Armwood expects balanced attack against Charlotte in football's 4A regional final

SEFFNER — Armwood went a little old school last Friday night.

The Hawks' running game was fierce, they kept the passing to a minimum and imposed their will along the line against a Largo team that probably wished Armwood's bus had broken down on the Howard Frankland Bridge. The result? A 49-3 thumping of a Packers team considered the most physical in Pinellas County.

"We were on (Friday)," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said. "The guys played at a high level."

Armwood, arguably Hillsborough County's most dominant team over the past decade, built its reputation through the years as a smash-mouth, run-oriented offense. Running backs Kalvin Bailey, Demetrius McCray and Eric Smith — all of whom signed with Division I schools — powered Armwood offenses that kept the ball on the ground.

"Back then, we maybe threw the ball five times a game," Callahan said.

But those days are long gone. The spread offense now dominates the high school football landscape, and the Hawks are no exception. They adopted the pass-heavy approach a few years back, and their success has continued. But when the passing game struggles, sometimes you have to return to basics.

"If something isn't working, you have to make a switch," Callahan said. "And that goes both ways."

Armwood ran into that situation in its opening-round playoff game against Sickles. With the offense sputtering and trailing by 2 heading into the fourth quarter, Armwood returned to the power running attack. On the drive that put the Hawks ahead for good, Armwood ran five straight plays between the tackles, resulting in a lead-clinching touchdown. They continued to pound the football on the ground the rest of the quarter, salting away the victory.

"I still believe you have to run the (ball) in high school football," Callahan said. "But I've been with (offensive coordinator) Chris Taylor for the last 15 years, and he knows how to game plan for an opponent."

After taking over the fourth quarter against Sickles, Armwood gave Largo a heavy dose of old-school Hawks football. Armwood threw the ball just six times against the Packers, with two of those going for touchdowns.

"I thought we were a more physical team than them," Callahan said.

Another facet of the running game is the physicality it brings into the equation. Linemen get a chance to drive forward, running backs get to deliver blows by lowering their shoulders and defenses wear down with the punishment.

"Running the ball effectively intimidates, and I believe in intimidating teams the proper way," Callahan said. "If we can drive block, put guys on their back and move the pile, that has an effect on other teams' mindstate."

Callahan said he expects this week's game plan to be more balanced at Charlotte in the region final. But don't be surprised if the Hawks lean heavily on the run again.

"We're looking to be more 50-50, but really we want our run to set up the pass," Callahan said. "But the defense will dictate how we play. Thankfully, I'm confident we can do either if necessary."