Sports
Brandon High Eagles Head to Tampa Bay Tech for Regional Quarterfinals
Under head football coach John Lima, the Brandon Eagles return to post-season play for a second year in a row, matching up against the Titans for the Nov. 18 contest at Tampa Bay Technical High School.
The Brandon High football team's 2011 playoff run may have come as a surprise to some observers, but not Eagles head coach John Lima.
"We've known all along we could compete in the district," said Lima, who travels with his Eagles to Tampa Bay Tech on Nov. 18 for the District 8 regional quarterfinals.
Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Such post-season play didn't look that promisnig earlier this year after the Eagles dropped back-to-back games to Durant and Sickles, falling 2-4 in district standings.
The district favorites all year were Plant City and Newsome.
Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But then something happened to the Eagles after that Sickles game — they started playing better. They thrashed Newsome 34-0 the next week and ran over Plant City on Oct. 28 to the tune of 48-36.
Brandon finished 5-5 (4-1 in Class 7A-District 8) and earned a spot in Friday's regional quarterfinal at Tampa Bay Tech.
The dual rushing threat of senior Tyrell Garner (1,307 yards and 16 touchdowns) and sophomore Cyrus Dooley (687 yards, nine TDs) has proven very effective. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Garner injured his knee in a recent game and will most likely not be available Friday.
The pressure will fall on Dooley and senior defensive back DeAndre Franklin to keep the ground game moving.
Follow reporter Andy Warrener on Twitter (@jawarrener) for live updates from the game.
IF YOU GO:
- Who/What: Brandon at Tampa Bay Tech, high school football
- When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18
- Where: Tampa Bay Tech High School, 6410 Orient Rd., Tampa, FL 33610
