ARMWOOD HAWKS 6A STATE CHAMPIONS
Senior Wade Edwards impressed once again; he led the Hawks with 50 yards rushing on 8 attempts. Edwards also had 2 receptions for 28 yards including a 19-yard touchdown. Edwards has offers from University of Alabama at Birmingham, Youngstown, Stony Brook and Kent State. While he doesn’t know where he will play next year, he knows he’ll be wearing a ring when he enrolls.
University of Florida commit Matt Jones struggled running the ball. Maybe a lingering ankle injury hobbled him as he looked timid making cuts, but when he got to the open field there was nothing slowing him down. He ran for 46 yards on 15 attempts, an average of 2.8 yards per carry. Everyone was just waiting for ‘Matt Jones to get his’ though. Even when he struggles Jones comes up with a big play, and he did. Midway through the fourth quarter Bailey found Jones streaking across the middle. Jones caught the pass in stride made a defender miss and hit the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown. He finished with 3 catches for 119 yards.
Had it not been for Alvin Bailey, Armwood’s junior kicker Nicholas Feely may have very well been the Hawks most valuable offensive player on the day. Feely was 2-for-2 making field goals from 27 and 43 yards. He did miss one of his five extra points, but the 43-yarder came with 33 seconds on the clock to completely ice the game. Feely also came up big in the punting game with 4 punts (average of 35 yards per punt), pinning Central inside the 20 once.
Armwood junior Alvin Bailey stole the show as he accounted for 206 yards and 3 TDs. Bailey featured HERE
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
And in case you haven’t heard, Armwood has a good one. A very good one.
University of Oklahoma commit Eric Striker did what he has done all year. He had a game-high 12 tackles, a game-high 8 solo. He added two sacks, and when he wasn’t sacking the Central QB he was still in his face. Not only is he extremely fast off the edge, but he uses his hands very well to get off blocks and has a high football IQ always getting his hands up if he can’t get to the quarterback.
Junior Leon McQuay already has 12-plus BCS offers and you should expect more to roll in. McQuay ran an interception back for a touchdown and showed that he is a very sure tackler.
University of South Florida commit Jarvis McCall was tested early, but not often. Miami Central’s first play from scrimmage was a deep out to the far-side of the field. McCall was having none of that as he stepped in front of the would-be receiver and motored 56 yards for a touchdown. That was the last pass attempt in his direction.
Sophomore Kyle Gibson has really come out of nowhere for the Armwood Hawks during its playoff run. He came up big once again, and on this biggest stage. Gibson had four tackles, all coming against the best ball carrier he has seen in his career. With less than 30 seconds left in the game Central was in panic mode as they tried to move the ball and Gibson stepped up from his safety position making a diving catch to completely seal the deal for the Hawks.
Junior linebackers Antonio McCullough and Warren Williams both stepped up big in an attempt slow down Central’s rushing attack. The duo accounted for 12 tackles, one for loss.
Senior Keionne Baines finishes his career with a stellar season. He totaled 156 tackles including the five he had today. Baines is a hard-nosed linebacker who will make a college coach very happy as he is still looking for an offer.
MIAMI CENTRAL
The vaunted Miami Central rushing attack did not disappoint. The Rockets two-headed monster of a rushing attack ran for 202 yards and scored 3 touchdowns.
Sophomore Joseph Yearby led all runningbacks with 27 carries for 118 yards, 2 TD. Yearby has great feet and is extremely tough to bring down. When he sees the smallest of seams Yearby explodes through and is quickly into the second level.
His counterpart Dalvin Cook, another sophomore rushed 6 times for 84 yards, 1 TD. Cook flashed the breakaway speed as his long-run of 63 yards went for a touchdown.
Twitter @KyleBennettUT
