PLCO Football 2018 by Plant City Observer

PlantCityObserver.com

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

CONTENTS

4 6 8 Durant High School Cougars

10 11 12 13 13

Best photos from 2017 2018 season predictions Athlete feature: Kolton Smith

Plant City High School Raiders

14 17 18

Strawberry Crest High School Chargers

Welcome to the 2018 Football Guide Read on for everything you need to know about your favorite teams. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Playoff points system expained Youth football schedules 2017 all-area team

Athlete feature: Ashton Mincey Athlete feature: Cody Newman

re you ready for another exciting year of football? Who am I kidding? Of course you are — you’re reading the 2018 Football Guide right now. I’m just as excited as you are because if I’ve learned anything in my time in Plant City it’s that this is the best place to be for high school football. We’ve got great talent here you may or may not know about. We’ve got programs in the playoffs most years. We’ve got a crosstown rivalry game as fun to watch as any. We’ve got players who grind and coaches who innovate and fans who care. We may not always get on TV out here, or get the notoriety of the big Tampa programs, but our kids come to play every week and have been known to come through with wins when no one else gave them a chance. So, of course I’m excited we get to deliver yet another Football Guide to you this year. When you finish reading the last page and close the guide (for now), I just hope you know everything you wanted to know going in. I want you to be as prepared as possible

for this season and you might even come away optimistic about your team’s chances. All three of our area teams have obstacles to climb this year. Durant lost a ton of key players to graduation after last season and will have a very new look. Plant City will try to recapture the mojo it had later last season when everything the new coaching staff implemented seemed to click. Strawberry Crest finally broke its extended losing streak last season and will look to keep moving forward as a program. None of these teams are about to enter a cakewalk season. Looking for specific players to root for? We’ve got three for you. Need to know how the heck a team can make the playoffs these days? Everything you need to know about the FHSAA’s points system is here. How might your favorite team fare in 2018? I’ve got no guarantees, but I’ve made some educated guesses. There’s much more to see and read in the 2018 guide that I won’t spoil ahead of time. Be sure to check out plantcityobserver.com this week for photos and recap from Plant City’s home preseason game against Spoto, and stick with us throughout the regular season as we follow your favorite teams. Let’s have a great season!

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

DURANT COUGARS

Justin Kline

The Durant Cougars of 2018 have little varsity experience across the board, but are willing to work hard to learn.

A youth movement One of the youngest teams in Durant’s history is taking the field this season. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

he advantage of a seniorheavy squad is a roster full of experience, developed talent and, in many cases, good results. The disadvantage is, when all those seniors graduate after the season, your team might become pretty green before you know it. That’s Durant in 2018. Many of 2017’s key starters and secondstring players have graduated, which has left head coach Mike Gottman with the least experienced group in his 16-season tenure with the school. “We’ve got 10 total seniors. It’s the smallest senior group I’ve ever had,” Gottman said. “We’ve got a big sophomore class and a lot of them are gonna be playing this year. In a couple years, they’re gonna have a lot of experience.” Last year, the Cougars came close to getting back to the playoffs but were edged out of the cut at the end of the season. It’s fair to wonder if things would have been different if lead back Cameron Myers, who ran for 1,738 yards and 21 touchdowns in eight and a half games, didn’t get injured after six carries against district foe Bloomingdale in the secondto-last game of the season. The team had high hopes going into the season with a productive offense and a stingy defense, and they ended with that 21-15 loss. This time, the expectations are different. They’re probably as different as could be. For 2018, Gottman said Durant’s goals are to get these young guys

SCHEDULE Note: All games scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. District games marked with *. 8/24: vs. Jesuit 8/31: @ Sickles 9/7: vs. Newsome (Alafia River Rivalry/Military Appreciation Night) 9/14: vs. East Bay* 9/21: @ Strawberry Crest* 9/28: BYE 10/5: vs. Lennard* 10/12: vs. Plant City* (Battle for the Redman Cup) 10/19: @ Tampa Bay Tech* 10/26: @ Bloomingdale* 11/2: @ Armwood

THE DETAILS Location: 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City Established: 1995 Head Coach: Mike Gottman (16th season with team) Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 2017 Record: 6-4 (3-3 district)

the game experience they need to grow and pick up a handful of wins along the way. With an inexperienced roster and a tough schedule in and out of 7A-District 9 play, the Cougars are going to be clear-cut underdogs all season. “It’ll be interesting to see how they face a little adversity in a football game,” Gottman said. “It’s never exactly how you want to do it — you’re going to have good plays and you’re gonna have bad plays. It’ll be a challenge to see how they react to it.” Make no mistake, Durant’s offense is still going to try and do what it’s known for: running the heck out of the ball and eating the clock. This year, nearly all

