Largo High Hoops Team Advances to 6A Regional Finals

The boys basketball squad defeated Sickles, 54-51, Tuesday night to earn a date at Winter Haven on Saturday.

When you think Largo Packers athletics, football is normally the first thing that comes to mind. But this year the boys basketball program is making some noise in the county as well. The Packers hoops team defeated Sickles, 54-51, in the Class 6A regional semifinals at home on Tuesday night; they will now travel to Winter Haven for the 6A regional final game Saturday night at 7 p.m. According to the Tampa Bay Times, sophomore Donovan Hale, son of former Largo and Florida State standout Ron Hale, led the Packers with 27 points, including six three-pointers. Hale hit two threes and four free throws in the final two minutes to help seal the victory for Largo. If Largo were to beat Winter Haven on Saturday night, it would advance to the FHSAA …

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Photos: Share Your Largo Packers Playoff Football Photos

Largo suffers disappointing 10-6 loss to defending state champion Armwood.

The Largo Packers' fantastic 2012 season came to a sudden, stunning conclusion Friday night, as the team that went 10-0 in the regular season could not overcome a spate of turnovers in a disappointing 10-6 loss to defending state champion Armwood. Packer quarterback Juwan Brown, who hadn't thrown an interception all season, tossed five balls to Hawks defenders, and Largo couldn't overcome its seven turnovers despite limiting Armwood, and star quarterback Alvin Bailey, to just 10 points. It was a star-studded night both on and off the field at the Missouri Avenue campus. Former Packer and current Tampa Bay Buc Leonard Johnson was on the sidelines cheering his team on, scouts were on hand to watch the University of Florida-bound Bailey, and …

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Student Spotlight

Largo Running Back Jarvis Stewart Runs Into The Spotlight

Jarvis Stewart, largo High School sophomore standout, is ready for another big season in 2011.

Congrats to Jarvis Stewart Largo Patch's Student of the Week! Name: Jarvis Stewart School: Largo High School Key To Awesomeness: Largo Packer's running back Jarvis Stewart wasn’t supposed to have the season he had in 2010. The then-freshman was slated to back up star running back Derrick Doss, while getting his feet wet in the Packers’ ground-based attack. But an injury to Doss in the fifth game of the season thrusted Stewart into the starting spot, and the 5-foot-10-inch dynamo took the role and ran with it. He compiled 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in just six games. During the May 27th Spring Classic game against rival Clearwater, which Largo won, 35-12, Stewart again was the primary ball carrier with Doss still sidelined with a knee…

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Largo Dominates Clearwater in Annual Spring Classic, 35-12

Largo Packers running back Jarvis Stewart totals over 150 yards while backup Harry Brown scores three touchdowns in the romp

The Largo Packers and Clearwater Tornadoes are both coming off of stellar seasons in 2010 and have high expectations for the upcoming fall season. But on Friday night at Tornadoes Field, one team looked much closer to repeating their recent success than the other. Largo dominated a young Clearwater team in their annual Spring Classic, leading 14-0 at halftime before scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter in route to a 35-12 victory. Sophomore running back Jarvis Stewart, who had over 1,100 yards rushing as a freshman while backing up primary ball carrier Derrick Doss, picked right up where he left off in 2010, racking up 77 yards in the first half and then adding a 61-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter. “He (Stewart) is on …

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NFL Star Dexter McCluster Gives Back To Youth In Free Football Clinic

The Kansas City Chiefs player and former Largo Packer hosted a free football clinic at the Ridgecrest YMCA last Saturday.

Everywhere former Largo High School standout Dexter McCluster, star running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, went on Saturday, a crowd of kids was sure to follow.  After spending some time with the diminutive dynamo, it quickly becomes apparent that McCluster’s easygoing nature and down-to-earth attitude make him naturally accessible to kids and adults alike. McCluster, an undersized (5'8") player who went on to star at Mississippi before being drafted by the Chiefs in 2010, brought his humble personality and dazzling football talents back to where it all began.  He hosted the Dexter McCluster Youth Football Clinic , a free event for children ages eight to 17 that took place on April 23 at the Ridgecrest YMCA in Largo. “It started here in …

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Aiyana Baida

3:29 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Point taken, thanks for your feedback Joe.   more ›

Largo Girls Softball Team Put Up a Fight But Lost to Pinellas Park, 12-3

Largo High School Packers finish their season with a tough loss against the playoff-bound Patriots.

The Largo Packers girls softball team had a tough season. Inexperienced players and mistake-proned performances helped contribute to its 2-14 record. Those factors came into play again one last time on Wednesday night, as the Packers fell, 12-3, in the 5A District 12 semifinal game against Pinellas Park. The powerful Patriots lineup amassed 14 hits and were given numerous other base runners, thanks to a half dozen Packer errors. Although Largo was able to score three times in the fourth inning against Patriots starter McKenzie Campbell to trim the deficit to 10-3, the offense was unable to muster any consistent threat with just nine base runners all night. Despite all the tribulations, Largo coach Shelley Annable is proud of the way her …

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Largo High School Now Among State Wrestling Elite

The Packers wrestling program finished sixth in the state, the best showing the school has ever had.

Few schools in Florida are known as wrestling school.  But Jeremy Frioud, Largo High School wrestling coach, may be changing that. Frioud and his team made history when the Packers finished sixth in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 2A state tournament. "I can't explain," Frioud said, at a loss for words at how happy he was for his wrestlers. "This is why we coach for peanuts. I'm still so happy. This is what it is all about." When thinking of wrestling, schools such as Brandon and Countryside and Springstead spring to mind. Now, Largo could be among that group. The surprise of the tournament may have been the play of Chris Johnson. Not expected to contend for a state title, Johnson nearly pulled it off in the 152-…

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Congratulations to Our Patch Athlete of the Week

Largo High School wrestler Cody McKinnon is this week's Patch Athlete of the Week.

Favorite sport outside of wrestling? Football. Favorite pro team? Bucs. Favorite college team? Gators What's on your bookmarks? Facebook and YouTube and wrestling websites. What's on your iPod? Reggae, rap, pretty much a little bit of everything.  Blackberry, Droid or iPhone? iPhone. Macs or PCs? Macs. Favorite hobbies? Going to the beach. Last cool movie you saw? "The Town." Favorite TV show? Man vs. Food. Name five people you would like to hang at the beach with? Jesus, Adam Richman, Jaida Lee my girlfriend, my big brother Danny and my dad Mark. 

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Largo Wrestlers Given "Nasty" Sendoff to Region Tournament

Professional wrestler and local resident Brian Knobbs, part of the "Nasty Boys" wrestling tag team, delivered a stirring motivational speech to the Largo High School wrestling team this week.

When the Largo Packers finished their final practice this week, before bussing all 14 of their region qualifiers to Port Charlotte for the Class 2A region tournament, a surprise guest wandered into the school's wrestling room. Professional wrestler and local resident "Nasty Boy" Brian Knobbs came in to speak with the wrestlers and give them a rousing sendoff for their trek south and perhaps, a record-setting weekend. Knobbs, an acquaintance of Largo wrestling coach Jeremy Frioud, was invited to speak with the team this week.  He made his visit memorable. Combining fire and brimstone with personal testimony, Knobbs told the team that they should always believe in themselves and forget what others think of them. That through hard work and …

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