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Region football: Armwood 31, Ocala Vanguard 17

 
Published Nov. 24, 2017

SEFFNER — Armwood appeared to be on its way to yet another rout through the first 24 minutes of football Friday night.

James Miller delivered a crunching hit on the opening kickoff. The defense looked suffocating, holding Ocala Vanguard to a mere 23 yards rushing in the half. Brian Snead was well on his way to 100 yards rushing and Devin Black hooked up with Jerome Ford on two long TD passes. Vanguard seemed like it had one foot already on the bus heading back to Ocala.

But the final two quarters proved a different story.

Vanguard rallied to pull within one score late but Armwood held on, defeating the visiting Knights 31-17 to remain undefeated and advance to next week's Class 6A state semifinals.

"That was one up-and-down game," Black said. "I think we failed the adversity test to be honest. I think we failed."

It was far and away the closest game Armwood (13-0) has played all season. And although Black may have been his harshest critic, he said the Hawks will take the upcoming week to make adjustments.

"We need to use this game and learn how to come together better under adversity," Black said. "But we will learn from this game, how to better keep our composure."

Vanguard (11-1) scored on its opening possession of the second half, then the Knights got a safety on a snap that sailed over Black's head into the end zone to cut it to 24-10 with just over three minutes left in the third. Devin Edwards' 17-yard TD then trimmed the lead to 24-17 one minute later and suddenly, the Hawks were in a dogfight.

"That team has made it this far in the playoffs for a reason," Armwood coach Evan Davis said. "They are the most athletic team we've faced so far. I need to do a better job coaching and getting our kids ready for the second half. It's a learning experience for us all."

The teams traded punts through much of the fourth quarter before Black hit a streaking Ezeriah Anderson on third and 23 from the Hawks' 37. Anderson broke left, shed a couple tackles and stiff-armed the final defender before bursting up the sideline to all but seal the Hawks win with 1:44 to play.

"We had some good success with the wheel route to (Snead), but I heard one of their defenders call it out before we snapped it," Black said. "They scraped to the right (to shade toward Snead) so I knew the middle of the field would be wide open."

Armwood played most of the game without two of its best players. Defensive lineman Malcolm Lamar suited up but did not play and Fitzroy Gardner left the game in the first and did not return. With Vanguard throwing almost exclusively in the second half, the Hawks were forced to rotate in offensive players Warren Thompson, Ford and Snead.

"It was all hands on deck tonight," Davis said. "We don't win that game unless those (offensive) guys step up and contribute on the defensive side."