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

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Prep Sports

TBO > Sports > Prep Sports

Football notebook: Sickles seeking more history

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2009

Which football team has been the most surprising this year?

Two years ago, the Sickles High football program made history.

In 2007, the Gryphons made it to the playoffs with a winning record — both firsts for the school. Tonight, Sickles hopes to accomplish another first: a 5-1 record.

The 4-1 Gryphons host district opponent Boca Ciega (2-2), with postseason hopes on the line.

"We've never been 5-1," Sickles coach Pat O'Brien said. "So we're throwing that out at the kids. We're really pushing that."

Sickles lost their first district game of the season, a 20-14 turnover-plagued contest to Largo that put them in a win-or-else situation.

"We've told them this is it," O'Brien said. "This is a playoff game and it has that atmosphere to it. Because if you don't win it, it's just like the playoffs, you're done and you won't get to go to the playoffs. These kids have set some goals for themselves about postseason play.

"It's sad that it could be over that quick and that early if we don't win [tonight]."

COUGARS D EMERGES: After losing eight defensive starters from last year's team, it's safe to say Durant coach Mike Gottman wasn't feeling too confident on what the Cougars were capable of defensively heading into this season. Nearing the midway point of the year, however, Gottman can't help but shake his head at what's transpired.

The Cougars defense, under first-year coordinator Kevin Kelley, has been one of the top performing units in Hillsborough County this season. Durant enters tonight's big district game at Riverview with consecutive shutout wins over Bloomingdale and East Bay under its belt. The Cougars also have held two other opponents (Chamberlain and Brandon) to a field goal.

"Our defense has really been a bright spot this year," Gottman said. "I was really concerned that we would be kind of undersized and getting our (butts) run over. But coach Kelley and the defensive staff has done a great job."

Perhaps the biggest surprise has been the play of the defensive line, which was among the groups hit hardest by graduation. Daivonte Lumpkin (22 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Josh Halferty (team-best 6.5 sacks) have been two of the leaders up front.

"By far the biggest surprise is how well our (defensive) line has played," Gottman said. "Just outstanding."

DIFFERENT FEELING AT DA WOOD: There certainly has been a different feeling out at Armwood this week.

This is the first time since a 2006 regular-season loss to Winter Haven that the Hawks have taken the field following a loss. Before last Friday's home loss to Plant, each of Armwood's last three setbacks occurred in the playoffs (to Plant in 2006 and 2008, and to Miami Washington in 2007). That meant there was no shot at redemption.

The Hawks took the field this week to prepare for tonight's Class 4A-District 9 opener against King knowing their season – and their ultimate goal – was still in reach.

"Don't get me wrong, I wanted to beat Plant," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said, "but our goal was always to win a 4A state championship. We've played two quality 5A teams in Tampa Bay Tech and Plant, and if we take those lessons that we battled in both of those games, I think we can be a good football team. But we've got to grow up a little bit."

Callahan wants to see his team respond in the face of adversity. He admitted when the Hawks went into halftime down 7-0 against the Panthers that "my kids looked at me like we were down 70-0," and he wants his team to learn to continue to play hard even if things aren't going the Hawks' way on the field.

"It's easiest to ride high," Callahan said. "I told our team I want to see us win a game that we were losing (at one point). I want people to get physical and nasty at the right time."

LINE UP: Plant opponents have grown accustomed to an air attack. But this season, the Panthers have hit the ground running.

In their three victories this season, the Panthers have rushed for more than 200 yards, including a 210-yard effort in last week's victory against Armwood. Those are the kind of numbers Plant usually produces in the passing game.

A lot of credit for the rushing success goes to the starting offensive line — left tackle Mark Brannan, left guard Jon Vega, center Drew Russo, right guard Andre Mondor, right tackle Tony Posada — a physical unit that presents a lot of options for the Panthers offensive scheme.

"With the guys we have, we knew we were going to change things up a bit," assistant offensive line coach Brian McNulty said. "We've got a power running game now that we've never had before. The running game opens up the passing game for us and vice versa. We can play off of each other."

T.J. Glover (294 yards) and James Wilder, Jr. (217 yards) have been the biggest benefactors of the line's physical play.

"We have a huge offensive line," Wilder said. "They'll break their backs to make a block for us to keep our offense running. They're a big influence on our offense. They keep us going the whole game."

EXPERIENCE APLENTY AT FREEDOM: They say wisdom comes with old age.

It wouldn't be wise to refer to any of the coaches at Freedom as old, at least not to their faces, but one can be assured there is plenty experience on the Patriots sideline.

Five of the coaches have played in the NFL.

First-year coach James Harrell, who played eight seasons in the NFL, assembled a coaching staff that resembles most professional teams.

Former Florida Gator and Detroit Lions running back James Jones is the offensive coordinator, former Green Bay Packers defensive back Hurley Tarvor and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Donnie Elder (1988-89) work with the defense, specifically the secondary, and former Tampa Bay center Tony Mayberry, who played 10 seasons with the Bucs, coaches the offensive line.

Also, former USF defensive lineman Tchecoy Blount, who served under Marquel Blackwell the last two years at Freedom, remained on staff to work with the defensive line.

Katherine Smith, Adam Adkins, Nick Williams

Share this:

* To:
Your Name:
Your Email Address:
Personal Message [optional]: