Armwood coach Sean Callahan wants team to recall its playoff loss to Lake Gibson in 2002.
By MIKE READLING
Published December 11, 2003
SEFFNER - It was as bad a loss as Armwood suffered last season. Compounding matters was the way it happened and the circumstances surrounding it.
It was one of those losses that was so bad, Hawks coach Sean Callahan said he wanted his players "to be disappointed."
It wasn't meant as a punishment. Callahan wanted his players to remember what it feels like to lose an important game he - and a lot of other people - felt they should have won.
He wanted the 17-14 loss to Lake Gibson in the region semifinal game to burn not only as the players walked off the field but as they entered this season. He wanted the memory of giving away a game to be the driving force whenever Armwood took the field.
The last thing Callahan could have been thinking was that the Hawks would get their chance for revenge in the Class 4A state championship game. That's exactly what will happen at 7 tonight when Armwood and Lake Gibson meet for what will be one team's first state title in Gainesville.
It was perhaps the worst possible ending to last season for Armwood.
After trailing 3-0, the Hawks scored twice to take a 14-3 lead with 5:44 remaining. Scooter White scored for Lake Gibson in a drive that took slightly more than a minute, and the Braves defense forced Armwood to punt.
Lake Gibson drove to the Hawks 3-yard line, but the defense stiffened and held the Braves a few inches short on fourth down. The goal from that point was to run out the clock.
But on third down, quarterback Ryan Watts, acting on Callahan's instructions, ran an option and fumbled in the end zone. Lake Gibson's Henri Risher fell on the ball for would be the winning touchdown.
It was a fumble recovery that still rings in the hearts of Braves players on the verge of the biggest game in school history.
"Goodness yeah that still helps us," said Lake Gibson coach Keith DeMyer, who was defensive coordinator last season. "The confidence that it brought out in our kids ... (Armwood) made a few mistakes, but they had a great football team last year and we just took advantage of a few of the mistakes.
"As far as winning last year, it certainly was a big plus for us. We're just hoping that we can come into the game with a little confidence and that we can stay with them and not get embarrassed so the fans get their money's worth."
Armwood coaches say they do not believe last season's game will have an effect on this one. And they're certainly not listening to any of DeMyer's ultra-humble comments.
Hawks offensive coordinator Chris Taylor coached with DeMyer for two years at Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic before leaving for Lake Gibson for eight seasons. This is his eighth season at Armwood, and he was the one who traded game tapes with DeMyer last weekend.
"It's the same old Keith," Taylor said. "If you talk to him, you'd think it was an absolute miracle that they ever got this far. He's always talking like they have no chance. Woe is me, woe is me.
"(As far as last year's game) none of that matters at all. We're playing in the state championship. We don't care who we're playing, what history there is. It's the state championship. If you can't get excited about that, then you're not alive."
