September 6, 2012

FV Staff
FlaVarsity.com

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GAME 3 - Champions Battle					The Skinny: Armwood and American Heritage-Delray are no strangers to state championship games or big games. Both teams come into Friday's game ranked in the Top 10 of the FVT25 - Armwood at No. 4 and AHD at No. 8. Both teams won their respective classification state championship games (although Armwood's 6A crown was later vacated), and both teams feature Rivals100-ranked players.
		vs
AMERICAN HERITAGE - DELRAY			ARMWOOD		Prediction: ARMWOOD

Players to watch:

American Heritage-Delray; RB Greg Bryant, OL Roderick Johnson, QB Marcus Davis, LB Evan Harvey, LB Jake Giordano, DB Ka'wan Pete, DT Giancarlo Bennardo, RB Tyler Provo (questionable), DB Darrion Richardson, DB Xavier Swinton, DE Ronald Bell.

Armwood ATH Alvin Bailey, S Leon McQuay III, DL Zerric Coleman, OL Aaron Evans, QB Darryl Richardson, LB Antonio McCullough, DE K.J. Kyles, WR Ronnie Thomas

THE OUTLOOK:The fact that both teams run the ball and show almost a complete disdain for the forward pass makes this game our candidate for the "two-hour maximum."

If you're thinking 'David vs. Goliath' because AHD is a 3A school and Armwood is 6A - don't. The Stallions are very capapble of staying with - and beating - bigger schools. But playing at Lyle Flagg Stadium is no easy task, and it will likely be a very hostile crowd. Armwood is playing its first home game since a come-from-behind win over Bartram Trail in the 2011 semi-finals.

The question(s) are/is- which American Heritage team will show up - and who will lead the Hawks?

American Heritage looked incredibly inept against 4A Cocoa in a kickoff classic that was televised by ESPN. But looked stellar in shutting down Delray Beach Atlantic Community - 29-0 last week. Coach Stacy Sizemore is in his first year - having taken over during the summer.

Armwood just wants to play football. After an elongated seven-month investigation by the Florida High School Activities Association - which subsequently resulted in the Hawks being fined $22,000 and forced to vacate 29 wins over two years, Armwood blew out Brandon 55-0.

Bryant, who had committed to Oklahoma found his groove last week, but still hasn't hit full steam. He'll be matched by a speedy secondary on defense for Armwood - that features a five-star safety (McQuay), McCullough and DE's Kyles and Coleman. The Hawks defense handled Miami Central's rushing attack - arguably the best in the country - and will force the Stallions to throw.

On offense, there's the ever-present Bailey, who verbally committed to Florida after last week's win. Richardson is healthy - and knows the system better than last year and the OL has rallied around itself. American Heritage will be tested on the perimeters - something Cocoa did with success.

* * Discuss your thoughts of the games on our Football Central message forum.