Another summer has come, another BCP 9-Route Tournament is in the books; and in its short existence, folks and ballers from all over the region have come to expect the unexpected on the field, expect the expected when it comes to Mother Nature, and to always expect that young men (whether “known” or otherwise) are going to give us exactly what we want when it comes down to it; competition, playmaking, and proof that there is some inherent good in running incessantly in the Florida heat.
The Tampa Bay Tech Titans are your 2014 BCP 9-Route Champions following their defeat of the inaugural champions from 2010 Spoto by a 34-20 margin on Sunday afternoon in front of a live television audience on BHSN. The Titans completed a nine-game schedule going undefeated throughout pool play versus Pinellas Park by scores of 13-12, Cambridge Christian 21-6, Strawberry Crest 18-13, Brandon 21-14, and East Bay 21-6.
In the elimination rounds they were able defeat Dixie Hollins 20-16, Steinbrenner 26-24, and Lake Gibson 27-7 before taking on the Spartans. The Titans used their sophomore QB Trent Wyatt to distribute dimes to WR’s Deon Cain and Daquan Green during the entire finals with Cain finishing with 3 TD’s to his credit along with Green’s circus-catch in the back of the endzone going down as one of the best plays of the entire tournament.
Cain was awarded the Offensive MVP for his efforts along with TBT’s Sherrod Paige taking honors as Defensive MVP. Paige was converted from WR to Free Safety and apparently his ability to not only play defense, but actually catch the ball when the opposing QB throws it his way has given the Titans the best of both worlds and his and Marchalo Judge’s INT’s off Spoto’s QB Terrance Williams were as crucial as Cain and Green’s TD’s were.
Afterwards, Paige spoke about the day and why his skill-set is a double-trouble for teams. “It was a great experience getting to face a lot of different teams out here and then going undefeated. I personally felt like I just couldn’t be stopped; when the ball was in the air, it was mine. I still couldn’t have done it without my teammates around me and my coaches calling the plays though. We won this as a team.”
TBT has always had the talent to win events like this and many others, but specifically with regards to the 9-Route, it has been a bit of a nuisance to them not to be supplanted firmly in the title game every year they have attended. Paige explained his reasoning.
“In the past, when we would have controversy or adversity, we wouldn’t be able to finish. This year we made the commitment to finish the job and that’s what happened.” Head Coach Jayson Roberts knows that this was also a bit of an issue, but he also expressed to his team after the game about the importance of the win being about TBT coming together in the face of it. “This is about us; one family; all together day-in and day-out and these are the results from putting in the work.”
Not to be forgotten, Spoto’s Terrance Williams’ play QB and safety, DB Jessie Holmes, and Kevin Hobley were stars throughout the tournament on a team that looks ready to put the pads on tomorrow if you would let them. The Spartans were the #4 overall seed after group play finishing 7-1-1 in the tournament with wins over Alonso (2x’s), Freedom (Orlando), King, Dixie Hollins, Clearwater and Brandon. Their tie came in a 14-14 contest versus Clearwater in pool play.
– Doug Pugh