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Top 10: Armwood is younger, but still talented

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 25, 2009

SEFFNER - The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com are counting down the top 10 football teams in Hillsborough County. The rankings were voted on by the Tribune's four staffers who cover prep football.

Ranked No. 2, Armwood's position near the top of the Tribune/TBO.com preseason Top 10 football poll is a familiar one. The feeling Hawks coach Sean Callahan has entering the 2009 season is anything but typical, however.

While the excitement is there as always with kickoff less than a week away, Callahan believes the Hawks might be flying a bit under the radar right now, something that hasn't been afforded to his program too often the past few years.

"Yeah, and I like it too," Hawks coach Sean Callahan said. "Then again, we need to be. We only have five returners and a sophomore-junior makeup."

Several of the big-name players that graced Armwood's sidelines the past few seasons are gone, but don't think the Hawks are short on talent.

The defense certainly has some holes to fill, but key returning contributors like linemen Theodore "Man-Man" Jackson and Alton Bailey, linebacker Jermaine McKinney and defensive back Quinton Brown combined with impact newcomers Khiri McQuay and Leon McQuay in the defensive backfield make Callahan believe the group can still perform at a very high level.

The Hawks offense also must replace several key skill players, but new quarterback Josh Grady, a Freedom transfer, young tailback Matt Jones, versatile playmaker Sherman Jessie and an underrated receiving corps, led by Richard Jules, give Armwood enough weapons to do some damage.

"Are we good enough to get it done? Yeah," Callahan said. "We have the right people in the right places."

The key, Callahan said, will be how the Hawks react in a big-game setting when the time comes. That will determine whether or not the Hawks challenge for another state title or end up gritting their teeth after a disappointing finish.

"I'm not quite sure where we're going to go with it all," Callahan said, "but it's going to be fun with this group."

Kickoff Classic: Friday vs. Middleton
Season Opener: Sept. 4 at Newsome

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