of the faces will be different. The only returning starter from 2017 is Cameron Jossi, who is moving from tackle to center for his senior season. Junior Sean Williams came up from the junior varsity team to take over the quarterbacking duties from three-year starter Carlton Potter. The dynamic duo of running back Cameron Myers and fullback David Tabakovic, which was arguably the best one-two punch in Hillsborough County, will mainly be replaced by juniors David Haynes and Tyrhon Brooks. Marquies Gines Jr., who also happens to be a high school junior, is expected to lead the wide receiving corps after reliable target Jory Cole’s graduation. Several defensive players, including Demarcus Governor, will be used in the offense from time to time to keep things fresh. Though some of these players have seen action on the varsity team, the skill position players are largely new to this level. “Obviously we’re rebuilding, but we’ll see how we do,” Gottman said. There’s more certainty with the defense. Governor, one of the best cornerbacks in Hillsborough County, is back and has embraced his role as a team leader. Free safety Corey “C.J.” Barnes Jr., another key defensive player of 2017, is also back to bring stability to the defensive backfield. Kylan Forte, a backup cornerback last year, will get a heavier workload. The linebackers are largely young and unproven at the varsity level, but Gottman likes their attitude. “They’re aggressive, young and tough, so I’ll roll with them,” Gottman said. That could also describe the rest of the team, Gottman said. What the Cougars lack in experience, they make up for by having the attitude the coaching staff always wants to see.

“They come to work every day. They’re wanting to get better,” Gottman said. “It’s been a pleasure to coach them.” The players have a handful of things to rally around. They want to play hard and play well to honor the memory of teammate Grover Wills, who was killed in April, and they’re also rallying around senior Kolton “Kole” Smith, whose football career was cut short after a June car accident left him with a broken back. Gottman and the staff aren’t expecting the team to mature and develop after just one preseason game. The Cougars are about to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire with scheduled games against Armwood, Jesuit, Tampa Bay Tech, Bloomingdale, Plant City, Sickles and East Bay. Newsome usually plays Durant well in the Alafia River Rivalry game and both Lennard and Strawberry Crest could be improved over last year’s teams. The team may not win all of these games but the experience will be valuable. They’ve got games with some of the best football teams in the state, let alone the Tampa Bay area. Gottman isn’t as concerned with wins and losses as he is with the players getting better every day and setting realistic goals. Playing the long game is the most realistic option for the Cougars, given the youth of the roster. Even if this year’s not the best on the scoreboard for Durant, the learning experiences could translate to something much more successful in 2019 and 2020. After all, the advantage of an extremely young squad like this is that it’ll be a senior-heavy squad before you know it. “I’m excited to see us mature,” Gottman said. “I’m excited to see us grow. We’ve got a great attitude, so I’m excited about the challenge.”

ROSTER 1 Donnald Williams DB Sr. 2 Ashton Kirkland DB So. 3 Kylan Forte DB Sr. 4 Audea Thames DB So. 6 David Haynes LB/RB Jr. 7 Nate Roark WR/DB So. 8 Marquise Gines WR/DB So. 9 Adrian Resendez WR Sr. 10 Sean Williams QB/DB Jr. 11 Alex Woods QB/DB So. 12 Demarcus Governor DB Sr. 14 Braxton Houston LB/RB So. 15 Chris Woods WR Jr. 20 Eli Reed LB/RB So. 21 C.J. Barnes DB Jr. 22 Tyrhon Brooks RB Jr. 23 Marc Monrose K/P Jr. 24 Lonel Gappy Jr. LB So. 25 Reggie Bush RB Fr. 26 Douglas Cook K/P Sr. 27 Lenny Woods RB/DB So. 28 Collin Cole RB/LB So. 32 Cy Clark LB Sr. 33 Luke Rawlins LB So. 35 Jackson Prestwood DL Sr. 36 Joey Spitler DE/TE Jr. 40 Josh Cannon LB So. 42 Mavrick Valdes LB Jr. 44 Eddie Zanato LB So. 45 Lane Robbins DL/OL Jr. 48 Michael Pearce TE Sr. 49 Xavier Hernandez LB So. 50 Bradley Guasto DE/OL Jr. 51 Derrick Mahoney OL/DL So. 52 Ethan Webb OL/DL Jr. 53 Izaya Miller DE/OL Jr. 55 Wyatt Lawson OL/DL So. 56 Jack Sykes DL/OL Jr. 57 Chris Jurnigan DB Sr. 58 Nate Brennan OL/LB So. 59 Gabe DeLuca OL/DL Jr. 62 Kolton Smith OL/DL Sr. 63 Ethan Baird OL So. 66 Triston Nichols OL Jr. 68 Logan Mayo OL Fr. 71 Hagen Sharp OL/DL So. 72 Matt Middleton OL/DL Jr. 74 Cameron Jossi C Sr. 77 Jack Powers OL Sr. 80 Matthew Curry WR/DB Sr. 85 Aaron Fraga WR/DB Jr. 88 Giovanny Benavente DL Sr. 89 Ryan Hanner WR/P So.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

THREE TO SEE

TYRHON BROOKS (JR., RB) What are you looking forward to about this season? I’m looking forward, of course, to going to the playoffs with my team. Making sure we all make it and grind out, try to be the best we can be as a squad.

