TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Armwood Cruises, But Loses Another Player

ADVERTISEMENT

By ADAM ADKINS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 22, 2007

SEFFNER - A familiar theme has developed for the Armwood Hawks, and it's one that - for now - Coach Sean Callahan will take.

Armwood's defense again played stellar, and again the Hawks came away with a win. But again, another Hawks player suffered an injury in a 42-3 Armwood victory against Newsome on Friday night at Lyle Flagg Field.

Senior running back Eric Smith rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns, and junior quarterback Mywan Jackson accounted for 230 yards of total offense and three more scores, but the most eye-popping occurrence was senior two-way lineman Matt Patchan leaving in the first half with a right shoulder injury, one that prevented the highly touted prospect from returning to the game.

Patchan said he will have the shoulder examined today to determine the extent of the injury. He was unsure of whether or not he would be able to play next Friday night at Jefferson.

'How 'bout it?,' Callahan said of the theme. 'We're getting used to it, though, so we're getting pretty good at it.

'What are you going to do? You can't fuss and cry about it, so you've just got to deal with it. In the end we're going to be a good football team because of it.'

The Hawks (4-0) looked pretty good in ending Newsome's nine-game regular-season winning streak that dated to last season. And, as usual, it was the defense that led the way.

Newsome's offense never could get untracked, despite Armwood's defense missing three starters, including standout linebacker Petey Smith. The Wolves' (3-1) best possession was their third of the night, when kicker Vinny Zaccario capped a seven-play, 26-yard drive with a 47-yard field goal that cut Armwood's lead to 7-3. After that, nothing materialized.

The Wolves crossed midfield just once in its final eight possessions, managing only two first downs during that stretch. Leading rusher Conner Powers was held to 39 yards rushing on 14 carries, and quarterback Kyle Parker was held to four of 13 passing for 33 yards and an interception.

Meanwhile, Armwood finally picked up steam late in the second half and turned the game into a blowout with a 21-point fourth quarter. Eric Smith started things, taking a handoff on the first play of the quarter and scampering 39 yards for a score.

Then, Jackson put the finishing touches on his performance, tossing touchdown passes to cap the Hawks' final two drives - the first a 40-yarder to Eric Gonzalez, and the second a 6-yarder to Dykerius Cross.

'We always close the door in the second half,' Eric Smith said 'The first half we always come out a little bit slow or whatever. Eventually, though, everything gets rolling.'

N-FG Zaccario 47

A-E. Smith 6 run (Skiffington kick)

A-M. Jackson 19 run (Skiffington kick)

A-E. Smith 39 run (Skiffington kick)

A-E. Gonzalez 40 pass from M. Jackson (Williams kick)

A-D. Cross 6 pass from M. Jackson (Williams kick)

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT