2011 High School Football Schedules Released

Earlier this week, the Florida High School Athletic Association released its master football schedule for the 2011 fall football season. Patch decided to take a look at its four teams in the Patch coverage area.

Canterbury

The Crusaders have a formidable schedule with few breaks in sight. The lone chance for Canterbury to make some headway would be in late September and early October. Calvary Christian is not bad but will have an easy schedule and high school football players with confidence can be a dangerous blend for an opponent.

Bradenton Christian is always good, Carrollwood Day has a certain assistant coach a few in the area may have heard of, some guy named Jon Gruden. Not too many teams can boast a coach who also coached an NFL team to a Super Bowl victory. A well-coached team, no matter the players, is very difficult to beat.

Then the three-game homestand ends with Indian Rocks Christian which is a good small school program.

If the Crusaders can win three of those four games, Canterbury should well be on its way to a playoff berth.

Canterbury

Sept. 2 Hernando Christian Academy

Sept. 7 at Cambridge Christian

Sept. 16 Admiral Farragut Academy

Sept. 23 at Calvary Christian

Sept. 30 Bradenton Christian

Oct. 7 Carrollwood Day

Oct. 14 Indian Rocks Christian

Oct. 28 at Keswick Christian

Nov. 4 at Northside Christian

Nov. 11 Mount Dora Bible School

Northeast 

Northeast is in the midst of searching for a new coach after Jay Austin's contract was not picked up renewed. Whoever gets the job has one heck of a task with the Vikings his first year.

Northeast has a five-game stretch that is likely as tough as any school in Pinellas County. Boca Ciega is always a dangerous team. St. Petersburg is a powerhouse that plays a bruising style of football.

Then the Vikings host Tarpon Springs which had a very are losing record last season.

After the Vikings play the Spongers, Northeast has a nasty one-two punch to deal with in Countryside, which lost just once last year, to eventual state champion Plant in the region final, and then Pinellas Park which has some good talent on the roster.

The early and late weeks of the season should not be problematic for Northeast. If the Vikings can come out of the aforementioned five-game stretch with a winning record, the Vikings have a shot at the playoffs.

Northeast

Sept. 2 Dixie M. Hollins

Sept. 9 Anclote

Sept. 16 at Boca Ciega

Sept. 23 at Saint Petersburg

Sept. 30 Tarpon Springs

Oct. 6 Countryside

Oct. 21 at Pinellas Park

Oct. 28 Seminole

Nov. 4 Clearwater

Nov. 11 at Osceola

St. Petersburg

Last year the Green Devils tore through the regular season unscathed. This year St. Petersburg has an outside shot of matching that feat.

Of the teams on this season's schedule, only three teams posted winning records in 2010. All three of those teams the Green Devils play in the final three weeks of the season, Clearwater, Countryside and Lakewood.

It is not out of the realm of possibility that the Green Devils could be 7-0 by the time St. Petersburg travels to Clearwater and a playoff game will all but be secured.

Of the three final games, the final two weeks will be the toughest. Countryside is loaded again and like St. Petersburg, the Cougars last season were undefeated in the regular season. With University of Miami-bound Gray Crow calling signals for the Cougars, that will be a tough task.

The following week will be a trap game for the Green Devils. Lakewood is always solid and St. Petersburg will likely either be celebrating a monster win over Countryside or have spent most of its energy concentrating on beating Countryside.

St. Petersburg

Sept. 2 at Gibbs

Sept. 9 Palm Harbor

Sept. 16 at Osceola

Sept. 23 Northeast

Sept. 30 Boca Ciega

Oct. 6 at Pinellas Park

Oct. 21 Seminole

Oct. 28 at Clearwater

Nov. 4 at Countryside

Nov. 11 Lakewood High School

Shorecrest Prep

Last year was a very rare year for long-time Chargers coach Phil Hayford. Shorecrest was only able to rack up one win all season.

This year won't be much easier as the Chargers have a loaded schedule. Like the Chargers, Shorecrest's opening week opponent, Northside Christian had an awful year. After that game, the season begins a steep uphill climb for Shorecrest.

A five-game stretch beginning Sept. 9 will determine just how good the Chargers are. For Shorecrest to sniff the playoffs, the Chargers will have to have three wins in those five weeks and it will not be a simple task.

Shorecrest Prep

Sept. 2 Northside Christian

Sept. 9 Admiral Farragut

Sept. 16 at Calvary Christian

Sept. 23 at Carrollwood Day

Sept. 30 Bradenton Saint Stephen's

Oct. 14 at Seffner Christian

Oct. 21 at Bishop McLaughlin

Oct. 28 Lakeland Christian

Nov. 4 Landmark Christian

Nov. 11 at Keswick Christian