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Game of the Week: Tampa Bay Tech At Armwood

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The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2008

AT STAKE

TAMPA BAY TECH: The Titans can take control of the Class 4A-District 11 race with a victory. Tampa Bay Tech is 1-0 in the district, and another win would put it in the driver's seat in its pursuit of the program's first playoff berth since 2001.

ARMWOOD: The Hawks' 36-game on-field home winning streak. The last time Armwood lost on its field was in the 2002 playoffs against Lake Gibson.

KEY STAT

TAMPA BAY TECH: Since Coach C.C. Culpepper took over the program in 2007, the Titans have had success on offense, averaging 26.4 points per game in 15 games. Tampa Bay Tech has failed to score only once in that span - last season against Armwood.

ARMWOOD: Since the 2005 season, the Hawks have allowed an average of 4.7 points per game in the regular season at Lyle Flagg Field (17 games). The Hawks have allowed double-digit points twice during that span and have six shutouts.

KEY MATCHUPS

WHEN TAMPA BAY TECH HAS THE BALL: Titans FB Maurice Hagens vs. Hawks LB Petey Smith. Hagens is the Titans' best offensive option, and Tampa Bay Tech will rely on him heavily to gain the tough yards between the tackles to keep the chains moving. However, he will have to go through one of the area's best defenses, which is led by Smith, one of the area's biggest hitters.

WHEN ARMWOOD HAS THE BALL: Hawks QB Mywan Jackson vs. Titans LB Tim Stewart. Jackson has been on a tear the last four games, accounting for 19 touchdowns in leading an offense that has averaged 43.7 points per game during that stretch. Stewart, TBT's leading tackler, and the rest of the defense must find a way to limit Jackson's big plays.

QUOTABLES

•"There's no weaknesses with Armwood. We just have to go out there and play good football, control the clock and hope they make mistakes." - Titans coach C.C. Culpepper

•"It's a big game. You know, Tech, they've got Armwood X-ed out. They think they're coming right after us. This is our home field, we haven't lost here in a really long time, and it's a big-money game, our first district game, so everybody will be really hyped up and ready to play." - Hawks linebacker Petey Smith

•"I think the upper-echelon teams in Hillsborough County - the Hillsboroughs, the Jeffersons, the Chamberlains, the Plants, those are the ones that are constantly battling to go far in the playoffs. Tampa Bay Tech has the right attitude and they're working to be on that level. They've got some good direction over there with the coaches, they're doing some good things offensively, so we're going to have our hands full, no doubt about it. But we're welcoming the challenge." - Hawks coach Sean Callahan

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