Armwood Hosts Bartram Trail for State Semifinal Bid Tonight (Dec. 9)

Following the for the Class 6A region title, junior quarterback  Alvin Bailey spent a good part of an hour fielding questions from the press about his exploits on the gridiron.

So, too, did his teammate, senior running back Matt Jones, whose 43-yard reception of Bailey’s second-half pass put the Hawks within sight of what eventually would become the team’s 14-13 victory over the Hurricanes, who held an 11-point lead at halftime.

What’s the sweetest thing about the come- from behind, do or-die, Dec. 2 win at Lyle Flagg Field?

“Being a senior, definitely another week of football,” Jones said. “And getting another title under your belt.”

That title leads the Hawks to tonight’s state semifinal bid against Bartram Trail from St. Johns.

The Dec. 9 game kicks off at 7:30 p.m., with the senior-heavy Hawks determined to win for Armwood a chance to vie for its third state title.

It’s the final run for the seniors but that doesn’t make it any easier for the other players, who know all too well the pressure of a last-chance moment.

“They want to get their ring,” Bailey said. “Being a junior, you can’t let them down.”

It’s not lost upon Jones or Bailey that the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) is continuing its investigation into whether Hawks senior offensive lineman Jack Lightsey, a spring transfer from Orlando's Dr. Phillips High School, is .

An unfavorable ruling could force Armwood to forfeit its season and any titles earned; the report on the investigation is not expected until after state playoffs.

“We’re not worried about that,” Bailey said. “We’re still in our season. We’re still going to play football, and act like it never came up. We’re going to keep playing to win because we deserve it.”

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