Sunlake at No. 15 Pasco

When: Friday, 7:30pm

Where: W.F. Edwards Stadium, Dade City

TV: BHSN Channel 47 and HD 1147

Live streaming: Log onto bhsnlive.com to watch the game online and on demand

Coaches: Pasco’s Tom McHugh is in his eighth season as the Pirates head coach; while Bill Browing enters his eighth campaign at Sunlake

How they match up: Pasco Pirates Football has traditionally set the standard in Pasco county. But last season, Sunlake snuck up on the Pirates with a 17-6 upset in the opening week. Seahawks head coach Bill Browning feels if his team can simply hang around on Friday night, there is a chance it could happen again.

The Seahawks do field arguably the top running back in the county in Nathan Johnson. Johnson is the returning Sunshine Conference Offensive Player of the Year as he rushed for 1504 yards and 16 TDs in 2013. His ability to run between the tackles and move the chains will be critical in this game. Quarterback Dayton Feiden returns for his senior year coming off a knee injury and will also need to make plays when they are there for the Sunlake to pull off the upset. And speaking of injuries, the Seahawks’ best offensive lineman Logan Berryman will not play Friday due to a bad ankle. It may be a key loss as Sunlake tries to establish the run.

Pasco’s program was stunned in the off-season when superstar Nate Craig transferred to Tampa Catholic. But head coach Tom McHugh feels the Pirates have plenty of weapons on their football ship. Senior Tyree Austin and Junior Isaac Johnson combined should make up for the loss.  On defense, Florida recruit Andrew Ivie could be the difference in this game as Sunlake doesn’t have anyone who can physically match up with him.  6-6 senior defensive end Bowman Archibald combined with the two Brandons-free safety Brandon Ray and veteran linebacker Brandon Debyah give McHugh possibly his best defensive unit in his era at Pasco.  

Stats to know:

1. Sunlake’s 17-6 win last season snapped Pasco’s 38-game regular season win streak.

2. Pasco is still the Dominant team in the county with 70 wins since McHugh took over in 2007, by far more than next best team Mitchell with 42.

3. Pasco leads this all-time series 4-1. Minus last year’s game, they have outscored the Seahawks 149-18.

4. As good as Johnson has been for Sunlake, he still has no firm college offers. That could change after Friday.