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Hillsborough wins 7-on-7 title

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: July 13, 2009

TAMPA - Last season hasn't sat well with Hillsborough High's Tarean Austin.

The Terriers didn't make the playoffs for the first time in 16 years and that has driven the senior quarterback. His team's 20-6 victory against Punta Gorda Charlotte in Sunday's USF Sling & Shoot 7-on-7 tournament is a step in the right direction, he said, in returning Hillsborough to prominence.

"We are humble after last year and we're also hungry," Austin said. "We may not have the biggest team, but this tournament proved we've got a pretty big heart."

From a field of 66 teams from across Florida, Hillsborough High emerged victorious in the annual USF tournament, which featured two days of 30-minute games on a 60-yard field.

The Terriers made it three in a row for Hillsborough County teams. Jefferson won the tournament in 2007 and Plant, the 2008 4A state champions, won it last year, a fact not lost on Hillsborough players.

"That's all we think about is being state champs," senior wide receiver Antonio Chow said. "This is a great start for us to get where we want to be."

Chow was on the receiving end of the two touchdown passes from Austin in the championship game. The defense also came up big for Hillsborough with two interceptions.

Andre Davis led Jefferson to the championship bracket final, eventually losing to Charlotte.

Carrollwood Day School won the small division title with a 13-12 victory against Plant High's junior varsity team in the championship game. Deuce Gruden, the son of former Tampa Bay Bucs coach Jon Gruden, caught the game-winning extra-point conversion pass on the final play of the game.

Senior quarterback Billy Embody connected with senior running back Darius Bing for the game-tying touchdown and Gruden's extra-point catch set the young team into a swirl of celebration.

"This is a big win for us," Carrollwood Day School coach Lane McLaughlin said. "Plant has more kids in their JV program than we have in our whole school."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

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