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Armwood's post-season journey continues tonight

By FRANK PASTOR

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 8, 2000

SEFFNER -- It's an Indian mascot leaping from a horse and thrusting a spear into the center of the field in an attempt at intimidation.

It's a student driving onto the field in a golf cart adorned with a headdress and gray smoke trailing out of the tailpipe.

It's the ear-splitting sound of cannon fire.

This is what it's like to play on the road.

Lake Gibson's Virgil Ramage Stadium was merely the most recent stop for road-weary Armwood in the Class 3A state playoffs.

The 10-2 Hawks, who played their first three post-season games away from home, return to the road to play Belle Glade Glades Central (13-0) in the Class 3A state semifinals today at Glades Memorial Stadium.

"We tell the kids, (distractions) are going to be there," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said. "The kids can't get caught up in all that pageantry, and they'll be okay."

By the time they return to school early Saturday morning, the Hawks will have traveled 660 miles and spent more than 14 hours on the road since the post-season started.

The Griswolds' vacation didn't last this long.

"Going away is never a problem for this team," Callahan said. "We have a lot of seniors. We make negatives into positives."

Callahan said Armwood received a warm welcome at Booker, where it won 21-0 on Nov. 17. A golf cart greeted the team bus and helped transport equipment to the locker room. Water coolers were filled and heaters were started at Armwood's request.

The Hawks made the best of a cramped situation the following week at Haines City, where the locker rooms are side by side and teams share restrooms and showers. Despite the close quarters, players were respectful after Armwood's 28-21 win, just as they were when the outcome was reversed last year.

Callahan was upset by the treatment his team received Dec. 1 at Lake Gibson. He said Lake Gibson violated a Florida High School Activities Association rule by not letting Armwood back into its locker room at halftime of the Hawks' 17-14 win.

Then a traffic jam after the game caused Armwood to return to school almost an hour later than usual. Twelve seniors were scheduled to take the SAT the next morning.

Hoping to avoid a similar situation this weekend, Callahan granted permission for players taking the ACT on Saturday to return home with their parents after tonight's game.

"The thing that keeps us going," Callahan said, "is when you're winning, it's like a great Band-Aid for all your problems."

Armwood joins Class 5A Cantonment Tate as the first wild-card teams to advance to the semifinals in the two years wild cards have been eligible.

Two things allowed the Hawks to put together the most successful season in the school's 16-year history, Callahan said. The team plays the game the way it's supposed to be played, and its work ethic is unmatched.

Offensively, the Hawks call plays at the line of scrimmage, giving defenses little time to get set. Defensively, all 11 players swarm to the ball on every play. ("That's an attitude," Callahan said.)

The groundwork was laid in the off-season when the players committed themselves to a program that included 1 1/2 hours of weight work and 1 hour of conditioning, agility training or plyometrics four days a week.

"Our off-season program, I believe, is the biggest reason we are successful," offensive line coach Chris Taylor said.

Glades Central, unbeaten at home in five seasons, is one of the most difficult places in the state to play. Its fans have a reputation for intimidating visiting teams. Callahan consulted coaches from Robinson, Rockledge and Lake Wales before preparing his team.

"If you want to see atmosphere, there is none other than Glades Central," Callahan said. "We have our kids ready for it."

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