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Tribune Preseason Top 10
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Published: August 24, 2008
This is the Tribune's countdown of the top-10 Hillsborough County football teams. The rankings were compiled in a vote by the Tribune's four staffers who cover high school football and News Channel 8's Dan Lucas.
No. 1 Armwood
No. 1 Hawks Welcome Prestige, Will Avoid Preseason Hype
By ADAM ADKINS
Armwood coach Sean Callahan insists the greatest pressure on his team comes from what the Hawks put on themselves. That may be true, but the Hawks certainly have a few additional contributing factors to add to that this season.
Preseason hype tends to do as much, and the Hawks - The Tampa Tribune's No. 1 team - have certainly garnered their fair share. Several preseason national polls included the 2008 Hawks, including Rivals.com, which listed Armwood at No. 2; and USA Today, which listed Armwood at No. 8. But the prestige that comes with the pressure is worth it.
"We want to be recognized as that," Callahan said, "so we welcome it."
On paper, the recognition is well-deserved. Armwood returns substantial talent on both sides of the ball from last year's state semifinal squad. Among the key seniors returning are defensive lineman Ryne Giddins, linebacker Petey Smith, linebacker Casey Callahan, safety Angelo Hadley, quarterback Mywan Jackson and offensive tackle Justin Cabbagestalk, each of whom are considered among the area's best at their respective positions.
While the rankings may be nice, the only thing that will satisfy the Hawks is hoisting a trophy above their heads in Orlando on Dec. 20, the date of the Class 4A state championship. It's a scene that has eluded the program since winning consecutive state titles in 2003-04.
The Hawks know if that goal is to be accomplished, they'll have to put all the hype on the back burner and concentrate solely at the task at hand.
"We've just got to take slow," Giddins said. "Like when you start out in preschool. Start out with your ABCs and your 123s. We've got to come out real slow with it and just continue to bust our butts at the snap of the ball."
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Friday at Lake Gibson
SEASON OPENER: Sept. 5 at Plant
No. 2 Plant
No. 2 Plant Looking For Edge To Regain Championship
By KATHERINE SMITH
Most teams finishing a season with an 11-2 record would be ecstatic. Not Plant.
That's what happens to a football program after it wins a state title. Expectations become more than putting up a good record.
The Panthers followed up their 2006 Class 4A state title with a two-loss season - both to Armwood. Plant's 2007 season opened and closed with losses to the Hawks.
They open the regular season again with Armwood, and if things play out like they did last year, the two will meet in the regional finals again with a shot at a state championship on the line.
"In 2006 the players really realized they were more than the sum of their parts," Coach Robert Weiner said. "But the kids came together to create the dynamic that one plus one did not equal two, it equaled something much greater than that. We truly believe in that at Plant High School, and we think that's what can take us to the promised land again.
"We feel like we have a talented team, talented enough to compete with anybody, and you have to have that first; but you've got to find that thing that's going to take you over the top."
Plant, the three-time defending Class 4A-District 10 champion, returns only three starters on offense and three on defense, but the ones returning were major contributors last season - none more so than quarterback Aaron Murray. Murray set a state record with 51 passing touchdowns. He also led the state with 4,012 yards.
He got a lot of work with some new receivers, including wideouts Eric Dungy and Allen Sampson and tight end Orson Charles at various 7-on-7 tournaments this summer, including the inaugural national Nike "7 On" Football Tournament, which Plant won.
Linebacker Mike Mirabella, one of the defensive returning starters, was named to the Nike All-Tournament Team. He was second in tackles last season behind safety Hunter Baldwin, who returns for his senior season. Defensive tackle Austin Clark is the other returner, a player, who, like a lot of his Plant teammates, is garnering Division I attention.
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Friday vs. Wharton
SEASON OPENER: Sept. 5 vs. Armwood
No. 3 Chamberlain
Chamberlain Returns Plenty Of Firepower
By NICK WILLIAMS
Excited, motivated and determined are some of the words used by players and coaches at Chamberlain to describe their feelings about this season.
After falling short of a state semifinal appearance by one play last year, the Chiefs are confident they can repeat and improve on their 2007 postseason run.
"The kids that are on our team that were here last year, they saw how close we were and I think on paper, we're as good as we were last year," Coach Billy Turner said.
Senior quarterback Dontae Aycock, one of the top prospects in the nation, who led the team with nearly 1,000 passing and rushing yards last season, will be the primary weapon for the Chiefs. Lining up with Aycock in the triple-option formation will be running backs Kenny Allen, a three-year varsity starter, and Lamond Scott, a two-year starter.