What makes you a good player, in your opinion? Paying attention, leading, helping out the youngins and making sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to and loving my brothers.

This team’s pretty young but talented. What do you think is the team’s greatest strength? Our O-line and our heart. We love the sport. You can’t say we don’t. We’re out here working every day, trying to prove to people what we can do.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned out here? To love each other. Football, it could end at the snap of a finger. Celebrate and love everybody that’s around you.

DEMARCUS GOVERNOR (SR. DB)

CAMERON JOSSI (SR., C)

When people think of this defense, they first go to you and C.J. Barnes. Who else is there that people need to know? Kylan Forte. Jack Sykes. Audea Thames. Ashton Kirkland. Lenny Woods.

I see you’re moving to a new position this year. Yes, sir. I played tackle from sophomore year to junior year and started playing center this year.

Why shouldn’t teams take this defense lightly on the field? This team — this defense specifically, but really the team when I say this — has been through so much. Our bond together is unbreakable. I really feel like the best 11 is gonna be out there. We have not only depth, but the heart to go along with it. We have corners that will fly across the field and fill the holes. We have linebackers that will

drop back and pick off a pass. Our D-line is consistent, they won’t give up. You mentioned you guys have been through a lot. How have these experiences made you stronger? Not having my locker buddy (Grover Wills) there no more, it just shows you how fast one decision can change everything. Knowing that it’s bigger than myself. It makes me think, before I do something, about everybody that’s affected. I think about my family a whole lot more. I think about my teammates, think about my teachers, think about life and the people that are close to me.

You’ve got a whole new group coming in on offense and, as a senior and a center, you’ve got the responsibility of leading these guys. How are you handling that? It’s definitely something new. I’ve never actually been a part of something when I’ve been the head. It’s definitely something

new. It’s kind of fun to work with new people and be able to show the young ones what to do and what not to do. How are you feeling about this season? I’m feeling pretty confident. Just very, very confident about this year. What are your strengths as a player? Probably leading, probably just doing what I’m supposed to and making sure everybody else is doing what they’re supposed to be doing.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

PLANT CITY RAIDERS

Justin Kline

Braxton Plunk and the Plant City Raiders have the potential to light up scoreboards often in 2018.

Staying on course Continuity throughout the PCHS program could spell success for 2018. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

good way to describe the Plant City Raiders of the last four years was, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” This year, though, that’s not the case. Plant City did not change head coaches after the 2017 season, much to the delight of the school, fans and returning players and coaches. James Booth brings continuity to a position that’s needed it most with three changes in as many years, essentially the entire time the team’s four-year seniors have been enrolled at PCHS. “I think year two’s expectations are still the same,” Booth said. “We want to win the district championship, we want to go to the playoffs and see where the chips roll and make it to state. That’s the expectations every year. But we have a standard of practice that these guys have to come and commit themselves to every day. I think they’re starting to understand that.” Considering how 2017 played out, more time with Booth’s philosophies seems like a good look. The Raiders’ overall record didn’t set the local football world on fire, but there were signs something was brewing at 1 Raider Place. Coming to PCHS from Strawberry Crest, Braxton Plunk morphed into a completely different quarterback and threw 20 touchdown passes and well over 2,000 yards, not to mention his five rushing touchdowns. Sophomore running backs Eric Wilson and Zamir’ Knighten each averaged more than five yards per carry and the

SCHEDULE Note: All games scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. District games marked with *. 8/24: @ Jefferson 8/31: @ Hillsborough 9/7: vs. Wharton 9/14: vs. Lennard* 9/21: @ East Bay* 9/28: @ Strawberry Crest* (Farmageddon) 10/5: vs. Armwood 10/12: @ Durant* (Battle for the Redman Cup) 10/19: vs. Bloomingdale* 10/26: vs. Tampa Bay Tech* 11/2: BYE

THE DETAILS Location: 1 Raider Place, Plant City Established: 1914 Head Coach: James Booth (2nd season with team) Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4 2017 Record: 4-6 (3-3 district)

team found a big-play receiver in the speedy Mario Williams. D.J. Gordon IV cemented his status as one of the county’s elite defensive players and Ashton Mincey and Amir Abdullah rounded out the team’s trio of athletic, productive linebackers. Tyreke Harrison showed he can play all over the field. The team only won four games, but it had those flashes. “We had games when we were right in it,” Booth said. “We were in it with Jefferson and Hillsborough, right there. If we win those games, and we lost to Bloomingdale by a touchdown with 50 seconds left, we’re a couple games away from having a really great season in year one. Going back

