Game of the Week: Freedom vs. TBT

Posted Oct 7, 2009 by Bill Ward

Updated Oct 8, 2009 at 12:59 PM

Photo: Former Detroit Lions linebacker and Plant High co-defensive coordinator James Harrell, now in his first season as head coach at Freedom High, demonstrates the right technique in this drill at Monday’s practice. Photo by Bill Ward.

Week 6 of the 2009 season features an interesting matchup with plenty of storylines: Freedom (2-1) vs. Tampa Bay Tech (3-1).

For starters, this is the Class 5A-District 7 opener for both teams. And with that district’s two other teams struggling (Brandon and Wharton), this game has serious playoff implications. The winner should have the inside track for the district crown and the loser will have little room for error the remainder of the regular season.

Freedom is being guided by a new head coach, James Harrell, who was co-defensive coordinator for Plant’s two state championships teams in 2006 and 2008. Besides several assistants who, like him, have NFL playing experience, Harrell has brought a no-nonsense attitude to the program and an emphasis on aggressive “assignment football” on defense. The Patriots are looking to make the playoffs for only the second time in school history.

For TBT, this is more than just a homecoming game they are favored to win. The Titans feel they still have something to prove, especially after they fell in the Tribune/TBO.com rankings from No. 2 to No. 3 despite registering a win last week and despite having beaten No. 1-ranked Plant on the Panthers’ home field. So if they get any kind of lead, don’t expect the Titans and coach C.C. Culpepper to take their foot off the gas pedal.

Last year at Freedom, TBT escaped with a 22-21 victory. But the Patriots missed a last-second field goal that would have won them the game.

To promote this game, TBO.com and The Tampa Tribune has done its usual pregame photo gallery from recent practice sessions at the two sachools. To see that, follow this link: http://www2.tbo.com/photoalbum/2009/oct/07/game-of-the-week-preparations-freedom-vs-tbt/

To see the video preview of the game with interviews of both coaches, follow this link: http://www2.tbo.com/video/2009/oct/07/game-of-the-week-preview-freedom-vs-tb-87775/video-sports/