Jefferson transfers and receivers Anthony Williams and Ed Williams (no relation), will allow the Chiefs to open up its offense in the spread formation. D'Angelo Vidal, a transfer from King, and Justin McDowell will lead the offensive line.
Chamberlain's defense was a bit of a surprise in 2007, even to Turner. The unit posted four shutout victories and returns defensive tackles Dontavious Pyron, an all-county first-team and FACA all-area selection in 2007, and 6-foot-3, 300 pound junior Eric Hammond. A transfer from California, Donovan Lee, will hold the linebacker position with James Wilder and DeAndre Hall.
The secondary, Chamberlain's strongest unit last season, is revamped with the addition of Jefferson transfer Rico Valdez.
SEASON OPENER: Sept. 5 vs. Gaither
No. 4 Hillsborough
Terriers Feature Balanced Offense
By BILL WARD
In his 15 seasons leading the Hillsborough High football program, Earl Garcia has been known for producing some of the top running backs in the county. It's an impressive list of names, including such former Terriers stars as Mo Harris, Ronnie McCullough, Jamall "Juggy" Anderson, Ricky Ponton, Derrick Edmonds, Jimmy Sapp, Dexter Battle, Keith Williams and K.K. Davis.
With athletes like those, Garcia says he "would've been a fool" to build a team around the passing game.
But there was a time when Garcia had a reputation for developing quarterbacks. That came at Gaither, where Garcia was head coach from 1987-1991. There, he guided a stable of quarterbacks that included Tommy Ferrari, Terry Jordan, Michael Jordan and Kevin Bell, all of whom threw for more than 1,000 yards each season.
At Hillsborough, however, Garcia says he's only had one true drop-back passer. That was Jeremy Earle, who led the Terriers to the 1996 state title game and went on to play for South Florida. Garcia's most recent star behind center, Jarred Fayson, was someone Garcia calls "a great athlete playing the position." Fayson is now a wide receiver at the University of Illinois.
Heading into 2008, Garcia believes he has found another passer who can give the Terriers - No. 4 in the Tribune rankings - a multidimensional attack once more. It's Tarean Austin, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound junior who started all of last season but was "still learning the position." If Austin can live up to his potential, Hillsborough, which returns eight starters on offense, could be one of the most productive offenses in the county.
"If I do my job and we can protect with the linemen we have, we're going to be tough to defend," Garcia said. "Offensively, I'd like to be 60 percent run and 40 percent pass, but the better we are at throwing the football, the more effective our running game will be."
When it comes to skill positions, the Terriers are loaded. With players such as running back Lindsey Lamar, who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last season, and wide receivers Colby Walden and Terrence Mitchell, it's certainly the fastest group.
All three were state medalists in the sprints at the Class 3A state track finals in the spring and Lamar's 100-meter dash time of 10.35 seconds from the regional meet was among the national leaders that season.
Hillsborough also returns two sophomores who started last year as freshmen, 5-8, 220-pound Jamie Knott, who benches 345 pounds, and 5-8, 160-pound Charles Lovett, who was one of the Terriers' top receivers in 2007.
If the Terriers can develop a balanced offense and continue to play the type of stingy defense it's been known for under longtime defensive coordinator Dean Eychner, they should be Armwood's stiffest competition for the Class 4A-District 11 crown.
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Friday vs. Lakewood.
SEASON OPENER: Sept..5 at Jefferson.
No. 5 Tampa Catholic
Expectations High For Crusaders
By Bill Ward
Reaching the state championship can cause all sorts of things to happen to a prep football program.
Anything less than a return to that high-profile stage could be viewed as a letdown, but the achievement also raises effort and expectations. It can also put coaches and players under a microscope, but at the same time attract support - financial and otherwise - from fans and alumni.
So how do the Crusaders - No. 5 in the Tribune rankings - get back to that Class 2A title game?
Coach Bob Henriquez apologizes in advance for any cliches, but it will require doing the same thing as last season - taking it one step, and one game, at a time.
"We really have to go back to the beginning and take each game in and of itself," said Henriquez, a Tampa Catholic graduate. "Certainly, it's easier to reload and rebuild from a winning season, and from the kind of success we had and yes, there are some great expectations. But the expectations should be those you put on yourself, and that is to be successful, and the kids are working really hard."
