Armwood – What did we learn in 6A state championship game?
It’s not so much what we learned, it’s more so what the Hawks proved. Everyone always talks about Armwood’s athletes. The team is ‘undisciplined’ but Armwood always ‘out-athletes’ everyone. Not so in the championship game.
Armwood came in with a great game plan. The coaching staff saw the weakness in Central’s defense – it was in the Rockets linebackers. Cody Waldrup and Jack Lightsey, along with the rest of the offensive line, controlled the line of scrimmage and were able to get the second-level to open up gaping holes while Alvin Bailey and Wade Edwards ran an effective zone-read rushing game.
Central adjusted though. Da’wan Hunte (9) and Ahmad Thomas (8) led the Rockets in tackles as those two were keys in holding the Hawks scoreless in the second quarter. Armwood would adjust in the third (14 points) and fourth (10 points) quarters though.
Early in the fourth quarter, with the safeties helping to stop the run, Armwood spread the Rockets out. The Hawks split-out four wide receivers who faced man coverage with no over-the-top help. Armwood would continue to work the run game until Bailey hit Matt Jones, who was in man coverage, over the top for an 80 yard touchdown.
What I learned about Plant is something I thought I already knew, but I guess just didn’t believe. I’ll explain. I knew about the staff, I knew about the players, and I knew they were playing some top-notch football, but there’s no other way around it. Shocked isn’t the word for it. Mystified isn’t doing it justice either. I believe punch-drunk is the best way to summarize the experience on Saturday Night. Usually when someone reaches punch-drunk status it’s from a series of blows to the head. I picked against the Panthers, but it wasn’t a comfortable pick. I overbought into the “hype” of Miramar. I somehow managed to underestimate this year’s version of Plant’s will to succeed. Never again. Lastly, I learned that just because you have 4 or 5 stars next to your name doesn’t guarantee squat. I watched Daniel Casselli manhandle Tracy Howard most of the night. Casselli only had 1 catch, but his downfield blocking combined with a nasty streak caught Howard off guard. Tracy Howard had ONE tackle all night and one INT.
Armwood offensive coordinator, Evan Davis, took a beating last year in the state finals game versus Lincoln, with a few questionable plays calls. But, this year he was lights out as the Hawks only had 8 total plays for negative yards, 2 of which were sacks. The Hawks finished with 169 yards on the ground and 194 through the air, finishing the game with 363 yards of total offense. However, the beauty of the playing calling came in crucial moments of the game. 3rd quarter, 1st and 10 from the Central 19 yard line going in, Davis dials up a QB throwback from Sneed to Alvin Bailey who walked in the end zone capping off a 12 play 80 yard drive putting Armwood up 30-21. He wasn’t done yet! Again on 1st down, 8:04 into the 4th quarter, Davis calls a timely play action (what looked like a counter pass) pass from Bailey to Matt Jones for an 80 yard TD putting Armwood up 37-24. Offensive Coordinator, Evan Davis, did a beautiful job of breaking tendencies and making gutsy calls in the right time. Central did not just get out played, but out coached.