New games this Friday and we’re on the hunt for the best players to play big and area teams to keep improving. Before you hit the bleacher for game night, here are the five things you need to know:
1. PLAYER TO WATCH: Isaiah Hudson, Sickles 2024 ATH might be an issue. We got a glimpse of him this summer during the 7 on 7 season and he raised eyebrows. Well, he made a mess again in the preseason game. A few big plays and a few touchdowns…looked good doing it versus Blake. Jefferson is up this week and will give Hudson more competition. He’s smooth, has great hands, is shifty, and adjusts well to the ball in flight. College coaches keep an eye on this kid.
2. GAME TO WATCH: Miami Northwestern at Venice. Venice played the best team in American football last week and didn’t look great. However, the playing field should level out this week versus a traditionally talented MNW team…but a high school team. IMG is a bottom-half SEC team (haha). In all seriousness, super talented bunch of prospects. MNW will give Venice a better barometer. The Indians will be tested by size and again while Venice will challenge MNW with organization and tempo. This will be a very intriguing game. Styles make for great games.
3. TEAM TRENDING UP: Armwood! Funny to say that right? However the last couple of seasons Armwood has been a .500 ball club with an official 10-10 record over the last two seasons. In 2019 the Hawks were a dominant 12-2 and have goals of getting back to those dominating ways. In the preseason classic versus Lakeland, many expected the Hawks to get smashed by the Dreadnaughts who is an early favorite to win the class 4S state title. For a practice game, the score doesn’t matter. However, for perspective, a 13-6 loss to Lakeland is a positive. Pay close attention to the Hawks this week. They’ll travel to Alabama to play 1-0 Hillcrest.
4. COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT: Tampa Bay Tech product…”As of Aug. 23, fifth-year junior Michael Penix Jr. is the starting quarterback for Washington football, per head coach Kalen DeBoer’s announcement. But Penix Jr. took a windy road to Washington, and he will have an abundance of collegiate experience — both ups and downs — under his belt when he takes the first snap for the Huskies on Sept. 3.” KEEP READING!
5. NFL SPOTLIGHT: Broncos’ HC Nathaniel Hackett Praises ‘Swiss Army Knife’ TE Andrew Beck, Plant High School product. “He’s a guy that has come out here and played that swing position,” Hackett said on Tuesday. “He’s been both fullback, he’s been on the line, he’s been a ‘Y’ [tight end] during 11-personnel, so he’s a guy that is kind of like a Swiss army knife. He can do so many different things.” KEEP READING!