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Football previews: Class 4A-District 9

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Tampa Tribune

Published: September 1, 2009

ARMWOOD HAWKS

STADIUM: Lyle Flagg Field, 12000 U.S. 92, Seffner

CLASS-DISTRICT: 4A-9

COACH: Sean Callahan (155-69, 20th season)

ON OFFENSE: Callahan believes this could be a year in which the offense carries his team, and his reasoning is understandable considering all of the weapons the Hawks have at their disposal.

Freedom transfer Josh Grady gives Armwood the passing-capable quarterback the program was looking for to run the spread offense, and Callahan vows to sling it around much more this season.

Much of the offseason hype has been about young running back Matt Jones, a sophomore who steps is at the team's No. 1 running option. Jones showed flashes of his abilities in limited action last season – he ran for three touchdowns during the playoffs – and his mix of size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) and speed should pose plenty of problems for opposing defenses.

The key will be how the offensive line performs. The unit isn't nearly as big or experienced as the past few seasons.

ON DEFENSE: This unit has been the driving force for Armwood the past few seasons. While the Hawks must replace several key players to graduation from the 2008 squad, Callahan believes the players that form the 2009 group are capable of performing at a high level.

Armwood has the benefit of returning two big linemen in Theodore "Man-Man" Jackson, who led the team in sacks last season with 12, and Alton Bailey, as well as linebacker Jermaine McKinney and defensive back Quinton Brown.

Program newcomers and brothers Khiri and Leon McQuay are expected to shore up the Hawks' defensive backfield, and Callahan believes DJ Hitchman and Jake Zilbar will be adequate replacements in the linebacker corps.

It's unrealistic to think the 2009 Armwood defense will have the type of success of the 2008 squad – which at one point late last season had scored more points than it allowed.

EAST BAY INDIANS

STADIUM: E.G. Stadium Field, 7710 Old Big Bend Rd., Gibsonton

CLASS-DISTRICT: 4A-9

COACH: Brian Thornton (90-66 overall, 15 years at East Bay)

ON OFFENSE: For 15 years, Brian Thornton has been running his offense at East Bay through the wishbone. It's the same offense he ran as a high school quarterback under his father in Indiana in the 1970s.

While many programs in Hillsborough County are thinking of throwing the ball more, thanks to 7-on-7 action, Thornton is sticking with what he knows best.

"I'll probably never use anything else," he said. "The advantage is, nobody else runs it. Half of these teams say they'll run a spread offense and by the first game they're in the Wing T."

Contrary to common belief, Thornton said the Wishbone isn't as old school as some may think. "It's newer than the I (formation) and the Wing T," he said.

Last season, Chaz Burrows rushed for 1,122 yards with seven touchdowns in Thornton's formation.

"It has been very successful for us," Thornton said.

ON DEFENSE: Thornton said he plans to run a 40 variable formation along with some 4-3 and 4-4.

Returning on the defense will be 6-foot-4, 320 pound two-way lineman Dontavious Fleming, a Division I recruit, who will make his third consecutive starting season at lineman for the Indians. Last season, the two-way lineman recorded 37 tackles with one blocked field goal.

Also returning will be senior defensive back Calvin Sanders. As a junior, Sanders recorded 26 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery as a starting free safety.

HILLSBOROUGH TERRIERS

STADIUM: Chelo Huerta Field, 5000 Central Ave., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 4A-9

COACH: Earl Garcia (180-76, 24th season; 147-39, 17th at Hillsborough)

ON OFFENSE: Despite the loss of county-leading rusher Lindsey Lamar to graduation, this Hillsborough offense could be the best in recent years. Senior quarterback Tarean Austin enters his fourth year under center and is poised to put up even bigger numbers than last season, where he produced 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air. With junior receiver Charles Lovett back as his primary target, the Terriers' air attack is ready for launch. Hillsborough's traditional ground game is also locked and loaded, with Rodney Johnson, formerly of Middleton, joining hard-nosed fullback Jamie Knott and speedster Antonio Chow in the backfield. The only question mark here is depth along an offensive line, but one that features a solid anchor – Andre Gunn.

ON DEFENSE: This is the unit the Terriers must shore up the most from last season, where they allowed nearly four touchdowns a game. With the additions of Michael Scaglione (formerly of Freedom) and Chris Oliver (Wharton) at linebacker, Hillsborough should be stingier this fall. Senior safety Terrence "T-Rex" Mitchell, one of the nation's most sought-after defensive backs, will anchor the secondary but as defensive coordinator Dean Eychner will tell you, "it all starts up front" on the defensive line. If the Terriers can plug holes there and get a better pass rush, they should return to their tradition form.

KING LIONS

STADIUM: 6815 N. 56th St., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 4A-9

COACH: Alvin Davis (56-109, 18th season; 3-7, second season at King)

ON OFFENSE: The Lions struggled to score points in 2008, but the weapons seem to be in place for the unit to be much improved this season. Greg Windham, the starting quarterback at Middleton last season, takes over under center hoping to provide some stability to the position. King was dealt a blow when projected starting tailback Jameel Jackson suffered an ACL injury over the summer, but Davis is real high on CJ Young, a speedster who is expected to see the bulk of the carries this season. The receiving corps is unproven, but converted quarterback Reese Sturgis gives the Lions a nice target on the outside, and the line should be much improved from 2008 with a few experienced players returning for that group.

ON DEFENSE: The Lions defense did an admirable job in 2008, and the unit will be counted on heavily again in 2009. The defensive line has a ton of experience back, including John Marley, the Chamberlain transfer Darrell Baker only adds to it. The linebacker corps could be the strongest on the unit, led by four-year starter Carlos Wooten, a standout who will control the middle.

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