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Hillsborough: Sunday morning quarterback

 
Published Nov. 18, 2012

Let's play two. Week 2 of the football postseason features four rematches of regular-season showdowns. In order of appeal, we rank them:

1. Armwood (8-3) at Hillsborough (9-1)

First meeting: Hillsborough 3-0 on Oct. 18

Veteran coach Earl Garcia was moved to tears after Hillsborough handed the penalty-prone Hawks their first shutout defeat in 11 years. For Garcia, will the sequel be a replicate of Godfather II or Caddyshack II?

2. Newsome (7-4) at Durant (11-0)

First meeting: Durant 38-28 on Oct. 18

It would sure be sweet for the Wolves to spoil Durant's undefeated season in this suddenly fierce eastern Hillsborough rivalry. But it'll be tough: The Cougars controlled the first matchup and led 31-7 before a late Newsome rally.

3. Lakewood (10-1) at Robinson (10-1)

First meeting: Robinson 19-8 on Oct. 26

The key for the Knights will be a breakneck start, which has been their modus operandi all winter. Robinson has scored first in all 11 games this year.

4. Tampa Catholic (8-3) at CCC (10-1)

First meeting: Clearwater Central Catholic 27-7 on Oct. 5

The Crusaders have to cross the bridge again for another shot at the Marauders, who held them to 79 yards. Clearwater Central Catholic led 24-0 before Tampa Catholic finally got on the board in the fourth quarter.

By the numbers

2 Times Armwood's offense has been shut out this season. The Hawks' lone TD in Friday's 10-6 triumph against Largo came on defense

13 Defensive TDs by Robinson. The Knights added to their state single-season record with Javaughn Johnson's 45-yard fumble return against Port Orange Atlantic

28 Career playoff victories, in only eight appearances, for Plant coach Robert Weiner after Friday's 48-31 victory against Orlando Freedom

371 Yards passing by Wharton junior Chase Litton in a 28-15 loss at Orlando Dr. Phillips, a career high for Hillsborough County's top passer (by yardage) this season

5,475 Career rushing yards by Carrollwood Day senior Robert Davis, a Hillsborough County record. Davis had 245 in the Patriots' 24-12 victory against Moore Haven

Honor roll

Vernon Hargreaves III, Wharton. Even in a losing effort at Orlando Dr. Phillips, Hargreaves was all over the field. He had two receptions for 26 yards, caused a fumble and had a number of stops in Wharton's solid defensive performance against the state's top-ranked Class 8A team.

TJ Harrell, Tampa Catholic. His 65-yard touchdown run with a little more than two minutes left was the go-ahead score for the Crusaders in a 24-23 win over Fort Meade.

Zach Hooper, Durant. The Cougars' jack of all trades scored two touchdowns to preserve Durant's undefeated season and first playoff victory since 2003 in a 34-7 win over Tampa Bay Tech.

Dwayne Lawson, Hillsborough. The 6-foot-5 sophomore quarterback had a splendid postseason debut, throwing for 173 yards and a touchdown, and running for 125 more, another touchdown and a two-point conversion in the Terriers' 35-point win over Osceola.

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Newsome's offensive line. This unsung unit allowed the Wolves to rush for 510 yards in their playoff-opening 52-7 romp over Gaither.

Audibles

"The thing that really worries me is No. 7 (senior Rodney Adams) getting in there in the wildcat formation. We've got to come up with something to stop that...because that absolutely hurt us last time. We've got to play disciplined, disciplined ball." — Mike DePue, Robinson coach, on the Knights' rematch with Lakewood

"He's the best we've played this season. Definitely." — Kenderson Obas, Orlando Dr. Phillips DL, on Wharton QB Chase Litton

"I asked Robert if he was okay to go. He said, 'Coach, I'm alive. I can go.' " — Lane McLaughlin, Carrollwood Day coach, on RB Robert Davis (32 carries, 245 yards), who missed several second-half plays in Friday's victory against Moore Haven while his injured right hand was being taped