Thursday's football games
All at 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Armwood (6-1, 4-0) at Hillsborough (5-1, 3-1)
Last year: Armwood, 38-16 (regular season); Armwood, 23-0 (playoffs)
Breakdown: A Class 6A, District 8 game. …For all practical intents, the Hawks wrap up the district title with a win, but a Terriers upset could create a logjam atop the standings. …Armwood was missing two starting defensive backs including junior Kyle Gibson (ankle) in last week’s 35-18 win against Strawberry Crest. Gibson is expected back tonight.
Joel Anderson’s pick: Armwood, 28-12
Joey Knight’s pick: Armwood, 21-20
Sickles (4-2, 2-1) at Jefferson (2-4, 1-2)
Last year: Jefferson, 22-0
Breakdown: A Class 6A, District 8 game. …Coming off a season-saving win over Hillsborough, the Gryphons now must face the improving Dragons. TB Ray Ray McCloud (783 yards, seven TDs) gets most of the headlines but Sickles’ defense has caused problems for Armwood and Hillsborough. Jefferson boasts an explosive offense but its defensive deficiencies could be too much to overcome.
Anderson: Sickles, 31-21
Knight: Sickles, 34-19
Newsome (3-3, 2-0) at Durant (6-0, 2-0)
Last year: Durant, 33-14
Breakdown: A Class 7A, District 8 game. …If Newsome can’t pull off the upset, the Cougars are poised to finish the regular season undefeated. Durant has outscored opponents 206-26, including last week’s 49-0 rout of Chamberlain. …It’s worth noting the Wolves squeaked past Chamberlain 31-28 a few weeks ago.
Anderson: Durant, 35-7
Knight: Durant, 28-7
Plant (5-1, 1-0) at Alonso (4-2, 1-0)
Last year: Plant, 48-6
Breakdown: A Class 8A, District 6 game. …The Panthers welcome QB Aaron Banks back to the starting lineup after he missed two games with a shoulder injury. Coach Robert Weiner said Banks’ arm is “a little more live because he took those couple of weeks off.” …The Ravens have perhaps the most balanced offense Plant has faced this year with QB Brandon Hawkins, RB Ish Witter and WR Marcus Mosley leading the attack. But can they withstand the Panthers’ pass rush?
Anderson: Plant, 34-17
Knight: Plant, 27-7
Wharton (4-2, 0-1) at Bloomingdale (4-3, 0-1)
Last year: Wharton, 49-24
Breakdown: A Class 8A, District 6 game. …The Bulls will need to find more offense to keep up with Wharton, which is capable of posting big numbers behind QB Chase Litton and his deep receiving corps. … When Bloomingdale’s 215-pound RB Eugene Baker (674 yards, five TDs) meets Wharton’s 210-pound LB Rocky Enos (15 tackles per game) in the hole, the collision could potentially register on the Richter scale.
Anderson: Wharton, 33-7
Knight: Wharton, 34-14
Steinbrenner (2-4, 0-2) at Tampa Bay Tech (4-2, 2-0)
Last year: TBT, 35-25
Breakdown: A Class 7A, District 7 game. …Titans coach Jayson Roberts said Tajee Fullwood, Richard Benjamin and Deon Thompson will be 100 percent healthy for the first time this season, just in time for the stretch run in 7A-7. … The Warriors snapped a three-game losing streak against Riverview on Friday. To avoid another loss, they’ll need more from an offense averaging 17 points and 219 yards per game.
Anderson: Tampa Bay Tech, 27-0
Knight: Tampa Bay Tech, 20-6
Gaither (5-1, 2-0) at Freedom (2-5, 1-1)
Last year: Gaither, 37-0
Breakdown: A Class 7A, District 7 game. …The Cowboys have limited opponents to 10 points and 231 yards per game during their recent three-game win streak. That bodes poorly for Freedom, which is coming off a 35-point loss to rival Wharton and averaging 12 points per game. Don’t expect many big offensive plays in this one.
Anderson: Gaither, 23-7
Knight: Gaither, 28-14
East Bay (2-4, 1-1) at Plant City (3-3, 1-1)
Last year: Plant City, 43-36
Breakdown: A Class 7A, District 8 game. …This shapes up as a playoff elimination contest, though the loser remains mathematically alive. …East Bay rallied from a 36-20 deficit to tie the score last season before a late Raiders scoring drive. …Three Indians players have at least 300 rushing yards.
Anderson: Plant City, 21-13
Knight: East Bay, 34-28
Spoto (2-4, 2-3) at Robinson (6-0, 5-0)
Last year: Robinson, 34-14
Breakdown: A Class 5A, District 8 game. …Knights coach Mike DePue enters this critical district encounter five wins shy of Holland Aplin’s school record for career coaching victories (71). …Spartans TB Eric Moate has been out more than a month with a foot fracture, and Spoto will have to wait at least another week for his return. …Robinson’s defense has scored — all together now — a state-record 12 TDs in six games.
Anderson: Robinson, 35-6
Knight: Robinson, 41-13
Riverview (2-5, 0-2) at Brandon (0-6, 0-2)
Last year: Brandon, 35-14
Breakdown: A Class 7A, District 8 game. …This game represents Brandon’s best remaining chance at a win in 2012. …While we didn’t expect Brandon to struggle so mightily under new coach Dean Eychner, the Eagles have played a daunting schedule. The combined record of Brandon’s first six opponents is 29-12.
Anderson: Riverview, 18-12
Knight: Brandon, 16-14
Gibbs (2-4, 2-3) at Middleton (1-6, 1-4)
Last year: Gibbs, 20-17
Breakdown: A Class 5A, District 8 game. …The Tigers are coming off a bye week following a heartbreaking 40-34 loss to longtime rival Blake on Oct. 5. They scored more in that game than in their first six games, suggesting coach Alonzo Ashwood’s offense is finally coming together. Still, Middleton has won one of its past 17 games. And Gibbs’ Patric Jones is a handful.
Anderson: Gibbs, 27-13
Knight: Gibbs, 22-8
Leto (0-7, 0-3) at Strawberry Crest (2-4, 0-3)
Last year: Strawberry Crest, 37-32
Breakdown: A Class 6A, District 8 game. …Chargers sophomore QB Tristan Hyde, the bay area’s passing yardage leader (1,657) threw for 316 yards, two TDs and two picks last week against Armwood. …WR Karel Hamilton (39 catches, 701 yards, eight TDs) returned two kickoffs for TDs against Leto last season. We’re betting the Falcons don’t give him that chance this time around.
Anderson: Strawberry Crest,
Knight: Strawberry Crest, 41-0
Wiregrass Ranch (0-6, 0-2) at Chamberlain (2-4, 1-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last year: Chamberlain, 32-0
Breakdown: A Class 7A, District 7 game. …A victory not only keeps the Chiefs in the playoff conversation, it gives them their highest regular-season win total since 2008. …Wiregrass Ranch enters on an 18-game losing streak dating to Nov. 12, 2010. … Chiefs senior TB Xavier Johnson has 369 rushing yards in his last two games.
Anderson: Chamberlain,
Knight: Chamberlain, 33-7
Blake (2-5, 1-5) at Lennard (0-7, 0-5)
Last year: Blake, 32-7
Breakdown: A Class 5A, District 8 game. …In their two wins, the Yellow Jackets have averaged 39 points. In their five losses, they’ve scored a total of 12 points. The point is Blake is wildly inconsistent on offense except for RB DeAndre James, who’s rushed for 624 yards and four TDs. …This is probably the Longhorns’ best chance to avoid going 0-for-2012.
Anderson: Blake, 18-12
Knight: Blake, 26-13