Armwood's Kalvin Bailey, Demetrius McCray and Jameel Williams led the Hawks to a state title. And they're all juniors.
By SCOTT PURKS
Published December 20, 2003
SEFFNER - For now, you could call them the three-headed junior, because, believe it or not, Armwood's three backs - Kalvin Bailey, Demetrius McCray and Jameel Williams - have one more season to go.
What on earth could this mean?
A three-headed senior? Good gracious, could they gain 6,000 yards next season?
The stats in 2003 were certainly devastating: Bailey finished with 1,733 yards, followed by Williams at 1,498 and McCray at 1,407.
The speedy tandem of Williams and McCray averaged more than 10 yards a carry; Bailey, the bruising 250-pounder, gained an average of six yards per rush.
They not only were the first backs from the same team in Hillsborough County history to gain more than 1,000 yards apiece in a single season, but they are believed to be only the third group in Florida prep history to pull off the feat. Fort Myers Bishop Verot in 1983 and Jacksonville Trinity in 1999 were the others.
And, as if that wasn't enough, they helped lead Armwood to the county's first undefeated season since the playoffs started in 1963, which translated to a 15-0 record and the Class 4A state championship (the first in the county since 1969).
The final victory was a 29-21 triumph over Lake Gibson at Florida Field.
"We have been very, very blessed, that's for sure," said Armwood coach Sean Callahan, grinning as though he could barely contain himself. "They're not only very talented kids, but they're also extremely good kids.
"You don't have to worry about any of them misbehaving or not doing the right thing. These guys, truly, are a coach's dream."
Or nightmare, depending on who the coach is.
Take Countryside coach John Davis, for instance. All the three-headed junior did against his team in a 46-9 regional final victory was rush for more than 400 yards.
"Not only do you have to worry about their speed and ability to execute the option," Davis said, "but you have to worry about the lineman in front of them who are so big and strong.
"The don't have any weaknesses."
Ah, but maybe that will be a weakness next season, what with all five Hawk offensive line starters graduating, including 300-pound, major Division I recruit Jake Griffin.
Think again.
The Hawks return four junior offensive lineman, who are as big, and with a little work, could be nearly as effective as this year's group.
Callahan just keeps grinning.
"I think we'll be all right," he said. "I feel pretty good about everything.
"We just have a really special group of kids right now."
ALL-COUNTY TEAM
Selected by Times staff
PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Kalvin Bailey, Demetrius McCray and Jameel Williams, Armwood. Also known as the three-headed monster, this group combined to rush for more than 4,500 yards, each gaining more than 1,300 yards apiece. They also helped lead the Hawks to the county's first state title in 34 years and the county's first undefeated season since the playoff system started in 1963.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Sean Callahan, Armwood. Along with the three-headed monster, Callahan led his team to a 29-21 victory over Lake Gibson for the Clas 4A state title. Armwood averaged more than 50 points a game during the regular season and gave up less than 10 a game. Callahan has coached at Armwood since the school opened in 1984 and has been the Hawks head coach since 1990.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB - Marcello Trigg, Robinson
RB - John Forbes, Alonso
RB - Sean Zentmeyer, Durant
RB - Alex Suber, Jefferson
OL - Jake Griffin, Armwood
OL - Steve Hoschak, Sickles
OL - Aumbray Livingston, Hillsborough
OL - Ignacio Martinez, Hillsborough
OL - Mike Thompson, Armwood
TE - Antonio Graham, Jefferson
WR - Amando Murillo, Robinson
WR - Darius Davis, Hillsborough
UT - Ricky Ponton, Hillsborough
K - Jimmy Chapoteau, East Bay
DEFENSE
LB - Maurice Crum, Tampa Bay Tech
LB - Brandon Hart, Hillsborough
LB - Dougie Thompson, Armwood
LB - Bam Bam Miller, Durant
DL - Kenneth Crosby, Durant
DL - Fred Hicks, Armwood
DL - Jariette Buie, Armwood
DL - A.J. Smith, Jesuit
DB - Fred Andrew, Durant
DB - Robert Baham, Jefferson
DB - Vernon Daniels, Hillsborough
DB - R.J. Anderson, Armwood
UT - Tony Thomas, Bloomingdale
P - Ian Benyo, Chamberlain
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB - Sidney Bryant, Chamberlain
RB - Tyrone McKenzie, Riverview
RB - Billy McPhaul, East Bay
RB - Derrick Hallback, Plant City
OL - Kyle Salmon, King
OL - George Gammon, Riverview
OL - Bo Hanna, Durant
OL - Ronald Green, Blake
OL - Josh Hamm, Jefferson
TE - Ben DeWitt, King
WR - Quinton Williams, T.B. Tech
WR - Nathan Barber, Temple Heights
UT - Cecil Coltrane, Riverview
K - Garret Myers, Jefferson
DEFENSE
LB - Tavish Williams, Robinson
LB - George Clark, Blake
LB - Amondo Sapp, Jefferson
LB - Glenn Lassiter, Armwood
DL - Tim Grosz, Alonso
DL - George Kearse, Blake
DL - Douglas Williams, Chamberlain
DL - Chris Hicks, Jefferson
DB - Stoney Woodson, Middleton
DB - Arando Jameson, Leto
DB - Mike Williams, Armwood
DB - Edmund Nelson, Plant
UT - Travis Johnson, Robinson
P - Darren DeRochemont, Armwood
HONORABLE MENTION
Alonso - James Rue, Lester Douzable, Kyle Thompson, Josh Krenik, Rob Williams; Armwood - Devon Clark; Berkeley Prep - Derek Hatcher, Johnson Clark; Blake - Kamal Nesfield, Justin Mitchell; Bloomingdale - Josh Dobbie, Richard Miller; Brandon - Frank Hernandez, Antonio Brown, Antonio Sykes, Corey Holder, Win Hutchinson, Demetrius Jones; Chamberlain - Garrett Gibbons, DeMichael Nesbitt, Stephen Primm, Brandon Williams, Nick Lomatier; Durant - Chris Thompson, R.J. Pollard, Matt Stwan, Chip Bowden; East Bay - Justin Anaya; Gaither - Doc Marshall, Dane West; Jefferson - Blake Varino, David Turner, Donovan Simpson; Jesuit - Sean Bayode, Kelby Taylor; Hillsborough - Jimmy Sapp, Jared Fayson, Leslie Stirrups, Julian Jean-Pierre, Spencer Hawthorne; King - Fedell Jackson; Middleton - O.J. Murdock; Plant - Shannon Lynn, Shane Ward; Plant City - Matt Pletcher, Jay Smith, Brezhnez Thorpe; Riverview - Chad Lynch; Robinson - Willie Newton, Sean Epperjesi, Tito Gonzales, Trevon Gerideau, Lance Gilmore, Travis Johnson; Riverview - Chris Alexander; T.B. Tech - Corey Carter, Stephen Tripp, Dominic Grooms; Sickles - Jon Price; Tampa Catholic - Mike DeMarinis; Temple Heights - Luke Easterling; Wharton - Jevon Mitchell, Michael Coonce.
