Tonight's third-ever meeting between Marion County's Belleview Diamondback Rattlers (0-2) and Springstead, at 7:30 p.m. at Booster Stadium, offers two teams with similar results over the past four-plus years.
To that end over the past 44 games, Class 4A-6 Belleview has rolled up a 28-16 won-lost slate.
During the same period, the 4A-8 Eagles are a shade behind at 27-17 overall, but own both series victories (43-32 in 2004; 42-26 in 2007) at Marion County's Strike Zone Stadium.
Fifth-year Belleview Head Coach Mike Bowe has guided his team to a pair of playoff appearances during that stretch - same as Springstead's skipper Bill Vonada.
BHS: OLD-SCHOOL ATTACK
Offensively, the Rattlers' old school, single-wing attack that preys on misdirection and execution has averaged a glossy 30.3 points per game over the past four years.
This year, however, it's different. Belleview's 40-man roster featuring 18 seniors, has struggled averaging 6.5 ppg. One reason might be all the new faces. BHS returns one starter to that unit from last fall, 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior tight end Alex DeLeon, who caught a touchdown pass against Springstead in 2007.
Defensively from 2004-07, the Rattlers permitted 20.3 points per game. But through two games this year, Belleview (which has three starters back) has been torched, mostly done in by its own mistakes.
In week one, Eustis prevailed in Lake County thanks to Belleview's five turnovers, 33-13.
Last Friday at The Strike Zone, archrival North Marion crushed Belleview behind four more turnovers, 54-0. The shutout was Belleview's first in almost six years - spanning 58 games.
According to Coach Bowe his current team "is the youngest he's seen in 15 years."
Compounding matters, Belleview's lone expected returning offensive lineman - senior Tyler Bearce - suffered a meniscus tear and an ACL injury last week against North Marion so he's done for the season. And this week in practice, punter/placekicker/defensive end Brandon Taylor rolled an ankle. According to Bowe, "He's (Taylor) a game-time decision."
If that wasn't enough, Belleview's special teams have had punts blocked in their first two games and Taylor may not play.
Against that backdrop, BHS ventures into Hernando County attempting to reverse this decade's longest drought - a five-game losing skid dating back to the final three games in 2007. Belleview clearly understands it wants to reverse its fortunes prior to next week's initial district game against nemesis Ocala-Vanguard.
What does Belleview expect from Springstead?
"They are very disciplined at what they do," replied Bowe. "I think they do a lot of things well. They're not real fancy. What they do best is their coaches make great adjustments. In the two losses to them, we turned the ball over quite a bit, but they haven't punted much against us.
"They're actually very similar to us," added Bowe. "On paper, you don't see the greatest athletes on the field but collectively they do a heck of a job and they don't make mistakes. Unfortunately, they made a mistake last week at the 1-yard line and it cost them. They'll run a diversified offense and they'll pick you apart on defense."
SIMMERING SPRINGSTEAD
Meanwhile on the Mariner Boulevard campus, Springstead has not been in a festive mood since dropping a last-minute 20-15 decision at Nature Coast.
Typically, after an emotional loss to a rival opponent, it's hard to get up emotionally for back-to-back games.
And imagine looming on the horizon is defending 4A-8 champion Land O'Lakes. The same Gators who have made the state playoffs 11 years in a row.
But no one in the Eagle locker room is discussing the monster Sept. 26 game at "The Swamp."
"We're not worrying about anyone else except Belleview," said Vonada, who is 49-54 lifetime and 2-0 against the Marion County squad. "Belleview runs the single wing and it's a very difficult offense to get ready for because you don't see it that much. It involves a lot of power football and misdirection.
"We had some success with our veer option in the past and we had some success throwing the ball last year (James Mahla with two touchdowns). We had some receivers get loose last year," added Vonada. "But we're gonna have to pick up the slack on the option side.
"Looking at the tape, they've struggled a little bit in the kicking game," pointed out Vonada on Belleview's special teams. "They've had some blocked kicks and other situations where they gave up a kickoff return. It's one of those cases where it's a younger team trying to find itself and another team is taking advantage."
How hungry will the teams be?
"I don't think anyone would be real happy after a game like that (54-0 against North Marion)," described Vonada. "Nobody wants to start out 0-2. One of the keys is how hungry will we be? Great thing I like is the guys are in tune with playing one game at a time. This is the only game we're focused in on.
"Certainly, we didn't get the result we wanted last week," added Vonada. "Our guys know we played pretty well, played hard, and we've still got a little room for improvement. I think we want to show what type of team we are. I think our guys will come out fired up."
ON RADIO
WWJB (AM) 1450 will be carrying the game "LIVE" on its "Game of the Week" format beginning with the pre-game show at 7 p.m. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
By the Numbers: Belleview vs. Springstead
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO
Eagles lead series 2-0-0
Year Site Result
2004 Away W 43-32
2007 Away W 42-26
2008 WWJB (AM) 1450 "Game of the Week" Prep Football Schedule
Play-by-Play Announcer: Tony Castro
Color Commentators: Steve Imhoff, Carlos Castro
DATE OPPONENTS KICKOFF/RESULT
09-05 Central @ Hernando HER W 16-7
09-12 Springstead @ Nature Coast NCT W 20-15
09-19 Belleview @ Springstead 7:30 p.m.
09-26 Ridgewood @ Springstead 7:30 p.m.
10-03 Lecanto @ Central 7:30 p.m.
10-10 Central @ Springstead 7:30 p.m.
10-16 Hernando @ Springstead 7:30 p.m.
10-24 Land O'Lakes @ Central 7:30 p.m.
10-31 Hernando @ Nature Coast 7:30 p.m.
11-07 Citrus @ Hernando 7:30 p.m.
11-14 Nature Coast @ Central 7:30 p.m.
11-21 1st Round FHSAA State Playoffs 7:30 p.m.
NOTE: Schedule is subject to change.
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