Prep football: Lely, Gulf Coast attempt to go into playoffs with a win

NAPLES — High-flying offenses clash when Lely travels to Gulf Coast in each teams’ regular season finale tonight.

Each team begins playoff action next week, but neither coach is looking past a game that should see a lot of points on the scoreboard.

"Our defense is pretty confident, but frankly, I’ve got to believe that they are going to score points," Lely coach Steve Pricer said.

Gulf Coast coach Frank Tudryn agrees.

"Lely has a huge offensive front line and a great running back," he said. "They also have a quality quarterback that is as good as anyone."

Tudryn gives high marks to Lely speedster Darion Hall, who has 19 rushing and two receiving touchdowns, and quarterback Dennis Marcelin, who has thrown for 12 touchdowns and rushed for another nine.

But Pricer worries about Gulf Coast quarterback Jeff Schmidt and the Sharks' spread offense.

"I’m not sure we know how to stop him (Schmidt)," he said. "That is the beauty of their spread offense, because it is difficult to take anything, or everything away."

On paper, though it is Schmidt that Lely has to control. He has thrown for 2,053 yards, including 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also has rushed for 303 yards and 10 touchdowns.

His favorite receiver is Zac Rittberg, who has caught seven touchdown passes while amassing 748 yards in receptions.

Pricer remembers a year ago when a fade pass from Schmidt to Rittberg in the end zone was the winning touchdown in a 45-38 Gulf Coast victory. He wants to avenge the loss, as both teams seek momentum going into next week’s playoff games.

Gulf Coast will play at Miami-Washington, while Lely will travel to Fort Myers-Dunbar.

"We want to gain momentum going into our playoff game with Dunbar," Pricer said. "For me, I don’t know how in high school you can pull players and rest them. Every game is important."

"You don’t work as hard as we have all year to take a game off," Tudryn said. "Besides, the games are supposed to be the fun part. In my mind there is not one game that doesn’t count."