now, I think we have guys that have experience and know how to close games out, how to finish it, how to finish drives.” Now that most of those guys are coming back and Booth’s sticking to his guns, the Raiders are a team to watch out for in 2018. “I think we’ve got a lot of experience. A lot of returning starters, guys that have been there,” Booth said. “Expectations are high.” The offense took a few hits in the offseason with the graduation of wideout Tyler Hood and Eric Wilson’s transfer. In both cases, the Raiders aren’t worried about replacing them: wideout Chris Wilson and Knighten will have expanded roles this year and Booth is pleased with both players’ progress. Wilson caught 17 balls for 280 yards and two scores last year. Knighten gained 394 yards on 63 carries and scored once in 2017. Gordon and Harrison, primarily defensive players, will also get some snaps at running back as well as Ezion Reaves and Mike Turner, but Booth made it clear Knighten is going to be the Raiders’ new lead back. The group of running backs is fairly young, but talented. “We’re trying to teach these guys and get them caught up as best as we can,” Booth said. In particular, Booth expects a big year from Plunk. The senior, he said, has improved his decision-making and placement in the offseason. With Williams and Chris Wilson coming off of productive offseasons themselves, plus Knighten’s pass-catching ability, Plant City is likely to rely heavily on Plunk’s arm. Kickoff and punt return duties will be split between Harrison and Williams, which makes Plant City’s special teams unit a consistent threat to score. Harrison’s speed is track-tested (he was a member of the 4x100 relay team

that made it to the FHSAA state championships) and Williams has proven adept at burning wouldbe tacklers and swiping bases on the baseball diamond. As always, Plant City is going to be strong at the linebacker position. Gordon and Mincey — who is returning from a torn ACL — are back together again and will be joined by former defensive back Kobe Panier. The Raiders are switching to a three-man front on defense and will rely more on defensive linemen Emmanuel Baez, who picked up the game last season, and Brodie Richards. Harrison and track teammate A.J. Joyce will lead the secondary and their athleticism should come in handy. “I’m very happy with where our defense is at right now,” Booth said. With the same schedule as last season — besides that the locations changed, of course — the Raiders are hoping to make up for those close losses they took in 2017. What’s most intriguing about the schedule is the end: three of the Raiders’ last four games will be played at home and all four opponents (Armwood, Durant, Bloomingdale and Tampa Bay Tech) will net the Raiders bonus points in the new playoff system.Will they get the extra 12 points with four wins? Maybe not, but this group is confident it has what it takes to catch some teams by surprise in 2018. “I think we can really make some noise this year,” Booth said.

ROSTER 2 Demario Williams SB, WR So. 3 Zamir’ Knighten RB Jr. 4 Tyreke Harrison FS, CB, RB Sr. 5 Chris Wilson WR Sr. 6 Kobe Panier ILB Sr. 7 Ashton Mincey MLB Sr. 8 D.J. Gordon IV LB, RB Sr. 9 Braxton Plunk QB Sr. 10 Demije Hollins OLB, SS Sr. 11 Antron Robinson CB, SS Jr. 13 Maurice Morris WR Sr. 14 Jaquez Green CB, FS Sr. 15 Reagan Ealy WR So. 16 Eric McLeod WR Jr. 20 Antwain Joyce Jr. CB, SS Sr. 21 Austin Albright CB So. 22 Ezion Reaves RB Fr. 24 Jaylen Malcolm CB Sr. 25 Aaron Risdon SB, WR Jr. 28 Shermonte Hargrove SS Jr. 29 Javen Clarke SS, OLB Jr. 30 Emmanuel Baez DE Jr. 32 D.J. Littles CB, FS So. 36 Mike Turner RB So. 38 Chris Rodriguez P Jr. 40 Eduardo Alfaro K Sr. 42 Jackson Knotts LS So. 44 Keyshawn Green DL, ILB Jr. 45 Brodie Richards DT Sr. 48 Tanner Gibbs ILB Jr. 50 Cameron Cotnoir G, LS Sr. 53 Dale Hamilton DE Sr. 54 John Lewis G, NG Jr. 55 Zarius Johnson DE Sr. 57 Ce’aer James T Jr. 58 Kody Governor OLB, DE Sr. 64 Charles Schmidt OL Sr. 66 Caleb Turner G Jr. 68 Raymundo Gonzalez G, C Jr. 69 Austin Kaczmarek C Sr. 72 Jeren Bendorf NG, OG, OT Jr. 73 Javier Aquilar OG Jr. 75 Troy Rocha G So. 77 Blake Price G Sr. 78 Michael Guerra OL Jr. 80 Brent Coton WR So. 81 Michael Coton WR Sr. 83 Quincy Frazier WR Fr. 86 Patrick Previty WR Jr. 90 Tyree Day K So. 99 John Davis DE Jr.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

THREE TO SEE

EMMANUEL BAEZ (DE, JR.) You were new to football last year. What did you learn from the experience? I learned that I’ve got to listen to my coaches on everything, more so like on techniques and that type of stuff. They taught me a lot more than I already knew and that I can’t just focus fully on athleticism. What’s the most important lesson that helps you now? Relying on my hands coming off the line. And playing more of a leadership role. We’ve got athleticism on the team but we’re not gonna be able to go far if we can’t stick together as a group.

