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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 29, 2001
BRANDON -- Armwood has been hearing it all season; the Hawks defense just isn't what it used to be.
Friday, the Hawks heard it again as they went across town to face Brandon for a make-or-break game in Class 4A, District 8.
This time The Hawks defense, namely Charles Sallet, showed up, sparking Armwood to a seven-point halftime lead and a pair of one-point, fourth-quarter leads.
But there's no defense for height and that turned the game around.
Brandon's 6-foot-3 junior receiver S.J. Green was just too much for Armwood defensive backs Marlon Pryce (5-9) and Dalvin Bailey (5-8) to handle.
Green accounted for half of Brandon's receptions for 138 yards, starting the scoring and helping finish it in the Eagles 22-20 comeback win over Armwood.
Green scored on a 64-yard pass from Adam Garrison on the game's opening play and helped set up Mike Guess' game-winning 23-yard field goal. With 35 seconds left, he reeled in a 43-yard pass that put Brandon (2-3) on the Armwood 4-yard line. Three plays and 25 seconds later, Guess -- an elite soccer player -- split the uprights.
"It's all about the attitude," Brandon coach Ernest Hayes said after moving to 2-0 in district play. "The key is we don't give up."
Armwood, led by Sallet's pair of sacks and a fumble recovery and a late Elem Hart interception on defense, controlled the pace. A steady dose of Greg White and Ryan Watts rushes helped stake Armwood to a 20-19 lead with 4 minutes, 39 seconds left in the game. The duo each rushed for 100 yards and White scored twice.
Despite being held for just 55 yards rushing on 23 carries, the Eagles passing attack provided just enough big plays to carry them.
For Armwood (1-4) it marked the fourth consecutive loss and third district loss. The Hawks have lost their last three by a combined five points.
"I thought we had this one," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said.