Friday, October 2, 2009

KEY WEST -- One of the biggest goals for the Key West High football team coming into this season was to finally return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2004.

The Conchs, 3-0 for the first time in 20 years, will get one final chance to tune up tonight against visiting Solid Rock Christian before getting the opportunity to chase that goal when they open District 16-3A play next week at home against Booker T. Washington, the second-ranked 3A team in the state.

"The preseason's over," Key West coach Jerry Hughes said. "We've got to get ready for the regular season now."

That was the theme at practice this week for Key West, which is coming off an emotional 17-10 win over county rival Marathon. Despite picking up the victory, Hughes and the Conchs saw plenty of areas in which they need to improve going forward, particularly when it comes to taking advantage of scoring opportunities. Key West turned the ball over twice last week in Dolphins' territory, including once in the red zone in the final two minutes.

"We told them that we need to polish up and take advantage of every opportunity that we can, which we didn't do against Marathon, to get ready for district play," Hughes said, noting that three teams in the Conchs' district -- Key West, Booker T. Washington and Miami Jackson -- are all undefeated. "I think we have the toughest 3A district in the state. We have to start polishing up and we can't make these mistakes."

The miscues inside the 20 -- a problem the Conchs have dealt with all season -- were especially frustrating for the coach.

"When we're inside the red zone, we've got to come away with at least three points," Hughes said. "We don't have that powerful an offense to where we can sacrifice and give points away. We've got to come up with points when they're there for the getting to be in ballgames, especially when we get in district play."

The Conchs got some bad news Wednesday when starting H-Back and cornerback Clinton McCoy was advised by his doctors to shut down for the remainder of the season. McCoy, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last October, had played in each of the Conchs' regular season games this year, with a 45-yard touchdown reception in the opener and a pair of interceptions on defense.

"That doesn't help our depth problem," Hughes said. "That's like losing two guys -- two starters. That hurts."

Also out for tonight's game are center Frankie Grizzle-Malgrat (pulled groin) and tailback Michel Sohi (turf toe). Hughes said both could be back for next week's district opener against the Tornadoes.

With McCoy out, Key West will move Jycorae Mason, who is a strong blocker in the backfield, from tight end to H-Back. Phillip Young and Clive Georges will line up out wide, with quarterback Stephen Jones and tailback Andre Drew starting in the offensive backfield.

Defensively, the Conchs will look to continue their aggressive ball-hawking play. So far, they have forced 11 turnovers in their three regular-season games.

Solid Rock (0-3), a first-year program, is an FHSAA-approved independent that doesn't play a district schedule and should be accustomed by now to playing on the road. The Eagles, whose campus is in south Miami, opened the season in Valdosta, Ga., and are coming off a 35-0 loss to University Christian School in Jacksonville. Following tonight's game, the team will travel to Tampa.

Solid Rock primarily runs its offense out of a Power-I formation, and uses 3-4 and 4-4 defensive sets.

"Seeing them on film, they've got a lot of team speed," Hughes said. "They've also got some big guys, and a lot of guys who go both ways. I like the talent they have."

Hughes said he doesn't anticipate a letdown tonight following last week's rivalry win at Marathon.

"It was a great win for us, but I don't try to get so high on it because we were expected to beat them," Hughes said. "It's just like with Solid Rock, we're a bigger school so we're expected to beat them. We're expected to beat smaller schools. That's my philosophy."

As for tonight, the coach made it clear what he will be expecting.

"We better look sharp," Hughes said. "And I mean sharp: No penalties, and we better score when the opportunity is there to score."

wjacobson@keysnews.com