The Crusaders will need to put in a lot of overtime if they hope to match last year's school-best 11-3 record.
The Crusaders lost the entire starting offensive line, the top two tacklers and their sack leader. Among those graduates were the team's emotional leaders.
The good news for Tampa Catholic is it returns loads of skill players, including junior all-state quarterback Christian Green, wide receiver Kenny Broadnax and running back Henry McCloud. The Crusaders also have receiver/quarterback D.J. Williams, the son of former NFL star Doug Williams.
If Henriquez can find replacements on the offensive line and linebackers to support standout senior defensive end Brandon Green, TC might meet or exceed its own expectations for 2008.
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Friday vs. Naples Lely
SEASON OPENER: Sept. 5 vs. Ocala Trinity Catholic
No. 6 Gaither
Giles To Power Cowboys
By Katherine Smith
Any team with running back Jarvis Giles on board should automatically be penciled in as one of Hillsborough County's best.
Good thing for Gaither, the defending Class 5A-District 5 champions are made up of several talented players.
There's no mistaking - Giles is special. One of the top rushers in Hillsborough County the past two seasons, the senior running back will go for his third consecutive 1,000-yard season this year.
"I want to pretty much cherish every moment because it's my senior year," Giles said. "I want to leave everything out on the field. I'm soaking it all in."
With quarterback Kamren Hawkins back under center for the second consecutive season, the Cowboys will try to throw the ball more than they have in the past. Granted, University of Tennessee commit Giles is still the focal point of the offense, but with another Division I prospect at their disposal, Gaither will air it out more.
Tight end Justin Lattimore, who has received a handful of Division I offers, will be one of Hawkins' main targets.
The Cowboys lost most of their starters on defense, including top defenders Mike Whitescarver and Zach Henderson. But a combination of youth and speed will make up for the lack of experience. Lattimore will line up on that side of the ball also.
"We expect great things from everybody in the program," Gaither coach Mark Kantor said. "We're trying to piece everything together."
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Aug. 29 vs. Durant
SEASON OPENER: Sept. 5 vs. Chamberlain
No. 7 Wharton
Wildcats Have Personnel To Contend
By Nick Williams
In 2006, the Wildcats missed the playoffs despite having an 8-2 record. Last year, Wharton finished 5-5 but made the playoffs, only to lose to Chamberlain in the Class 5A region quarterfinals.
The Wildcats will try to have both a stellar record and a playoff appearance this season, and they have the personnel to do it.
Defense has always been the trademark of the Wharton program, and this season is no different. Returning is senior safety Jairus Jones, probably the biggest defensive recruit in the program's history. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound strong safety is a three-year varsity starter, a three-time all-county pick and a two-time all-state selection, and he has offers from LSU, Michigan State and Nebraska.
Last season, Jones had 89 tackles and one interception. Although a strong safety, Jones plays like a linebacker in Wharton's system. Chase Boswell, Chris Oliver and Rick Noel return at linebacker, while Noel will also see time on the defensive line.
Senior quarterback Andrew Clifford will lead the offense after earning the starting role last season. As a junior, he had 1,471 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 80 of 139 passes.
In the region loss to Chamberlain, Clifford went 16-of-23 for 234 yards and two TDs.
"I want to improve every day," Clifford said. "I want more win totals and want to take the team farther than last year."
Clifford will try to put the ball in the hands of 6-2 senior and returning starting receiver Khiry White, who had 245 receiving yards with one touchdown as junior. The coaches are placing the ball in the hands of junior running back Shane McEwen to establish a running game, but they also will depend on Jones, who had 60 carries for 332 yards and three touchdowns last year.
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Aug. 29 at Plant
SEASON OPENER: Sept. 5 vs. Freedom
No. 8: Middleton
Tigers Ready To Build On Success
By Nick Williams
Middleton missed the playoffs and finished 6-4 last season, but the Tigers posted wins against teams that made the postseason in Chamberlain, Wharton and Jefferson.
The defense will be the strong point for the Tigers, with plenty of veterans returning. Senior Andreal Coleman and sophomore Matt Parker return on the defensive line, while junior Greg Hickman will be a force again at linebacker.
The secondary might be the Tigers' best defensive unit, led by returning starters Travis Buie, Phillip Jones and Ernest Mingo.
On offense, Middleton lost two key players in quarterback DeAndre Presley (Appalachian State) and running back Carlton "Ty" Jones (Florida State), but Coach Harry Hubbard has young replacements who are eager to learn.