What makes you a good player? My quickness. And I can use a lot of hand techniques now. What are your expectations for yourself and for the team this season? For myself, I want to have 15 sacks and 30 tackles for loss. For the team, I want to go undefeated, win districts and go deep into the playoffs.

D.J. GORDON IV (LB, SR.)

BRAXTON PLUNK (QB, SR.)

This is gonna be a big year for you. What are your expectations for your last year? Holding my teammates accountable for their responsibilities, doing what we have to do as a team, as a whole. Making sure everybody’s got everything together in school and out of school. We’re making sure we do the best that we can.

Last year was a totally new situation for you and you made the most of it. Going into this year, how have things changed? Definitely feel more comfortable with the offense and what coach Booth wants. Just holding the team accountable. I’m more comfortable overall with the team and the playbook, also.

Coach Booth told me you came into the offseason with a new attitude and outlook on leadership. What changed for you? Seeing things change

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at the college level, how they do things. Coaches talking to me about how I should be, what I should be for my team and making my team the best I can while I’m here. What do you consider your greatest strengths on the field? Speed coming downhill, coverage, being a vocal leader. Telling everybody what they have to do.

What did you learn from last year about leadership? Like I said, just to hold people accountable and make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing, when they’re supposed to be doing it and stuff like that.

You looked comfortable in the new offense last year. What do you like about playing in it? Just the speed and the tempo. We’re fast-paced, we’re always going. We’re running and we kind of tire people down. At the end of the season, what would it take for you to feel like it was a success? Winning districts, going deep in the playoffs. That’s our team goal. I don’t know if we’re really focused on individual stuff right now. We just want to win districts and go deep in the playoffs.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

STRAWBERRY CREST CHARGERS

Justin Kline

The Strawberry Crest Chargers are trying to keep the wins coming in 2018.

Movin’ on up now With the infamous losing streak now dead, the Chargers are looking to keep trending in the right direction. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ast season for Strawberry Crest was all about breaking “the streak.” For the first time since the school’s seniors were in the eighth grade, the Chargers won. Mission complete. This year’s mission? Be competitive and win some more games. It’s easier said than done, especially in 7A-District 9 play, but Crest is hopeful. “We’ll see,” head coach Ron Hawn said. “I think we’ve got a chance to be pretty competitive.” This year’s team may not be quite as athletic as last year’s, Hawn said, but it’s scrappy and physical. It took some time to find its identity after graduations and Jaquell Narine’s transfer but, now that the preseason’s over, the pieces are falling into place. Offensively, Hawn described the starting quarterback job as Caleb Goodson’s to lose. Goodson, who backed up Jarrett Rappe last year, competed for the role with Makenzie Kennedy, who transferred from Durant after the school’s spring jamboree game. Hawn said whoever didn’t win the job would move over to receiver, an area where the Chargers need help. “We’re trying to find our legs but we’ve got some good receivers. We don’t have the taller, longer-bodied kids,” Hawn said.

SCHEDULE Note: All games scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. District games marked with *. 8/24: @ Spoto 8/31: vs. King 9/7: BYE 9/14: @ Tampa Bay Tech* 9/21: vs. Durant* 9/28: vs. Plant City* (Farmageddon) 10/5: @ Bloomingdale* 10/12: vs. Riverview 10/19: vs. East Bay* 10/26: @ Lennard* 11/2: @ Chamberlain

THE DETAILS Location: 4691 Gallagher Road, Dover Established: 2009 Head Coach: Ron Hawn (3rd season with team) Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2-5/multiple 2017 Record: 2-8 (1-5 district)

With tall receivers Rio Oliver and Jamar Hart now in college, Crest is hoping freshman Jayden Girard can carry over strong offseason 7-on-7 play to the real deal. “He’s a good player, Hawn said. “He really showed us some good stuff in 7-on-7 all summer long.” Tommy Johnson and Ethan Calaway — whom Hawn described as “like one of those little lizards that runs on water” due to his speed — round out the receiving group. A committee approach to the running back situation may be in play, though Hawn said the preseason game against Seminole

would clear that up once they get the pads on and go. The offense is also where fans will see the most of the giant Gonzalez brothers, Jose and Juan. The Dominican brothers are playing football for the first time, but it’s not hard to see why they got noticed for the job: Offensive lineman Jose is 6-foot-9 and tight end Juan is 6-foot-7, both look like grown men among boys and are athletic enough that there’s potential there to be special. Jose has gotten the most attention from the media and college teams, but Juan is the one Hawn said people need not sleep on. “The surprise is really Juan,” Hawn said. “The story is, I’ll sometimes say things that I shouldn’t say, and I guess I may have said — and it got back to him — that Juan’s a nice kid but I just don’t think he’s gonna be football. He doesn’t seem to be mean or tough, doesn’t seem to have that mean streak. I don’t know that that’s exactly what I said or whatever but between all the attention that Jose got and something that I may or may not have said, it really sparked a fire in him. He’s a tough kid. As a tight end he can catch everything and he’s obviously just a big, physical force.” Due to the makeup of the offensive personnel, Hawn said the Chargers are “going back to our roots” with the spread offense. Crest is using the same defense it’s been using under Hawn, a scheme somewhere between a 3-4 and a 4-2-5 with “minor adaptations.” Hawn is excited to have a senior-heavy defense featuring three-year starters Josh Young, Hasan Sharrieff and Tyson Rosania at linebacker and two-year starter Cody Newman back at free safety.

