#9 MANATEE HURRICANES (0-0) at #1 ARMWOOD HAWKS (0-0)
When: Friday, August 16, 2017, 7:30 P.M.
Where: Lyle Flagg Stadium, 12000 East U.S. Highway 92, Seffner, FL 33584
TV: Spectrum Sports (Channel 47 and HD 1147)
Coaches: MANATEE- Yusuf Shakir (83-42 Overall, 11th Season Overall, 1st Season at Manatee), ARMWOOD- Evan Davis (0-0, 1st Season)
How They Match Up:
Two of the most successful programs in the state kick off the 2017 season against each other in this preseason classic with new head coaches making their debuts. Evan Davis, who grew up in Seffner and won a state championship at Armwood in 2003, takes over the Hawks program after long-time head coach Sean Callahan stepped down in the offseason. Davis was promoted after serving as Armwood’s offensive coordinator for the past seven seasons, and he has a boatload of talent at his fingertips. Armwood could have eight or more seniors play at the Division I level in college. Ohio State commit Brian Snead is entering his third year as the Hawks’ lead back, and he’s on a mission to get Armwood back to Orlando after the Hawks failed to appear in the state final for the first time in four years. Fellow seniors Warren Thompson (WR) and Malcolm Lamar (DE) are both Oregon commits who rank among the best at their positions in the nation. Senior quarterback Devin Black is a dual threat who has taken his game to the next level now that he has a year under his belt in Coach Davis’s offensive system. Senior Jerome Ford is one of the best athletes to ever play at Armwood, and he’ll wear many different hats for the Hawks on the field, but will be featured mostly at wide receiver. As always, Armwood is loaded on the defensive side of the ball. There are playmakers all around at linebacker in the Hawks’ 3-4 scheme with James Miller, Ricardo Watson, Caleb Southerland, and newcomer De’Shard Hughes. Nose guard Allah Whittaker is also a force up front.
Yusuf Shakir takes over at Manatee after leaving his alma mater of Tallahassee Lincoln. Shakir, who led Gibbs to the playoffs before taking the Lincoln job, returns to the Tampa Bay area excited about the opportunity to guide the tradition-rich Hurricanes back to prominence. Shakir’s offense will ride bruising tailback Joshua Booker, who’s in his second year as a starter after transferring in from Sarasota High School. Junior wide receiver Keyon Fordham is another big-time playmaker, while senior three-year starter Javarius Pollock is as steady as they come at the receiver position. Bayshore transfer Ryan O’Neill will get a shot to show what he can do in his first year as a starting quarterback. The Hurricanes boast a stout secondary, with three talented senior starters back in safety Josh Betts and cornerbacks Sir Williams and Cedrick Waters. Junior Brandon Dossey is a prototypical middle linebacker who plays physical football, while junior defensive tackle Carter Sysak is coming off a monster sophomore season.
Three Facts to Know:
1. BABY HAWK JUST HATCHED- Armwood head coach Evan Davis and his wife, Ashley, just had their first child on Monday. Campbell Addison Davis was born at 9:53 p.m. that day weighing in at eight pounds, 4 ounces. Davis was able to make it to practice (on very little sleep) Tuesday and was greeted with love from his Hawks family. Davis has always noted that what he does at Armwood wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support Ashley gives him every day.
2. “SPECIAL” TEAMS FOCUS- Manatee head coach Yusuf Shakir prides himself on special teams play. Shakir notes that the first play of every game is a special teams play, and kickoff returns give you the rare opportunity to get the ball in your best athlete’s hands with everyone else spread out. Shakir puts all of his best players on special teams, and he loves the way that a big play on special teams can totally change the momentum of a game.
3. BRINGS BACK GOOD MEMORIES- Coach Shakir knows his Hurricanes are in for a challenge against one of the best teams in the state Friday night, but facing Armwood still makes him smile. Shakir won his first state championship as a head coach against the Hawks in 2010 while leading the Tallahassee Lincoln program. When we asked him about that game this week, he laughed and said “nobody gave us a shot”! Lincoln defeated a loaded Armwood team that included Matt Jones and Eric Striker in the Class 4A state final by a 17-14 final score.