Freshman Greg Windham and sophomore Dorian Ferrell will split time at quarterback, Hubbard said, and the coach hopes to find a way to use the strengths of both in the offense. While some might see their youth as a problem, Hubbard is thinking long term.
"By the time they're seniors, they'll know the system," he said.
Junior Rodney Johnson, who transferred from Hillsborough, will get the nod as the starting running back. Johnson played behind Lindsey Lamar and Iziah Wyche with the Terriers last year, and as a freshman he played behind Drew Zink at Tampa Catholic.
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Aug. 29 vs. Jacksonville Sandalwood
SEASON OPENER: Sept. 5 vs. Brandon
No. 9: Brandon
Eagles Aspiring To Reach Next Level
By Adam Adkins
BRANDON - John Lima's first two seasons at Brandon have been a success. Both ended in playoff appearances, making Lima the first coach in program history to lead the Eagles to consecutive playoff berths.
Entering the 2008 season, Brandon's head coach is hoping his program's upward climb will continue and in year three. If the Eagles are going to take the next step, they're going to do with an extensive cast of new faces.
The Eagles return just seven starters from the 2007 squad that powered its way to seven regular-season victories and the Class 5A-District 7 title, losing a ton of talent to graduation. Also gone are Brandon's offensive and defensive coordinators from last season, which have been replaced by Brian Surcy (offense) and Carey Reid (defense).
Still, Lima remains optimistic about the potential of this group heading into 2008.
"We're young, but we have more good players than we had last year, believe it or not," Lima said. "The work ethic is better than it was a year ago, and it was immediately. We've been working at it. Our leaders are our hardest working guys, and that was something that we were missing."
Those leaders include junior safety Sean Watson, senior offensive lineman Danny Gonzalez and senior tailback/defensive back Deandre Bowers, who are among the more experienced Eagles on the roster.
But there are still question marks.
The most notable, personnel-wise, is at quarterback, where Lima is still searching for a replacement for two-year starter Tracy Burr. A handful of contenders exist, and Lima is hoping to see one or two separate themselves from the pack during the next week of practice.
But the biggest question mark remains how the youthful Eagles will respond to game-time pressure once the season begins.
"Talent wise, I'm very comfortable with this team. It's just, we won two games in the last minute of the fourth quarter last year. A young team has to find a way to win, and a lot of times they don't. That's my biggest concern," Lima said. "You never really know how those guys are going to perform in crunch time. From that standpoint, it's really hard to say which way we are going to go."
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Aug. 29 at Sickles
SEASON OPENER: Sept. 5 at Middleton
No. 10: Tampa Bay Tech
TBT Eager To Continue Climb
By Bill Ward
TAMPA - After putting a resounding end to an 0-22 streak last season with a 6-4 mark, Tampa Bay Tech is poised to take the next step under second-year coach C.C. Culpepper. The Titans' goal this fall: Make the playoffs and go deep into the postseason.
But playing in arguably the toughest Class 4A division in the state - District 11 - will make that a formidable task. That district includes two-time state champion Armwood, traditional state power Hillsborough and a Middleton team accustomed to being in the postseason. And Freedom, which also has made big strides, is part of 4A-11.
"If you can win that district, you can go to the state semifinals, without a doubt," Culpepper said. "We preach that to the kids all the time. You'll hear a coach out here at least once a day say, 'There's 16 games to the state finals in Orlando.'"
Culpepper believes his players have the confidence to play with any team. And with bruising junior fullback Maurice Hagens in the backfield, Tampa Bay Tech has proven it.
Hagens rushed for 1,362 yards and 10 TDs on 214 carries last season and returns with talent around him. Among his supporting cast is junior Darius Anderson, who, as a running back and receiver, is a dual threat and has the kind of speed to make him a breakaway runner.
A new wrinkle to TBT's offense is quarterback Angel Rodriguez, who transferred from Wiregrass Ranch. Rodriguez gives the Titans a strong passing game and allows them to spread the offense. It also takes the pressure off Hagens, who says he often saw eight defenders waiting for him along the line of scrimmage.
TBT, which began last season 4-0, also returns a solid defense and enough depth to seamlessly replace the starters it lost.
"We're definitely taking the next step up," Hagens said. "We've worked really hard for this. We want the playoffs."
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Aug. 29 vs. Plant City
SEASON OPENER: Sept. 5 at Bloomingdale
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