Scoreboard
Hillcrest (Ala.) 35, Armwood 25
Seven Rivers Christian 32, Bell Creek Academy 20
Cambridge Christian 38, St. Petersburg Catholic 0
Sumner 44, Bloomingdale 32
Seffner Christian 41, Master’s Academy 27
Robinson 61, Spoto 32
Jefferson 38, Sickles 26
East Bay 41, Middleton 0
Gaither 28, Steinbrenner 21
Clearwater Central Catholic 24, Berkeley Prep 7
Alonso 73 Freedom 8
Riverview 45, Brandon 0
Hillsborough 50, Lennard 0
Jesuit 24 Wharton 13
Durant 39, Chamberlain 0
Newsome 42, Plant City 19
Strawberry Crest 28, King 7
Tampa Bay Tech 28 Plant 21
Blake 72, Leto 0
Jesuit’s Matt Thompson reaches coaching milestone
Since taking over in 2014, Jesuit coach Matt Thompson has built a consistent title contender. After years of coming close, the Tigers finally broke through last year by winning what had been an elusive state title.
On Friday, Thompson reached another major milestone by beating Wharton in an anticipated matchup in the season opener.
He recorded his 100th victory.
It is quite an accomplishment considering Thompson has coached 10 seasons with the Tigers, an average of more than 10 wins per season.
History lesson
Armwood opened the season by traveling to Alabama to play Hillcrest.
During the trip, Hawks coach Evan Davis rented a movie theater so his players could watch the movie Selma.
The next morning, Armwood went as a team to tour the city of Selma – and to learn about the civil rights movement. They even walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, site of the brutal beatings of civil right marchers trying to gain voting privileges. The players talked about the impact of events that happened here on their lives and the nation.
On Friday, the Hawks started their season. They fell behind early, then made a furious rally that came up short.
Though they ended up with a loss, they gained plenty from the experience.
Successful debut
Three first-year Hillsborough County coaches – Blake’s Rick Cowans, Cambridge Christian’s Steve Stanley and Riverview’s Tony Rodriguez – won their opener on Friday.
Plant-Tampa Bay Tech thriller
The second half was scintillating in the Tampa Bay Tech-Plant season opener.
Down 20-7, the host Panthers came back to eventually take a 21-20 lead with 50 seconds remaining.
That did not faze the Titans.
They marched down the field on a game-winning drive that ended with a Jaden Rosebury touchdown pass, followed by a successful two-point conversion in a 28-21 victory.
Rosebury was starting in place of Xavione Wahsington, who was serving a one-game suspension. Tampa Bay Tech coach Jayson Roberts said Wahsington will be back this week.
Prime time performers
ATH Waltez, Clark, So., Plant: Had 102 total yards (92 receiving, 10 rushing) and two touchdown receptions on offense and recorded six tackles and a sack on defense in a loss to Tampa Bay Tech.
CB Jadarian Collins, Fr., Blake: Picked off two passes, including one returned for a touchdown, in a win over Leto.
WR Mike Coley, Jr., Gaither: Finished with five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown in a win over Steinbrenner.
WR Matthew Connally, Sr., Newsome: Had two receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown in a win over Plant City.
RB Caleb Connell, Sr., Durant: Ran for 57 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in a win over Chamberlain.
RB Alex Daley, Jr., Durant: Ran for 39 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries in a win over Chamberlain.
RB Michael Dempsey, So., Newsome: Ran for 98 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in a win over Plant City.
WR Ladainian Farrell, Jr., Gaither: Ended up with eight catches for 127 yards and a touchdown in a win over Steinbrenner.
RB Rod Gainey, Jr., Tampa Bay Tech: Rushed for 88 yards on 11 carries in a win over Plant.
WR/CB Damien Henderson, Sr., Berkeley Prep: The Harvard commit had four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown on offense and forced a fumble and recovered one on defense in a loss to Clearwater Central Catholic.
WR Harrison Hensley, Sr., Riverview: The Davidson commit finished with five receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Brandon.
DE/LB Eli Hisock, Jr., Newsome: Finished with a team-leading seven tackles and a sack in a win over Plant City.
ATH Napoleon Hunter III, Sr., Cambridge Christian: Had five receptions for 120 yards in a win over St. Petersburg Catholic.
ATH Kassim Johnson, Sr., Robinson: Set numerous school records after finishing with 340 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 11 carries and hauling in two passes for 82 yards and two more scores in a win over Spoto.
QB Luke Knight, Jr., Jesuit: Completed five of his six passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Wharton.
QB Jordan Lewis, Jr., Strawberry Crest: Threw for 101 yards and two touchdowns in a win over King.
QB Jayce Nixon, So., Gaither: Threw for 355 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Steinbrenner.
QB Trey O’Malley, Jr., Plant: Threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Tampa Bay Tech.
DL Peter Pesansky, Jr., Jesuit: Recorded 14 tackles and four sacks in a win over Wharton.
RB Nashaun Pryor, Sr., Jefferson: Ran for 312 yards and scored four touchdowns on 19 carries in a win over Sickles.
QB Jaden Rosebury, Jr., Tampa Bay Tech: Accounted for 227 yards (189 passing, 38 rushing) and threw for three touchdowns, including the game winner in the final minute to beat Plant.
RB Rico Shoats, Jr., Riverview: Ran for 92 yards and two touchdowns on five carries in a win over Brandon.
QB Greg Smith III, Jr., Sumner: Threw for five touchdowns and ran for another in a win over Bloomingdale.
RB Joquez Smith, Sr., Jesuit: The Temple commit ran for 185 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries in a win over Wharton.
FB Jaelin Sneed, Jr., East Bay: Ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in a win over Middleton.
QB Chris Stephenson, Sr., Cambridge Christian: Accounted for 250 yards (177 passing, 73 rushing) and threw for a touchdown in a win over St. Petersburg Catholic.
LB Christian Stewart, Sr., East Bay: Scored twice on defense, including a 76 yard interception return and an 86 yard fumble return in a win over Middleton.
WR Willy Suarez, Jr., Jesuit: Ended up with two catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in a win over Wharton.
QB Aaron Turner, Jr., Riverview: Threw for 114 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Brandon.
RB Kirby Vorhees, Sr., Steinbrenner: Accounted for 218 yards (176 rushing, 42 receiving) and two touchdowns on the ground in a loss to Gaither.
WR Tyler Williams, So., Sumner: Finished with six catches, three going for touchdowns, in a win over Bloomingdale.
WR/DB Eugene Wilson III, Sr., Gaither: The Florida commit finished with six receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns on offense and picked off a pass on defense in a win over Steinbrenner.
Up next (Week 2 schedule)
Friday, Sept. 2
Bell Creek Academy at Cambridge, 7
Seffner Christian at First Academy, 7
Foundation Christian Academy at Winter Haven All Saints, 7
Tampa Catholic at Cypress Lake, 7
Carrollwood Day at Christ School, 7
Plant at Berkeley Prep, 7
Steinbrenner at Tampa Bay Tech, 7:30
Spoto at Strawberry Crest, 7:30
Sickles at Newsome, 7:30
Armwood at Bloomingdale, 7:30
Middleton at Durant, 7:30
Wharton at Plant City, 7:30
Freedom at Riverview, 7:30
Chamberlain at Sumner, 7:30
Brandon at Leto, 7:30
Blake at Alonso, 7:30
Lennard at Robinson, 7:30
Treasure Coast at Jesuit, 7:30
King at Jefferson, 7:30
