Hillsborough: Sunday morning quarterback

By JOE SMITH and KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer
Published September 16, 2007

There were some late-game special teams heroics Friday night (see: Wharton's game-clinching field goal block by Dominique White), as well as some eye-popping offensive numbers (Plant QB Aaron Murray with 300-plus yards for the second straight week). But this was a week in which defenses stole the show.

The Newsome defense: You might not know their names, but you should know their numbers. In three games, the Wolves have allowed 22 points.

Tampa Bay Tech: The Titans entered the season with a 21-game losing streak. After holding Sickles to 6 total yards, they've now won three straight.

Aaron Murray: In his past two games, Plant QB Aaron Murray has passed for eight touchdowns and more than 600 yard

The Chamberlain offense: Since scoring 41 in their opener against Gaither, the Chiefs have produced a grand total of seven points in losses to Middleton and Hillsborough.

King: The Lions had eight turnovers - EIGHT! - in a loss to Bloomingdale.

Blake: The defense has allowed just 43 points this fall, and yet this team somehow is 0-3.

1 Newsome (3-0) at Armwood (3-0): Newsome has the county's longest winning streak (nine games); Armwood has the county's best team.

2 Middleton (2-1) at Hillsborough (3-0): A year ago, dominating defensive end Moses McCray was a Tiger. Now, he's a Terrier, sparking Hillsborough's defense to two straight shutouts.

3 Riverview (1-1) at Plant (2-1): Riverview's defensive front has the ability to make life difficult for Panthers quarterback Aaron Murray. But do the Sharks have enough offense to pull the upset?

4 East Bay (1-2) at Brandon (1-2): Brandon beat its longtime rival in last year's season finale to advance to the playoffs.

5 Jefferson (1-1) at Gaither (1-2): After three weeks, we still don't know how good either team is. This matchup should give us a glimpse.

Hillsborough vs. Armwood could be a 0-0 stalemate

The Terriers and Hawks, who have arguably the two top defenses in the county, each pitched their second straight shutout Friday night. Hillsborough, led by FSU-commit DE Moses McCray, smothered a tough Chamberlain team, while the Hawks - without two of their top defensive linemen - brought Brandon's Samir Baker back to earth from his six-touchdown performance in Week 2 (251 yards vs. King). When Armwood and Hillsborough meet in Seffner on Oct.18, expect a defensive slugfest.

Tampa Bay Tech is turning the corner

Say what you want about Tampa Bay Tech's early schedule (Bloomingdale, Leto, Sickles), but for the Titans to obliterate their 21-game losing streak by winning three in a row to start 2007 - that's impressive. Especially how they do it: giving up just seven points. With Freedom and Spoto on deck, TBT could conceivably be 5-0 heading into their district showdown with Armwood on Oct. 5.

Sharks still have plenty of strength

The Sharks defense used its bye week to wake up from a season-opening slumber (a 24-7 loss to East Bay). On Friday, Riverview held Plant City to just 125 total yards and four turnovers. With dangerous RB Jahleel Addae in full gear, watch out for the Shark attack.

Ciao just the same as before

Dominick Ciao, the county's winningest coach in the '90s with Jesuit, is up to his old tricks in his first year at Berkeley Prep. The Buccaneers are quietly off to a 3-0 start, humming along as their matchup with Clearwater Central Catholic awaits in two weeks.

Moses McCray

Hillsborough, Sr., DE

The FSU-commit was a terror against Chamberlain. Just ask Chiefs quarterback Dontae Aycock. In the third quarter, McCray laid a highlight-reel hit on Aycock, snapping his scramble and sending him out of the game for a few plays. The Terriers have shut out teams in five of six halves.

Said McCray: "I wanted to knock his head off."

Christopher Curran

Bloomingdale, Jr., LB

Curran recovered three King fumbles on Friday night- including the game-clinching one in the Bulls' red zone with 12 seconds remaining in the game. Bloomingdale's defense forced eight turnovers - fitting, considering the Bulls snapped an eight-game losing streak with their 23-21 win over the Lions.

Will Greaves

Tampa Catholic, Sr., LB

Greaves was in on the Crusaders' two biggest defensive plays in their 14-6 win over Cardinal Mooney. First, the 5-foot-8, 180-pound linebacker helped stuff Cardinal Mooney on a critical fourth-and-inches play with 5 minutes left. Then, Greaves picked up an interception to end Mooney's final drive. In 12 quarters, Tampa Catholic's defense has given up six points.

Quipped Crusaders coach Bob Henriquez: "He was a mighty mite (Friday night)."

Tabari Merrell

Middleton, Sr., DE

Merrell was a one-man wrecking crew Friday night, sacking Plant quarterback Aaaron Murray four times in a losing effort. One Tigers assistant coach likened the 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior's style to former Buc Simeon Rice - a slender but swift pass-rusher off the edge.

[Last modified September 16, 2007, 01:43:10]