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A Bloomingdale gamble ends Armwood’s area dominance

The Hawks had not lost to a Tampa Bay opponent since Aug. 24, 2018.
 
Armwood and Bloomingdale were locked in a defensive battle much of Friday night.
Armwood and Bloomingdale were locked in a defensive battle much of Friday night. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Published Sept. 12, 2020

VALRICO — Twice in the first half of its season-opening matchup with Bloomingdale, Armwood recovered Bulls turnovers at the goal line, keeping them off the scoreboard early.

But in the end, it was the Hawks' own turnovers in the second half that made the biggest difference in the game.

Three minutes into the third quarter Friday night, a bad Armwood snap on a punt attempt sent the ball rolling backward towards the goal line. Bloomingdale senior linebacker Jamarion Neal jumped on it in the end zone for a touchdown, and the Bulls converted the two-point conversion to take a one-point lead.

Armwood answered with another touchdown in the fourth quarter, but senior Philip Riley ran 53 yards for a game-winning touchdown on the ensuing kickoff return to deliver the 15-14 win to Bloomingdale.

It was Armwood’s first loss to a Tampa Bay opponent since Aug. 24, 2018.

“Since we started three weeks ago, we knew we were going to have to take a chance at some point,” Bloomingdale coach Jake Coulson said about his decision to go for the two-point conversion after Neal’s score. “I felt good about it, we did it, and it paid off for us.”

The matchup promised to be a defensive battle from the start. Armwood (0-1) began the game with a 70-yard kickoff return, but the Bulls (1-0) stopped the Hawks on fourth down, keeping them out of the end zone. Armwood gained only two first downs on its next three drives before senior Charles Montgomery finally put the Hawks on the board just before halftime with a 71-yard touchdown reception.

Bloomingdale, meanwhile, also got close to the end zone in the first half, but not close enough.

The Bulls had two turnovers in the first half, including a fumble on the goal line following a 52-yard completion from Tre Simmons to fellow senior Dinero McClendon. Armwood took a 7-0 lead into the halftime break.

“I knew it was going to be a dog fight,” Coulson said. “Our defense, I mean, we’re really good. I knew it was going to be a low-scoring game. I didn’t think it was going to be that low scoring, but it is what it is.”

Following Neal’s touchdown and the go-ahead two-point conversion in the third, Bloomingdale led until Armwood quarterback Cam’Ron Ransom connected with fellow senior Jamal Jones for a 42-yard touchdown with just more than six minutes to play in the game.

But this time, Bloomingdale’s response was immediate.

Riley, a Notre Dame commit, took the lead back with his kickoff return touchdown, and the Bulls' stout defense did the rest, making sure it was enough to keep Bloomingdale on top.

“I had great blocks down the field, I owe it all to my teammates. It wasn’t just a one-person play. ... I saw the opening and I just took off,” Riley said. “Our confidence is through the roof. I feel like we can take anyone in the nation.”