TAMPA - Armwood and Jefferson high schools don't need any help from TECO right now. There's enough electricity in the air to run a small city.
Gearing up for state football title games this week, expectations were running high at both schools.
``I'm fired up for this game,'' said Austin Little, a sophomore and member of the Maroon Platoon cheering squad at Armwood, which hopes to clinch its second consecutive Class 4A title today.
``I've been waiting for this since game one.''
At Jefferson, where the Dragons take on Jacksonville Bolles for the state Class 3A championship Saturday in Gainesville, students and staff are pumped and ready.
``Right now we are on cloud nine,'' said Jefferson High assistant coach Mike Fenton.
Tonight in Gainesville, Armwood meets Lake Gibson - the team the Hawks beat to win the 2003 title.
``This is the day that I'm going to have to keep a lid on the school,'' Principal Maria Singfield said of today.
``We know it's going to be crazy. We're just trying to maintain.''
Little said the Hawks will ``beat 'em bad'' tonight. To get the team pumped, he plans to buy a Lake Gibson souvenir blanket ``and rip it up during the game.''
Heather Maltese, 17, an Armwood senior, was predicting a grudge match, with Lake Gibson looking for payback for last year's loss.
``I'm a little worried this year if there's going to be a revenge factor going on,'' she said.
At Jefferson, senior Seye Akinrefon said the Dragons will be hard to stop Saturday.
The team plays it cool but turns up the heat in the second half, he said. Most times, they can't be stopped.
``The confidence is up,'' the 17-year-old said. ``Everyone is really excited.''
Jefferson Pincipal Louis Diaz expects a huge crowd at Saturday's game, judging by the level of excitement Wednesday.
About 400 students, teachers and parents from Jefferson attended the semifinal game in Miami last week, where the Dragons defeated Miami Monsignor Pace 33-21.
``It's electrical,'' Diaz said of the atmosphere at the school Wednesday. ``The enthusiasm and interest has been overwhelming. It's a very special event, and not every school can get there.''
The winner? Jefferson, naturally.
``They are at the top of their game right now,'' Diaz said. ``They are hungry and they want to win bad.''
Armwood's Singfield, meanwhile, said tonight is certain to be a nail-biter.
``I'm glad these are acrylic,'' she said with a laugh while displaying her nails.
Reporter Jim Sloan can be reached at (813) 657-4535. Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7605.
