In a game that pitted arguably the best teams of this decade from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, there would be no debate about the better of the two teams this year.
Armwood ran for 219 yards and held Largo to minus-25 rushing yards late into the fourth quarter and 89 total yards by the end, winning 49-3 in a Class 4A region semifinal that looked more like a typical Hawks midseason rout.
"We were hoping to show them something they hadn't seen before," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said. "Did I see that coming? No."
Perhaps the biggest surprise was senior defensive end Coty Creech, who had never made a start for Armwood before last week. Creech had three of the Hawks' seven sacks and another tackle for loss on Packers quarterback Juwan Brown, his second big game in a row.
It could be argued that Creech's career was saved by the playoffs.
"I never got any attention until last week," Creech said, as a television reporter waited to interview him. "I had to compete for it."
Hawks quarterback Josh Grady had three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). Sherman Jessie had two touchdowns, including a late 41-yard fumble return, and punt returner A.J. King also scored on a 33-yard return, breaking two tackles in the process.
But the defense was the star, holding Largo's top rusher, D.J. Key, to just 23 yards on 13 carries.
Largo's only score, a 22-yard field goal, came after Armwood punter Darrell Dudney put his knee down while fielding a punt at the Hawks 26.
Armwood1471414-49Largo0300-3 A - Melvin 6 run (Dudney kick)
A - Cross 14 pass from Grady (Dudney kick)
A - King 33 punt return (Dudney kick)
L - FG Sever 22
A - Grady 3 run (Dudney kick)
A - Jessie 7 pass from Grady (Dudney kick)
A - Emmons 18 run (Dudney kick)
A - Jessie 41 fumble return (Dudney kick)
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