Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sports

TBO > Sports

Armwood Rolls To 41-0 Victory Over Injury-Depleted Brandon

By SCOTT PURKS Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2008

Updated: 09/20/2008 12:53 am

BRANDON - Armwood's coaches made no bones about it, not to outsiders and not to their players, before the Hawks played Brandon on Friday night.

"We didn't tell our kids that they needed to beware of this game because any team can jump up and beat you if you let your guard down," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said. "We knew Brandon was hurting with a bunch of injuries and we felt we were the better team anyway. So we told our kids we should beat Brandon and we should beat them good."

Callahan was right.

Brandon - without seven key linemen and its starting and backup tailbacks - made only one first down (on an Armwood penalty), and lost 41-0 to the Hawks.

Afterward, Brandon coach John Lima kept things in perspective.

"Four weeks ago before the rash of injuries we were in a very different position than the one we're in now," Lima said. "Four weeks ago we felt like we could do some things defensively against Armwood. We had some high expectations.

"Now we still have high expectations, but it's for these younger kids including 15 sophomores on the Eagles' roster Friday night. We have to take some baby steps first."

On Friday, baby steps were no match for Armwood quarterback Mywan Jackson, who completed eight of 15 passes for 148 yards and rushed nine times for 96 yards, including touchdown runs of 3, 22 and 31 yards.

On the flip side, Brandon (1-2) ended up with minus-5 total yards.

Callahan, like Lima, kept to a bit of philosophy.

"Tonight we wanted to play a lot of people, do a lot of things offensively and defensively, and have a lot of fun," Callahan said. "We accomplished all those things.

"I think sometimes we've gotten to a 3-0 record Armwood's current record and haven't been happy enough about it. I think it's been too much business sometimes and not enough enjoyment. So tonight we emphasized having fun, and you know, we did enjoy it."

The Hawks, ranked among the nation's top-10 teams in a few polls, also executed very well, making it extra tough on the Eagles.

"We put some people in position to make some plays, but then we miss a couple of tackles and the gates were wide open," Lima said. "It was tough."