“He’s the best free safety ‘I’ve ever had, anywhere,” Hawn said. Rosania, who has long played defensive back for Crest, was moved to a linebacker position Hawn said better suits him. Defensive lineman Josh Young will stay the defensive line but move into an improv-friendly role similar to what Kisean Ruth had in 2017. “He’s a very aggressive kid,” Hawn said. “He’s in a better spot because there can be more improv at that position. It’s more of a ‘just go’ position… he’s a kid we can just kind of set loose.” It’s also going to be a good moment for linebacker Adam Ibarra, who injured his shoulder and didn’t get to play last season. Hawn said Ibarra’s shoulder has healed and he’s cleared to play again. Hawn called the 2018 team “significantly better” than last year’s. If the Chargers want to compete, they should hope Hawn’s evaluations are on the money. That would help with a “meat grinder” of a schedule featuring Tampa Bay Tech, Chamberlain, Plant City and Bloomingdale. It may be the easiest schedule among the three Plant City-area teams, but that doesn’t mean Crest is dealing with a bunch of “cupcake” games. “We’re in kind of the Big Ten of our area. This is a good district,” Hawn said. “We could be probably the best 2-8, 3-8 team in the area last year. We beat Seminole and Seminole turned around and beat Countryside.” Hawn and the Chargers would be happy with picking up a few more wins and seeing if their moxie can help them steal a few they otherwise wouldn’t get.

ROSTER 1 Ethan Calaway WR Jr. 2 Kadin Durgan DB/TE So. 3 Makenzie Kennedy QB Jr. 4 Tyson Rosania LB/RB Sr. 5 Jadyn Girard WR Fr. 6 Adam Ibarra LB Sr. 7 Zane Tapper RB Sr. 8 Dalton Hunt DB/LS Sr. 9 Hasan Sharrieff DB/RB Sr. 10 Cody Newman DB/WR Sr. 11 Tommy Johnson RB Sr. 12 Joshua Young DL/TE Sr. 13 Jordan Bennett LB Sr. 14 Andre James-Williams RB So. 15 Jesse Waldrop LB So. 16 Caleb Goodson QB/WR Jr. 17 Connor Dias DB So. 18 Christian Hartman WR So. 19 Hunter Wilkinson QB So. 20 D.J. Brannon RB/LB Jr. 21 Temp Paris DB Sr. 22 Lane Best DB So. 24 Bryant Lazare WR Jr. 25 Juan Gonzalez TE Sr. 30 Thomas Spurway DB Jr. 32 Miles Jones DB Fr. 40 Christoval Arevalo DL Jr. 51 Riley Garrison LB Sr. 52 Ben Gude OL Jr. 54 Max Paplin OL So. 55 Jonah Spivey OL Jr. 56 Jake Craig LB So. 59 Justin Pulaski DL Jr. 65 Benjamin Hill OL So. 66 Kevin Claudio DL So. 69 Jose Gonzalez OL Jr. 70 DaQuan McDonald OL Jr. 75 Cayden Knipp OL So. 77 Isaac Ysasi OL Jr. 78 Jackson Bradford OL So. 80 Kyle Troup WR Sr. 84 Joseph Witherington DL Jr.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

THREE TO SEE

CODY NEWMAN (FS, SR.)

TYSON ROSANIA (LB, SR.)

JONAH SPIVEY (OL, JR.)

Going into this season, what are your expectations? I’m just hoping the defense can stay stable. When one play goes bad, we tend to fall apart. But I feel like this year we’ve got some good coaches and some good leaders to keep up with us so we can stay stronger all game.

You’re moving from DB to a linebacker position this year that may be a good fit for you. What are you most excited for? I’m excited to be involved in more tackles this year. Last year I was on the weak side as a safety, now I’m on the strong side as a linebacker. Hopefully I’ll be involved more with the defense.

You guys finally got some wins last year. What did you learn from that season that you’re doing this year? Just to be more aggressive on the line and hold my ground more than last year. I’m a little bit smaller than I was. Just keep going.

When you’re at risk of falling apart, what’s the key for keeping it all together? Just to stay focused, because that’s the thing for most teams that’s hard to stay on track with. We just

need to stay focused because during the game it’s a lot easier to forget your job. If you can stay focused and not get distracted, it’s easier to get a win. What are your strengths as a player? I feel like I’m good with calling the defense, setting it up and making sure everybody’s where they’re supposed to be. I like defending a lot, playing my zones right. It’s fun.

