Game of the Week Preview: Plant vs. Armwood

Posted Sep 30, 2009 by Bill Ward

Updated Sep 30, 2009 at 09:40 PM

When it comes to the Tampa Tribune/TBO.com Game of the Week, it doesn’t get much better—or bigger—than Plant vs. Armwood.

That’s what we have Friday night at 7:30 in Seffner, when the Panthers come to Lyle Flagg Field to take on the Hawks. At that site, Armwood has registered 43 consecutive victories. The Hawks have not lost at home since the 2002 playoffs, when Lake Gibson pulled out a 17-14 victory.

Funny thing about Lyle Flagg is, the Hawks don’t always draw the biggest or rowdiest crowds there. Armwood coach Sean Callahan was only half-joking this week when he said Plant would probably bring a bigger crowd to Friday night’s game than his school will. Still, the Hawks have racked up all those wins during the past seven years there, and most of them have been fairly lopsided.

As a result, the Panthers will enter this meeting as the underdogs, at least in the minds of those who can be neutral about the game. The Panthers will once again feature a high-powered, pass-happy offense and already have back starting quarterback Phillip Ely, who missed the first part of the season with a back injury. The Panthers are also out to prove—again—they can be as physical as anyone on defense.

Armwood will try to counter that with its usual bruising play on defense—i.e., get to the quarterback and receivers. The difference this time could be that Armwood has what might be one of its best passing attacks in years. Led by quarterback Josh Grady and receivers AJ King, Richard Jules and Sherman Jessie, the Hawks have put up some decent numbers through the air this fall.

It should be another good game between these two programs, who have each won two state titles in Class 4A during the past decade.

To see an exclusive video preview of Armwood coach Sean Callahan and Plant coach Robert Weiner discussing the game, click here: http://www2.tbo.com/video/2009/sep/30/plant-vs-armwood-game-of-the-week-prev-60622/video-sports/

To see a photo gallery from the two teams’ recent practice sessions, click here: http://www2.tbo.com/photoalbum/2009/sep/30/game-of-the-week-plant-vs-armwood/

TBO will have coverage of this game, as well as others from around the Tampa Bay area, with our live scoreboard. And you can join into the discussion about the games taking place that night with veteran Tribune reporter Joey Johnston and his “Friday Night Live” web chat. Joey will take your questions, pass along scoring updates, detail the statistical leaders and have some fun.

Photo: Plant’s Orson Charles is off to the end zone for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 17-14 win over Armwood in last year’s playoffs. Photo by Jim Reed.