TOP GAMES OF THE WEEK PREVIEW: Tampa Bay Tech at Gaither

Tampa Bay Tech Titans (1-0) at Gaither Cowboys (1-0)

When: Thursday

Where: Ron Allen Field, Tampa

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

Internet Stream: NFHS Network

Coaches: Jayson Roberts, Tampa Bay Tech; Kirk Karsen, Gaither

Last Five Meetings
2019: Gaither 26, Tampa Bay Tech 8
2018: Gaither 21, Tampa Bay Tech 20
2017: Tampa Bay Tech 42, Gaither 21
2014: Tampa Bay Tech 42, Gaither 32
2013: Gaither 14, Tampa Bay Tech 10

Skinny: Both the Titans and the Cowboys open their season last week with wins. For the visiting Titans they easily defeated Steinbrenner 34-10 to get their first win on the season. David Wright (2021) went 7 of 13 for 119 yards, one touchdown and one interception while also rushing for 31 yards and one touchdown. Rod Gainey (2024) led in rushing yards for the Titans, carrying the ball 10 times for 130 yards and a score. Among the receiving core, Jamari Gassett (2021) and Jayden Horace (2021) combined for over 200 yards receiving and a touchdown for the Titans. Defensively, defensive lineman guys Henry Hughes (2021) and Kenny Washington (2023) each collected a sack last week and will be a reckoning force again this week. For the Cowboys, who defeated Chamberlain 34-6 last week, keep an eye on Kiael Kelly (2021) who was 14-of-22 last week for 192 yards and two touchdowns with his favorite target being Jordan Oladokun (2021) who only had four catches for 36 yards. However, Oladokun was on the receiving end of Kelly’s touchdown passes. The ground game has also been effective with Kelly also scoring two touchdowns while Ricky Parks (2021) handled most of the load with 14 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown in his debut for the Cowboys. Defensively Nick Bartalo was the one making the most noise in the background with four sacks to go along with 13 tackles and four tackles for loss in last week’s win. Mario Eugenio (2022) is another name to keep an eye on who had two sacks on top of four tackles with two of them for loss last week.

Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Gaither by 3

Twitter Poll

POLL: Who wins on Thursday night?

Tampa Bay Tech at Gaither
When: Thursday
Where: Ron Allen Field
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET#flhsfb @TBTFootball @tech813coach @GaitherFootbal1 @Cowboycoach2016 @HCPSAthletics

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) September 16, 2020