What do you enjoy more about playing linebacker than defensive back? I just like the contact involved with it. Playing closer to the line, there’s less space.

I just like making contact early, I guess. Less time to think about the process of tackling. What did you learn from last season that you’re taking into this one? I learned how to win, realistically. We got two wins, so we want to build off of that. We want to finish games. We’re always pretty good in the first half and then, in the second half, we fall apart. We’re gonna look to close out games, continue drives and stop the offense when they’re pushing at the end of the game.

What are your strengths as a player? My strengths are getting low under people because I’m smaller than everybody else, but also my technique because not a lot of people have good technique. I’ve got

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pretty quick feet as a lineman, and my technique with my hands. What are you looking forward to about this season? I think we’ve got a pretty good team this season. We’ve got some pretty good players coming in this season, some fast players. I think we’ll do pretty good this season. What’s been your favorite moment with the team? The first win last year, and the Seminole game. That was the best.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

Photos by Justin Kline

Strawberry Crest’s Jarrett Rappe looks to throw to a receiver under pressure from Bloomingdale’s defense.

Strawberry Crest quarterback Jarrett Rappe stiff-arms Plant City’s Kobe Panier while trying to make a play.

Looking back on 2017 T

Plant City quarterback Braxton Plunk winds up to throw against Hillsborough’s defense during one of the rainiest games of the season.

hough the 2017 season was shortened by Hurricane Irma, there was still plenty of good football to go around. The Plant City Observer’s cameras captured much of the action of last season and caught some great moments, from another thrilling Redman Cup game to Strawberry Crest’s first regular-season win in

four years. As always, we’ve put together a spread with some of the staff’s favorite photos from last season to share before we start anew with this season’s slate. Check out more photos on plantcityobserver. com and keep an eye out for this week’s batch of Week 1 pictures.

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WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

JUSTIN KLINE

Checking that crystal ball DURANT

This is a much trickier time for the Cougars, who have lost a great deal of 2017’s top contributors to graduation and have since lost more players in transfers. The offense is going to look completely different this year, even from the team’s spring jamboree game. The defense will return some players from 2017, but there will be a learning curve. I think this is a rebuilding year for Durant, a project for head coach Mike Gottman to build up for the future. With the area’s most consistent coaching staff on board, the Cougars could pick up a handful of wins in their tough schedule, but nothing will come easy. PLANT CITY

The Raiders are fortunate to have quarterback Braxton Plunk and wideout Mario Williams back on offense and have plenty of talent returning on defense. The team finally has consistency with Booth sticking around, something no one’s been able to say for many years. I consider this to be the most skilled roster in the area, even with lead running

STRAWBERRY CREST

This year will bring the same opponents as 2017, but in different locations. Spoto and King will have new coaches. The Chargers have lost key players, but they’ve gotten bigger on the offensive line and get back defensive stalwarts like Cody Newman and Tyson Rosania, who has moved to a more natural-fitting linebacker position. My guess is 2018 will be another step in the right direction for the program, but there’s still a long way to go before Crest threatens anyone for a playoff spot.

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back Eric Wilson having left for Armwood in July. The Raiders do not have an easy schedule, which is true of all three Plant Cityarea teams, but I believe they’re in line to finish with the most wins of any of our teams. Are they playoff material under the new system? I’m not going to touch that one just yet but, given the caliber of the Raiders’ 2018 opponents, the potential to rack up the points with some big wins is there.

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

KOLTON SMITH

Justin Kline

Kolton “Kole” Smith is determined to one day walk again.

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A car accident put Smith in a wheelchair, but he’s determined to walk again. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

olton “Kole” Smith was looking forward to playing on Durant’s offensive line for one last year and joining the military right out of high school. That was before June 29. That afternoon, Smith’s entire life changed in the blink of an eye. The Durant senior was driving his truck on a wet Keysville Road when he briefly lost control of the vehicle, overcorrected and flipped it. He was ejected from the truck and when he realized what happened he knew he had to get up and call his mom, Nicole Duffey. The only problem was that he couldn’t get up — his back was broken and he couldn’t move his legs to stand, let alone kneel. A nearby driver alerted Duffey and 911. Smith was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital and quickly underwent surgery. On August 9, Smith described the aftermath of the accident starting with the airlift as “a cool experience.” Duffey would disagree but, yes, that does mean he has a pretty good attitude about his situation. “Just the fact that I’m still living is a very positive aspect,” Smith said. “It keeps me going because I could have been a lot worse in that accident.” He won’t ever play football again and joining the military is now out of the question. Because college wasn’t immediately a plan of his — Smith’s goal was to do college after enlisting to ease the financial burden — he’s looking to find a way to make it work after potentially graduating from Durant early. Most importantly, he’s hoping his chance to get out of the wheelchair and walk again comes to fruition. It’s not happening anytime in the near future and it’s not the strongest chance but, with some of his lower body muscles showing signs of functioning, the chance is there. “In my thighs, a little bit,” Smith said. “I can straighten out

