By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
So much for being No. 1.
Tampa Plant's reign atop the MaxPreps Tampa Bay Top Ten did not last long. The state's defending Class 4A champions got caught up in the buzzsaw that is Seffner Armwood.As good as Plant was last year and as solid as the Panthers still are, they struggled mightily in the second half against an Armwood team that battered them and wore them down. And the Hawks weren't even at full strength.
Armwood coach Sean Callahan suspended eight players (five starters) hours before the game for skipping first-period class on Thursday. Among the suspended players was the Hawks' starting cornerback and quarterback Mywan Jackson.
Backup quarterback Rob Jones filled in admirably, but the night belonged to running back Eric Smith. With Armwood trailing Plant 7-6 at the half, Smith scored three touchdowns in the second half, including an 83-yard run that closed out the game's scoring. Smith finished the game with 173 yards rushing as the Hawks' ground game churned up 339 total rushing yards as a team.
And on defense?
The Hawks swarmed around Aaron Murray, Plant's highly-touted new quarterback. Still, Murray did manage some effectiveness. He completed 14 of 33 passes for 236 yards and scored a touchdown on a 3-yard run. But Murray was on the run most of the night, getting sacked eight times by the Hawk's defense.
So where do these titans stand poll-wise after the first week of action?
Armwood takes up residence atop the poll while Plant slips to No. 6. Tampa Hillsborough moves up after an equally impressive win against Tampa Jefferson. Largo and Tampa Chamberlain are risers while Riverview, Land O'Lakes and Gaither have headed the other way.
1. SEFFNER ARMWOOD - The Hawks were limited with five starters out due to suspensions and still manhandled a very good Tampa Plant team. Armwood plays at no. 5 Tampa Wharton Friday.
2. TAMPA HILLSBOROUGH - Coach Earl Garcia's Terriers are talented and fast - very fast. Hillsborough rolled up 267 yards on the ground to beat Tampa Jefferson 43-20. Next:Tampa Alonso.
3. LARGO - Just how good are the Packers? Time will tell but they played outstandingly in Week One with a strong 20-0 win against East Lake. RB Brynn Harvey is the real deal with 249 yards rushing and one touchdown. Largo, which moved up six spots on the poll, travels to Palm Harbor University Friday.
4. TAMPA CHAMBERLAIN - The Chiefs pushed Tampa Gaither around in the 41-17 victory that wasn't as close as the score indicated. Chiefs QB Dontae Aycock ran for three scores and passed for two more in the rout. The Chiefs play at No. 8 Tampa Middleton Friday.
5. TAMPA WHARTON - The Wildcats answered questions about their rebuilt defense with eight new starters by posting a 20-0 shutout win against Tampa Freedom. Their reward? No. 1 Armwood comes in for a visit Friday.
6. TAMPA PLANT - The Panthers are still a talented squad and will be out to prove it Friday against Tampa Gaither, which dropped out of the top ten with its loss to Chamberlain.
7. ST. PETERSBURG NORTHEAST - The Vikings' RB Jeff Brinson opened the season with 350 yards on 24 carries and six touchdowns in a 40-7 win against St. Petersburg. Northeast travels to St. Petersburg Dixie Hollins this week, the first of three straight on the road.
8. TAMPA MIDDLETON - They're not loaded with stars, great size or tons of speed, but the Tigers have talent and put in a workmanlike effort in their 19-10 win against Brandon. No. 4 Chamberlain will be a great test this week.
9. TAMPA JEFFERSON - The Dragons are still smarting from their loss to Hillsborough and starting QB Zack Grossi may be out with a shoulder injury. But don't count out Jefferson just yet. The Dragons host Tampa Robinson Friday.
10. NEW PORT RICHEY RIDGEWOOD - Byronell Arline rumbled for 136 yards and a touchdowns as the Rams topped Hudson 26-7 in their opener. The Rams travel to Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch next.
Honorable Mention: Tampa Jesuit, Tampa Catholic, Gibsonton East Bay, Clearwater Countryside, St. Petersburg Boca Ciega, Riverview, New Port Richey Mitchell.