Top-ranked Armwood team jumps out to a 38-0 lead on Jefferson, and it never looks back despite missing 5 injured starters.
By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published September 25, 2004
SEFFNER - Routs are nothing new around here, but Armwood might have outdone itself Friday night against rival Jefferson.
The Hawks didn't just beat the Dragons, they crushed them.
The final was 54-7. It was 38-0 at the half.
As if the score weren't scary enough, there's more: Armwood (3-0), No. 1 in Class 4A, was without five injured starters, including star quarterback Jameel Williams.
"The guys were so full of confidence this whole week," Hawks coach Sean Callahan said.
Now we know why.
This was as complete a victory as they get.
Running backs Demetrius McCray (191 yards, three touchdowns) and Kalvin Bailey (170 yards, one TD) had their way, the offensive line dominated up front, quarterback Justin Hickman, Williams' replacement, was solid, and the defense held Jefferson (2-2) about 200 yards below its average.
Even kicker Reid Macko got into it with a 50-yard field goal.
Any doubts about Hickman were put to rest early.
On Armwood's second offensive series, the sophomore passed to Kareem Royal for a 36-yard gain. Hickman finished 5 of 9 for 136 yards and a touchdown, and had little trouble running the offense.
"He did a great job throwing the ball," McCray said. "He made good reads and spread it around."
McCray and Bailey were their usual selves.
McCray used his speed to produce first-half touchdown runs of 16, 59 and 52 yards and had 171 yards at the half. Bailey, meantime, punished the Dragons up the gut throughout, often dragging several defenders along the way.
Jefferson entered averaging 38 points, but couldn't get anything going. Alex Suber, the county's leading rusher before the game, was held to well under 100 yards. Jefferson's lone score came with 6:44 left.
Of his squad's defense, Callahan said: "We're getting better. As long as we keep getting better each week, we'll be fine."
Technically, Armwood, which owns an 18-game winning streak, wasn't perfect. The Hawks lost three fumbles.
