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Football notebook: Chamberlain game somber reminder for Plant's Brannan

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2009

If the Plant Panthers defeat Chamberlain tonight to claim their fifth consecutive district championship, it clearly will be a time for celebration. For starting offensive lineman Mark Brannan, though, tonight's game marks a time for reflection.

Last year's game against the Chiefs was delayed for more than 20 minutes while paramedics tended to a fan in the Plant stands who was suffering from a heart attack. The fan was Brannan's grandfather Charles Harvey, a World War II veteran who rarely missed an opportunity to watch his grandson play football.

"He would always watch me and tell me how proud he was of me," Brannan said. "He'd talk about my blocks and stuff like that. He was just real interested in what I did."

The scene in the stands unfolded in front of the Plant bench while players from both teams took a knee. Brannan watched as the paramedics worked on his grandfather and eventually carted him off to a waiting ambulance. Harvey passed away a couple of days following the Chamberlain game.

"It was pretty scary to go from so happy because we were up in the game at that point and I was excited for the team and then it changed so rapidly," Brannan said. "I did get a chance to say goodbye to him in the hospital and I was happy that I got to do that. I think about him all the time and I know he would be excited for us."

Wolves ready to face adversity

Newsome Coach Kenneth Hiscock understands injuries are a part of the game, but he's never experienced a season quite like this one.

After losing arguably his top offensive weapon, Conner Powers, a few weeks ago, Hiscock is now adjusting to the loss of some key defensive players, including his captain, junior linebacker Joe Worth. Worth, who leads the team with 45 tackles, will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a left knee injury in a win over Bloomingdale, the coach said.

It's not exactly the way Newsome would like to head into tonight's district showdown with Durant, a game that if won would give the Wolves their second consecutive district title.

"It's how you deal with adversity. We've had our fair share. We've just got to face the challenge and go with it," said Hiscock, who added there has been a positive as a result of all the injuries. "We've had some guys who have stepped up when their number was called."

One of those is junior Vince Pennington, who has performed very well since stepping into the starting fullback role in place of Powers, who was lost for the season with a knee injury. After running for 86 yards and two scores against Leto following the injury to Powers, Pennington has topped the 100-yard mark in each of the past two games.

"He has done a great job filling in," Hiscock said of Pennington. "He definitely has exceeded expectations."

Hiscock is hoping to get comparable contributions from a few other replacements against the Cougars, a team the Wolves have defeated in each of their four previous meetings.

"It's going to be a battle with those guys," Hiscock said of Durant, his alma mater. "Our kids know what is at stake. I think they are ready to play."

Lions not short on confidence

King coach Alvin Davis realizes the deck is stacked against the Lions' postseason chances. But entering a must-win situation against Hillsborough – and also needing some help from Armwood – the Lions aren't short on confidence.

"The kids have a lot of confidence and they're motivated to beat Hillsborough. They're not afraid of Hillsborough," Davis said. "Our goal right now is to try and get in that tiebreaker. Hopefully we can beat Hillsborough and hopefully Armwood will help us out by beating East Bay."

King needs to beat Hillsborough and have Armwood beat East Bay to get in a three-way tiebreaker for the runner-up spot in Class 4A-District 9.

Some good news for King is two key starters are expected back tonight. Senior linebacker Carlos Wooten will return in the middle of the defense after missing last week's game with an ankle injury. Sophomore quarterback Greg Windham, who has missed the past two games after sustaining a cut on his right (throwing) arm, also will be back in uniform.

Windham, who has been medically cleared, declared himself ready Tuesday, though Davis said he would be a game-time decision. If Windham is unable to go, junior Reese Sturgis, who has filled in admirably for Windham the past two weeks, would get the start under center.

Akins enjoying breakout season

Spoto senior defensive end John Akins knows he's not an imposing figure when he lowers into his stance at the line of scrimmage.

At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, he resembles a receiver more than he does a defensive lineman. Akins says his size doesn't reveal his talent.

"I'm more determined," he said. "(I'm) relentless."

Akins has become one of the more surprising football players in Hillsborough County this season. Last season, he totaled 30 tackles and five sacks. Through nine games this season, he has recorded 66 tackles and a team-high 11 sacks.

"I just practiced my technique from last year and I made my moves not as predictable," he said. "My goal was to lead the state in sacks."

Akins will be key in stopping Lakewood's offensive attack tonight at Spoto, a game that will determine the Class 3A-District 8 runner-up.

Charleston Southern has shown heavy interest in Akins, who plans to play linebacker at the next level.

Titans facing most important game

On the surface, Tampa Bay Tech's matchup tonight with Wharton looks like somewhat of a trap game. The Wildcats are just 2-6 on the season, and a huge matchup with Hillsborough looms the following week.

The game against the Terriers is especially intriguing because Tampa Bay Tech kept Hillsborough out of the playoffs last year (by defeating the Terriers in a late-season district matchup), and a win this year – coupled with a win over Plant earlier this season – would vault the Titans program into a level of respectability never before achieved.

In reality, however, tonight's matchup is the biggest of the season for the Titans. A win against the Wildcats not only would give Tampa Bay Tech a second consecutive playoff berth, it also would give the Titans just their second district title in program history (the other was in 2000).

And Titans coach C.C. Culpepper said he's stressed that point to his team all this week.

"It's been Wharton, Wharton, Wharton," Culpepper said, adding he's not only expressed the point verbally, but also with visual reminders in the locker room. "It's very visible that Wharton is the most important game of the season."

Tampa Bay Tech's turnaround under Culpepper, now in his third season, has been nothing short of astounding. He took over a program in 2007 that had lost 20 consecutive games and has posted three consecutive winning seasons. Culpepper views the chance to claim a district crown as the next step for his rising program.

"We definitely have goals set for this team, this program and this school. There is a lot of weight on us as players and coaches," Culpepper said. "We know what we have to do. We just have to play football."

Katherine Smith, Nick Williams, Adam Adkins

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