Hawks celebrate Thanksgiving, then get back to work

Posted Nov 24, 2011 by Bill Ward

Updated Nov 24, 2011 at 04:22 PM

For the past 11 years, Armwood’s football team has been in the playoffs at Thanksgiving time. And each of those seasons, the Hawks have celebrated with a Thanksgiving team breakfast.

Thursday morning, Armwood coach Sean Callahan brought his squad to a new location, the Clubhouse Sports Cafe in Brandon. After a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage and potatoes, the team headed back to school in Seffner to get in a short workout in shorts and helmets. Funny thing is, the nationally-ranked Hawks came close to not having this day together. They had to come from behind last Friday to knock off Lakewood Ranch in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs.

Fortunately for the Hawks, they pulled out the win to keep two streaks alive: this Thanksgiving Day meal and workout, and, since 2003, a win in the state title game or a loss to the eventual state champion.

Friday night in round 2 of the 6A playoffs, Armwood hosts Hillsborough. With quarterback Darryl Richardson still nursing the sore shoulder he injured in the last week of the season against King, look for Alvin Bailey to be the starter again at the QB spot Friday. He’s the guy who scored the game-winning touchdown against Lakewood Ranch in the fourth quarter and one of the most effective weapons the Hawks have in their offensive arsenal.