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Hawks Dethrone Panthers

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By ADAM ADKINS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

SEFFNER - No doubt Armwood is the best team in Hillsborough County. That much was decided Friday night.

The only question left unanswered is if Armwood is the state's best team in Class 4A, and the Hawks still have the chance to set the record straight on that.

Armwood bounced defending Class 4A state champion Plant from the playoffs with a dominating 36-7 regional final victory at Lyle Flagg Field to advance to the state semifinals for the fourth time in the past five seasons. The Hawks will line up against a very familiar opponent next Friday in Miami - Booker T. Washington, which defeated Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer 7-6 - for the right to play for the program's third state title.

"I'm ready for Miami," junior defense end Ryne Giddins said. "That's all I got to say."

There wasn't much for the Hawks (13-0) to say after Friday night's game. Their display on the field said it all.

The Armwood defense once again had all the answers for Plant's vaunted offense, making record-setting Plant quarterback Aaron Murray (10-for-34, 115 yards, three interceptions) look normal in the process. The Hawks defense forced six turnovers, sacked Murray six times, held the Panthers to 100 total yards and scored a touchdown.

"That's the best defense I've ever been associated with," Armwood offensive coordinator Chris Taylor said.

But the Armwood offense wasn't too shabby, either, getting a pair of touchdown runs from quarterback Mywan Jackson (15 carries, 115 yards) and another from backup Rob Jones on its way to racking up 268 rushing yards to make the defense's effort stand.

Everything started with a simple game plan from Armwood coach Sean Callahan, which the Hawks seemingly executed to perfection.

"Like I said during the week, we were going to make this a very physical game," Callahan said. "There's no question that was the difference."

The Hawks didn't waste time setting the tone against the Panthers (11-2). After forcing Plant to punt on its opening possession, Armwood went 60 yards in six plays, the bulk coming on Jackson's 42-yard touchdown run to give the Hawks a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

On Plant's ensuing possession, Murray was sacked on consecutive plays to start the drive, the last one on a blitz from defensive back Aaron Duncan, who dropped Murray in the end zone for a safety.

Plant went into the half down 22-0, but the second half started on a different note for the Panthers. Plant forced turnovers on Armwood's first two possessions of the half, and the offense capitalized on the second, with Murray darting in for a 25-yard touchdown run that cut the Panthers' deficit to 22-7.

However, Armwood answered back with a 68-yard touchdown run from Jones to push the lead to 29-7, and the defense forced turnovers on three consecutive possessions after that, the first two interceptions from linebacker Casey Callahan and defensive back Justin Williams and the last a fumble on a sack by Giddins, which was scooped up and returned 35 yards by linebacker Petey Smith.

"We just challenged our DBs to play their best game, because last year in the third round against Plant we got embarrassed," Petey Smith said. "I guess the DBs took it personal and stepped up and played their best game of the season."

A-Safety, Duncan sacked Murray in end zone

A-FG Skiffington 31

A-FG Skiffington 35

A-Jackson 38 run (Skiffington kick)

P-Murray 25 run (Rhodes kick)

A-Jones 68 run (Skiffington kick)

A-P. Smith 35 fumble return (Skiffington kick)

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 657-4533 or aadkins@tampatrib.com.

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