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Hernando Today

Sharks Creeping Closer To District Crown

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: October 24, 2008

It has almost become a foregone conclusion that Nature Coast Technical will claim its second Class 3A, District 6 crown in three seasons.

With all due respect to the district's other four teams (Citrus, Crystal River, Hernando and Lecanto) the undefeated Sharks look like the class of the entire area coming off last week's 41-14 drubbing of South Sumter.

Meanwhile, the rest of the district is a combined 7-18, with Citrus, Hernando and Lecanto all having won just one game apiece on the field.

Tonight Nature Coast (6-0 overall, 2-0 3A-6) travels to Citrus (1-5 overall, 1-0 3A-6) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, with at least an outside chance of officially clinching the 3A-6 title.

A win, combined with a Lecanto victory over Hernando, would seal the deal. In that case, the Sharks could finish no worse than 3-1 in the district.

Hernando and Lecanto would be eliminated with two losses apiece, while Crystal River and Citrus still have to play one another, assuring that at least one would finish with two district losses. Nature Coast would own the head-to-head tiebreaker having beaten both teams.

Of course, the Sharks could simply take care of business themselves by taking out Citrus today and Hernando next Friday, and that seems to be their focus.

"Going into the season, it was always our first goal to win the district," Nature Coast Head Coach Jamie Joyner said. "The only way to assure it is to beat Citrus (tonight) and Hernando next Friday night."

MOVING FORWARD

Though last Friday's triumph over state-ranked South Sumter didn't mean anything in terms of the district, it served to legitimize the Sharks' chances of making a postseason run.

"We don't want the South Sumter win to be the biggest one we have this year. We want to win a playoff game," Joyner said. "We knew we could play with them. We knew we could beat them. But it makes us feel like maybe we've arrived as a program."

Still, Joyner believes his team is ready to move forward against a Hurricane squad that only a few seasons ago owned the top spot in 3A-6.

Citrus averages 25.5 points per game, but yields 36.7 despite shutting out Lecanto last month. South Sumter particularly lit up the 'Cane defense in a 59-23 blowout.

Oft-injured former All-State running back Antoin Scriven again has struggled to stay healthy, as the senior has dealt with a bum ankle all season.

Prior to last week's 120-yard, two-touchdown performance versus Tavares, Scriven had just 125 yards and no scores in two games. In 2007 he ran for 1,429 yard and nine touchdowns.

According to Joyner, on film Scriven is still "the same type of back he's always been" and the Nature Coast coach refused to look past this once formidable district foe.

"We can't come out flat," Joyner said. "We've got to come out ready to play, especially playing at Citrus. They're going to bring their 'A' game. We've got to match their intensity."

As for his own All-State running back, Joyner said Tevin Drake is even healthier this week after returning from a one-game absence because of a chipped bone in his right thumb.

Even in a limited capacity, the junior run for 107 yards and two touchdowns versus South Sumter.

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

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