The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
Yeah, we knew it was going to be good. But this good? Seriously? Really? In three games against Armwood, Plant's Aaron Murray has zero touchdown passes. In 10 games against everyone else, he has 51. Just saying.
2. We're No. 2!
I always felt that Chamberlain was Tampa Bay's second-best team. Now, I'm convinced.
3. Freeeeeeedom!!!
Remember at the end of Braveheart, when the Royal Magistrate tells the crowd that the prisoner would like to say a word, and William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson, left), with his last breath, yells Freeeeeeeeedom!? I heard that when Freedom coach Marquel Blackwell woke up Saturday morning after his team's stunning upset of Wharton, he did the exact same thing. He just didn't have his head lopped off afterward.
4. Dandy debuts
Hernando's John Palmer, Spoto's Dale Caparaso and King's Al Davis all picked up wins in their first game coaching their new schools. Bravo.
5. What a difference … so far
Last year Sunlake, Seminole, King, Freedom and Hernando combined for six wins. Six! This year, they already have five.
6. Armwood defense
Again. Man, oh, Man-Man. As if having Ryne Giddins back on the defensive line wasn't enough, the Hawks added Theodore "Man-Man" Jackson, who had a sack for a safety and was just as good as coach Sean Callahan had advertised.
7. Eli Escobar
Sunlake's senior running back scored twice, and the Seahawks won for the first time after an 0-10 season last year.
8. That wasn't supposedto happen
Seminole beat Clearwater. Pasco beat Land O'Lakes. St. Petersburg beat Northeast. Freedom beat Wharton.
9. Top combination
With apologies to Armwood, Alonso may have played the most complete game Friday. QB C.J. Bennett was 28-for-43 for 253 yards and three touchdowns, while the Ravens defense held Robinson to 23 yards.
10. Last word
I'm not sure I want to put all the blame for Friday's dud between Armwood and Plant at ESPNU's feet, but I hope the exposure for the players was worth it for the kids and fans who had to endure a drawn-out contest. Excruciatingly long timeouts — there had to be at least a half-dozen times the teams were standing around the line of scrimmage waiting for the ESPNU okay to continue — killed the game's flow and I think led to a number of delay-of-game and false-start penalties. Not sure if this came across during the broadcast, but even though I TiVo'd it, I don't plan to find out.
John C. Cotey can be reached atjohncotey@gmail.com.
[Last modified: Sep 10, 2008 08:06 AM]
Comments on this article
by chase
Sep 10, 2008 8:06 AM
Sorry to it but Armwood won't lose a game this year. If anyone thinks they look[very beatable] you had to be watching another game. I was rooting for Plant. Plant will lose again they looked very slow. Gallon,Winter,Jackson gone. Defense is the Key.
by MIKE
Sep 8, 2008 6:33 PM
Lynn yes Plant's D is very good. But really Armwood might not give up a touchdown this year on defense. They are that good. And I'm not an Armwood fan either.
by Bryan
Sep 8, 2008 10:04 AM
Eli Escobar scored twice along with the help of Sunlake FB Mike Shaver setting the touchdowns up with over 110 yards rushing averaging 5-7 yards per carry- give credit where credit is due, as all these boys have worked hard to get where they are.
by Lynn
Sep 8, 2008 10:03 AM
Cotey, yes Armwood D is great, what about the no name guys from Plant that held the awesome Armwood to 7 points? Plant's D was awesome and how many D-1 guys do they have??? I would hope Armwood performs w/ that talent! They are very beatable!!!!!!!!
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