Super Way To Start Season: Plant-Armwood

There won't be a mega-recording star singing the national anthem Friday night. There also won't be any elaborate halftime show involving lots of pyrotechnics and superstar performers. However, parking will be just as congested, and tickets might be just as tough to come by.

Football's biggest game - the Super Bowl - is still five months away from coming to town, but Friday night's Armwood-Plant game certainly has that super-game feel.

It is believed to be the first time two area teams each have carried national rankings into one contest. The game also will be broadcast to a live national audience, thanks to sports network giant ESPN.

Add in the fact the game involves the last two programs in the area to win a state championship, and that those two programs - to put it kindly - don't get along, and, well, the early intrigue produced by this early-season clash seems to be unmatched.

"If I was an average Joe, I would be excited," Hawks senior linebacker Petey Smith said.

Most average Joes seem to share that sentiment. After all, it took just a matter of hours for Plant High to sell out its ticket allotment of 3,000. The game has a lot of appeal, even to those outside the area.

For starters, some of the most highly regarded football players in the nation will be featured on one field. Three players - Armwood defensive lineman Ryne Giddins, Plant quarterback Aaron Murray and Plant tight end Orson Charles - have committed to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Another - Armwood's Smith - has committed to the Under Armour All-America Game.

There are several other touted prospects as well. In all, 12 players combined between the two teams who will appear in Friday's game hold scholarship offers from either Division I or I-AA programs.

Another factor is the belief this game is a rivalry, a term used to describe this game that is often disputed between members of the programs. But, the fact is, since the 2006 Class 4A region final between Plant and Armwood at Dad's Stadium, there hasn't been a more talked-about matchup involving Hillsborough County teams.

"It's just an exciting game, first and foremost, because it's two very good football teams," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "We know we have a lot of great players and they have a lot of great players. But to have a team that has a target like they do, with all the national rankings and all the things they have, it's a great opportunity for us to go out and do the best we can."

There is one thing this game doesn't have, though.

"This is not a money game," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said.

What Callahan is referring to is the fact the outcome of this game will have no bearing on either team's season, considering Plant and Armwood are not district opponents. The only thing a loss can hurt is pride, which can easily be restored.

"It's a big game, and it would be a nice game to win, you know, but we could lose to them and then run the table after that and we wouldn't look at our season any different," Smith said.

"If we play them in November," Callahan said, "that will be a little bit different."

But the hype looms nonetheless.

"We've got to remember that it's just another game, but at the same time, with all the hype, we want to have fun," Plant senior defensive tackle Austin Clark said. "We want to enjoy it, but as soon as we cross the line 8 p.m. Friday, we're coming ready to play."

10 Memorable Games

Friday night's game between Armwood and Plant will feature two nationally ranked county teams - a first in Hillsborough County. As far as big games go, Hillsborough County has hosted quite a few. Here's a look at 10 memorable games.


2006 Armwood at Plant: In the Class 4A regional final, Plant's Chris Kuzdale's two interception returns for touchdowns and quarterback Robert Marve's arm helped the Panthers defeat Armwood, 38-20, en route to the state championship.

2004 Miami Washington at Armwood: The Hawks' Kalvin Bailey ran in a 2-point conversion in Armwood's 36-35 4A state semifinal victory. The Hawks went on to win their second consecutive state title.

2001 Hillsborough at Chamberlain: In a 5A regional semifinal matchup, Chamberlain won 28-21 and advanced to the state championship game, where it lost to Naples.

1981 Brandon vs. King: A battle of the unbeatens in front of 10,000 fans at Tampa Stadium, King won the game and remained unbeaten, advancing to the postseason, where it lost 16-13 to Dunedin. The Eagles finished 9-1 and out of the postseason.

1979 Plant City vs. Plant: In the final week of the regular season, both teams were unbeaten, with a district title at stake. The game was moved to Tampa Stadium, and more than 23,000 watched Plant win, 13-6, in arguably the biggest regular-season county game.

1977 Robinson at Plant: With a district title on the line, Robinson won 14-7 in a controversial game. Rumors swirled that Robinson placed a bounty on Plant quarterback Doug Shields. Shields was knocked out of the game with a broken leg.

1969 Leesburg vs. Blake: At Tampa Stadium, Blake's aggressive defense intercepted five passes - cornerback Bobby Bennett had three picks to stop drives - en route to a 27-6 victory against Leesburg in the Class A state title game. Don Roseboro ran 17 times for 138 yards and a touchdown to key the Blake offense. Coach Wilbur Lofton's Yellow Jackets had 97 return yards on defense.

1968 Jesuit vs. Kathleen: At Tampa Stadium, Jesuit running back Leonard George, the first black player to sign with the University of Florida, runs wild, rushing for four touchdowns to help win the game, 39-25, and secure the Class A state championship, the first title in Hillsborough County.

1963 Coral Gables vs. Robinson: In the first FHSAA-sanctioned state championship game, more than 10,000 crammed into the old Phillips Field stands to watch Coral Gables defeat the Knights, 16-14, in a heartbreaking loss in the final seconds. This was arguably the biggest postseason game in county history.

1961 Lakeland at Chamberlain: In another battle of the unbeatens, the Chiefs defeated the Dreadnaughts 14-0 to remain undefeated for a mythical state title (no state playoffs yet).

1958 Plant vs. Hillsborough: We could do a graphic alone on all the great Turkey Day games at Phillips Field, but this one in particular was a special one. Plant defeated Hillsborough, 14-13, for the first 10-0 season in school history.

Katherine Smith