Four 9 Route Must See Match Ups
Game 2 (11:20a): Tarpon Spring vs Lakewood
The only two Pinellas County teams that entered “9 Route” will go head to head early. Tarpon will show off the arm of ever dependable Louie Pappas who comes to the FishHawk as one of the top passers in the Tampa Bay Area. But how will Pappas and co. handle the speed of the ever confident Lakewood boys? Hilited by a fast secondary and athletic line backing crew, the Spartans travel east over the bridge for bragging rights and a chance to show the Hillsborough County boys that they can play. Can Pappas handle to Spartan speed or will the Lakewood boys prove to be too much for the Spongers?
Game 3 (1:05p): Wharton vs Plant City
Plant City is the home of the strawberries, but this year they also house some stud athletes. Raider QB, Bennie Coney is ranked as one of the state’s top passers according to some recruiting services and has plenty of targets to get the ball to including RB/slot, Dazmond Patterson who has had “one heck” of an off-season winning MVP honors at the BHSN/BCP Ignite Combine and MVP showcase. Lamarlin Wiggins and Antwon Armstrong add to the number of targets for Coney, who will attempt to perform well against a Wildcat secondary lead by Division 1 DB prospect, Vernon Hargreaves. Hargreaves doubles as a limited WR but has seemingly has become Wildcat passer, Chase Litton’s, favorite target. The boys in blue impressed at USF’s Sling & Shoot a few weeks ago and are primed for a repeat performance.
Game 4 (1:40p): Plant vs King
It’s good to take down the Champ. At the same time it’s always good to be the King. Plant High comes off a championship victory in West Palm Beach, FL at the Heath Evans 7 on 7 Tournament and King enters 9 Route as the NFL High School Player Development Tampa Bay Area 7 on 7 Champion. Why not match them up? Plant is working with a 3 QB rotation currently with James Few and Aaron Banks getting most of the reps. King works with 1 QB, Greg Windham who enters 9 Route as the best QB in the Tampa Bay area according to us. Both teams are talented on the perimeter and have more than enough playmakers to make the this game the marquee match up.
Game 4 (1:40p): TBT vs Tampa Catholic
Tampa Bay Tech in a 7 on 7 tournament, is a must see by it’s self. But, TBT vs TC makes it even better. I have gone on record in saying that TBT is a team that has “a chance” at upsetting Armwood if all the stars align. They had almost every piece of the puzzle when I visited their practice during the spring and now the Titans may have acquired a QB (Aaron Midthus) to make the puzzle complete. Only time will tell, but for now, I’m excited to see TBT’s skill in a 7 on 7 setting. On the other hand, the Crusaders have some guys of their own. Michael Clarke and Zach Benjamin will be considered as one of the best WR tandems. Both go 6-4 or taller and make for a difficult task for defensive secondaries. Seeing TC quarterback, Chivarski Corbett this spring and one week ago at the NFL HSPD 7 on 7, he is much improved and his confidence is starting to emerge.