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Titans Turn Over Auburndale

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By JEFF BERLINICKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 22, 2008

AUBURNDALE - Tampa Bay Tech coach C.C. Culpepper wasn't keeping style points and said he didn't care if the Titans won 2-0 or 200-0 in Friday night's playoff game.

Culpepper got his win as the Titans beat host Auburndale, 12-7, in the first round of the Class 4A district playoffs. The Titans dominated Auburndale on both sides of the ball but couldn't take advantage of five Auburndale turnovers.

Culpepper said that the Titans weren't concerned with how good they looked, only that they would be getting a chance to take on Armwood next Friday night. In their last meeting on Oct. 10, Tampa Bay lost to Armwood, 45-6.

Auburndale threatened to score in the final minutes, but senior D.J. Johnson made a key interception to save the win.

"It was close but that's how we have played all year," Culpepper said. "We play physical and grind it out. We have a good defense that can do a job against anybody."

The Titans held Auburndale quarterback Shaun O'Neal to 3 of 21 passing for 18 yards and two interceptions.

Tampa Bay Tech had their problems moving the ball, too. Titans quarterback Angel Rodriguez ran for 91 yards, but 80 of those came on one carry in the third quarter when the Bloodhounds bit on a fake to tailback Maurice Hagens and Rodriguez bolted up the middle to make the score 12-0. Hagens, who carried the load of the offense for the Titans, ran 16 times for 59 yards.

Tampa Bay Tech opened the scoring when Antonio Wallace scored on a misdirection play from nine yards out late in the first quarter.

TBT - Rodriquez 80 run (run failed)

A-London 2 run (Prudgeon kick)

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