Plant and Jefferson continue their early-season success although their previously scheduled showdown was trumped earlier this year by an ESPN matchup for Plant.
Jefferson (Tampa) and Plant (Tampa) both posted impressive Week 2 victories.
Plant High's James Wilder.
Photo by Tom Lemming
Jefferson, despite a weather delay that extended the end of its game to Saturday afternoon, turned back Newsome (Lithia) 52-26. Plant, with Alabama-bound quarterback
Phillip Ely on the sideline nursing an injured leg, relied on the running of
James Wilder (196 yards, three touchdowns) to beat rival
Hillsborough (Tampa) 20-13.
That would have set up an intriguing early-season battle of unbeatens this week, but earlier in the year, Plant pulled out of the game in favor of an ESPN-televised game at Texas-Class 5A power
Abilene (Texas). Interestingly, Abeline lost 24-21 at home last week against a Florida team (Class 2A Cocoa).
Plant and Abilene will square off at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Meanwhile, Jefferson tweaked its schedule and will play
Bayside (Palm Bay). But there is one powerhouse matchup on the schedule this week for Bay area football fans: Tampa Bay Tech hosts Armwood (Seffner).
Meanwhile, several Bay area teams improved to 2-0 after solid performances last week.
St. Petersburg got 162 yards rushing and three touchdowns from Rashad Lewis and another 139 yards rushing and a score from Calvin Robinson as the Green Devils beat rival
Lakewood (St. Petersburg) 35-14.
Berkeley Prep (Tampa) also was impressive with a 35-14 win against Tampa Catholic and Sickles (Tampa) improved to 2-0 after blanking Blake (Tampa) 25-0.
Other squads that improved to 2-0 include: Countryside (Clearwater), Brandon, Plant City, Jesuit (Tampa),
King (Tampa) and
Admiral Farragut (St. Petersburg).
BEST OF THE BAY 1.
Armwood (Seffner) (1-0) — An off week for the dominant Hawks. Big game this week at No. 7 Tampa Bay Tech.
2.
Jefferson (Tampa) (2-0) — Quarterback
Quentin Williams threw four touchdown passes and ran for another in 52-26 win against Newsome (Lithia). Hosts Bayside (Palm Bay) this week.
3.
Plant (Tampa, Fla.) (2-0) — Quarterback Phillip Ely out with injury. Running back James Wilder in with 196 yards rushing and three scores in win vs. Hillsborough (Tampa). At Abilene (Texas) Thursday on ESPN. Ely is expected to play in Texas this week.
4.
Robinson (Tampa) (1-0) — Knights took week off to rest after 57-point opening week win. Hosts King (Tampa) this week.
5.
St. Petersburg (2-0) — Green Devils run all over rival Lakewood in 35-14 win. Up next: At
Dixie Hollins (St. Petersburg).
6.
Sickles (Tampa) (2-0) — Gryphons off and running. Sickles has outscored its opponents 63-7 in its two games this season. Hosts
Freedom (Tampa) this week.
7.
Tampa Bay Tech (1-1) — Rebounded from lost to Plant with a 63-6 smashing of Riverview. Big game this week at home against no. 1Armwood (Seffner).
8.
Land O'Lakes (1-0) — Off last week. At
Springstead (Spring Hill) this week.
9.
Countryside (Clearwater) (2-0) — Topped
Gibbs (St. Petersburg) 21-7. At
Osceola (Seminole) this week.
10.
Plant City (2-0) — The Raiders are for real, evidenced by 70 points in two games, including a 49-7 romp against Middleton (Tampa). Hosts Brandon next.
The Next Best – Jesuit (Tampa) 2-0,
Berkeley Prep (Tampa) 2-0,
Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) 2-0,
Pasco (Dade City) 1-0,
Brandon 2-0.
OTHER BAY AREA HAPPENINGS* Armwood wide receiver
A.J. King has orally committed to Purdue University. King has been nursing a sore knee and has not played yet in 2010. It is unlikely he will play this week against Tampa Bay Tech.
*
Academy of the Holy Names (Tampa) won its volleyball invitational, topping
Sickles (Tampa) and
Northside Christian (St. Petersburg) on the final day to take the crown.
*
Berkeley Prep (Tampa) spent its first week as the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 presented by the Army National Guard by defeating Gainesville Buchholz and P.K. Yonge on the road to improve to 6-0 on the season.
* In the opening week of the Bay area swim season, Newsome (Lithia) and Palm Harbor University both had impressive outings. Newsome's boys and girls teams swept the City Relays event in Tampa and PHU's teams won the Total Team Challenge in St. Petersburg.
