward to that game," Nature Coast Head Coach Jamie Joyner said. "We're going through the grind right now before the season starts. We're ready to suit up and play somebody else. We're anxious to test ourselves against a great team in Eustis.

"What we try to do with our current schedule is test ourselves. We play Dunnellon, Pasco, South Sumter. We don't want to just get to the playoffs; we want to make a statement."

Inexperience on offense

Joyner indicated that All-State junior running back Tevin Drake probably won't see a ton of carries in this one, since the coaching staff knows exactly what he can do.

For the rest of the offense, this dress rehearsal has greater meaning. The Sharks' top two quarterbacks, C.J. Baker and Michael Fields; have never officially thrown a varsity pass.

The junior Baker does have junior varsity experience, and is being counted on to take over the starting position.

The senior Fields, however, has no prep experience under center. An All-State defensive back and the team's leading receiver, Fields will take the snaps tonight when the second team takes over in the third quarter.

"It'll be a great opportunity for him to get some live snaps, snaps in a game, get a little something under his belt," Joyner said.

Essentially Nature Coast also has an entirely new offensive line to break in, though right guard Chad Dampier did get a handful of starts in 2007 and right tackle Cory Emerson has significant varsity experience at Hernando High.

But the perhaps the greatest concern the Sharks will attempt to address tonight is at place kicker. Nick Allegra recently moved away, leaving the team in a scramble to find a replacement.

Sophomore Matt Montano has been called up from the junior varsity, though Joyner said he did not attempt a kick last year.

"We feel good enough about where we're at," Joyner said. "Offensively we're trying to work some things out. Defensively we know we'll play well on that side of the ball.

"Our biggest question mark is the kicking game, specifically place kicker. Hopefully we'll get in the end zone and find out what Matthew has been working on everyday in practice."

As for Eustis, Joyner compared the Panthers to the North Marion team that defeated Nature Coast in the regional quarterfinals en route to a state semifinal appearance.

"They're disciplined, they play sound football. They're going to be a good test," Joyner said. "We want people to know who Nature Coast is. We want to go in there and hopefully play Nature Coast football and leave an impression on them as well.

"...For us this year, one of our focuses is 48 minutes, we want to play a full game at full effort. We want to be physical as an offense, as a defense, on special teams. We want to go 100 percent whistle-to-whistle."

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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