Bottom Bowl: Central at Lecanto

For every plummet, there's always a bottom.
In prep football it's called the basement. It's a metaphor for last place.
Since 1984, one North Suncoast team, Lecanto High, has been synonymous for the lack of on-field success.
To emphasize the point, the Panthers have had two non-losing seasons since the doors opened in 1984.
In 1987, under Gary Hughes, LHS finished 5-5 and in 2001 under Richard "Dick" Slack, the Citrus County crew finished 6-4.
In 1999, when LHS reached the state playoffs for the first and last time, it finished 5-6 overall.
The Panthers' seventh coach, third-year skipper Ron Allan, comes into tonight's 19th meeting against visiting Central High with a collective 1-26 won-lost mark. Allan is 0-2 against Central.
LHS goes into the tilt losers of 16 straight -- or since Sept. 5, 2008's 26-6 win over Umatilla.
More importantly, Lecanto (0-7 overall, 0-3 4A-5) is winless against district teams since Sept. 30, 2005's 29-25 win over another Brooksville team, Nature Coast Technical.
The Panthers are averaging 17.1 points per game (ppg) as quarterback Addison Holstein has thrown for 479 yards while completing 37-of-109 passes for three touchdowns against seven interceptions.
Holstein is a solid double threat with a team-best 452 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while Andrew Williams has rushed for 345 yards and scored three TDs.
While the offense has been able to score, the LHS defense has been sieve like. It has permitted an average of 46.4 ppg.
How pivotal is snapping the district drought?
"No doubt we want a district win," explained Coach Allan. "We don't want to finish in the basement. We're hoping to take care of some of the mistakes we've made."

Central 101

Central High has its own problems.
The Bears also come in winless at 0-7 overall, 0-3 in 4A-5.
The Brooksville squad is on its fourth quarterback, senior wide receiver-turned-QB Joe Farace. Farace would like to forget his varsity debut under center. He rushed four times for minus-24 yards. He also fumbled the center snap exchange four times with new center Clifton Davis last Friday. He did complete his only attempted pass for minus-5 yards.
With less than 30 players, health has been a concern. The Bears appear like a M*A*S*H unit. Its three best players, starting senior quarterback Artie Gartner (knee), senior RB/WR/QB Steven Read (knee) and senior WR/DB/PT Nick Rosario (shoulder) will not be suiting up tonight.
Though the Bears have solved LHS 14 times, including three in a row, this year's team has struggled mightily.
On offense, CHS comes in averaging 6.14 points per game and has been shutout a school-record four times. Following last Friday's 70-0 whitewash to eighth-ranked Gainesville, this team has been blanked more than Central's 1989 (first-ever team) and 1993 teams, who each suffered three shutouts.
On defense, CHS' lack of depth has surfaced as the Bears have permitted 43 points per game and 43 touchdowns.
Despite all the shortcomings, fourth-year CHS Head Coach Cliff Lohrey is not making excuses.
"Injuries are part of the game," emphasized Coach Lohrey. "Our job is to have more depth. I don't dwell on injuries or excuses. We do our best to create depth."
How tough will Lecanto be?
"Lecanto will be ready to play," declared Coach Lohrey. "They've got a great set of skill guys on offense. Their quarterback is one of the top six quarterbacks in the area and he's not their only weapon. But he makes them tick."

By the Numbers:
Central vs. Lecanto Series
Bears lead 14-4-0
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO

YEAR SITE RESULT
1991 Home+W 51-9
1992 Away W 36-6
1993 Away W 18-14
1994 Home W 24-19
1995 Away W 28-14
1996 Home W 29-27
1997 Away W 7-6
1998 Home W 34-2
1999 Away L 9-20
2000 Home W 46-0
2001 Home L 13-26
2002 Away L 16-28
2003 Home W 49-6
2004 Away W 21-8
2005 Away L 11-16
2006 Home W 48-17
2007 Away W 41-7
2008 Home W 46-8
+ Denotes played @ Springstead