my knee on a mat a little bit, so in the future that will help me to get braces and be able to kind of walk. Maybe someday, depending how long my back heals — it takes up to two years — it all depends how my body heals from it. So, good signs, at least.” Luckily for Smith, his spinal cord wasn’t severed and his only other injury from the accident was a scrape on his bicep. He has no problem moving his upper body, other than the sore back, and constantly looks like he’s ready to jump out of the chair. That won’t be happening just yet, but he is getting good at popping wheelies. As soon as he’s cleared to lift weights, he’ll be in the Cougars’ weight room training with offensive line coach Wesley Wyatt. It pays to stay strong, after all. Community support has also been strong. To be specific, it’s been #KoleStrong. A GoFundMe has raised more than $8,000 of a $10,000 goal to help Smith and his family with medical expenses and home remodeling. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s of Plant City has planned a fundraiser for Smith the evening of Aug. 30 and #KoleStrong shirts are being sold online. Durant’s football team has rallied around him, naming him a team captain for the 2018 season. Members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization sent him encouraging videos after the accident and, on Aug. 6, he and many of his fellow Cougars were general manager Jason Licht’s guests at the Bucs’ practice. He met tackle Donovan Smith, who gave him a No. 62 jersey with “Smith” on the back that was eventually signed by many Bucs players and personnel. The highlight was when the Bucs players left the practice field and, one by one, came up to Smith to shake his hand and say some words of encouragement. It’s not a guarantee that Smith will walk again. But with a strong mentality and strong support from his family, girlfriend, fellow Cougars, the local community and even the pros of the NFL, he’s determined to live the best life he can. “It really just gives me stuff to do so I’m not sitting at home, being bored and thinking about stuff,” Smith said. “It encourages me to be positive.”

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PlantCityObserver.com

ASHTON MINCEY

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

CODY NEWMAN

Injury can’t hold LB down Justin Kline

Ashton Mincey didn’t let a torn ACL get in the way of his football career.

Justin Kline

Cody Newman balances football and fishing and is a rising star in both.

From the gridiron An ACL tear ended Mincey’s 2017 early, but the senior beat his healing schedule to play. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

shton Mincey’s reputation as a student-athlete is solid for good reason. The Plant City Raiders’ middle linebacker has proven to be a hard worker on the field, consistently playing well in his three seasons with the varsity team. He’s a hard worker in the classroom, currently sporting a 4.4 GPA. He also proved in the offseason that he’s a hard worker when it comes to injury rehabilitation. One of the last injuries any football player — really, any athlete — wants to suffer is a torn ACL. Mincey was having a productive season for the Raiders through five games in 2017 when he was unlucky enough to get the injury. Just like that, his season was over. “I was devastated because I didn’t think I was going to come back,” Mincey said. His doctor told him he’d most likely be able to go back to the field by this month. That made Mincey feel better, but he wanted something more. With one season left to ball out, help the team get back to the playoffs and get his college plans finalized, the senior didn’t want to miss a thing. He didn’t just want to resume activity by August — he wanted to be feeling back to 100% by August.

“I kept myself motivated by telling myself I wanted to come back stronger than I did last year, make more plays than I did last year and just help our team win more than last year,” Mincey said. The ACL tear is not an injury where athletes can be sure they’ll come back as they were or, like a baseball player after Tommy John surgery, a little bit stronger. Before the 1990s, a torn ACL was an athlete’s career death sentence. Advances in medicine have helped change that for the better, but the injury still requires great care and patience during a grueling rehab process. No matter what, you wrestle with the chance that the tiny ligament won’t heal properly and your performance will never be the same. Mincey fought through the pain of rehab three days a week and hit the weight room every day as soon as he was cleared for it hoping he’d be one of the lucky ones, a quick healer. His prayers were rewarded: he was able to walk on his own in less than two months, the ligament healed faster than the prognosis suggested and Mincey entered August ready for the real deal. “Just trust the process,” he said. “If you trust the process it’ll go by quickly. It will be painful, but it will go by. You will come back. Mincey said he feels totally comfortable moving at game speed. Head coach James Booth said the senior looks like he hasn’t missed a beat out there. If this is the case, that’s good news for Plant City’s defense and bad news for the offenses on the Raiders’ schedule.

to the ‘Gram Strawberry Crest’s top defensive back is also a rising star on Instagram. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

f you follow Strawberry Crest football this year, you’ll see strong safety Cody Newman making his mark on defense. If you follow Newman on Instagram this year, you and thousands of others will see all of the senior’s fishing trips. The “avid fisherman” label fits Newman perfectly. He’s as dedicated to wrangling fish as he is honing his craft on the football field and spends much of his free time working on his social media presence. Most teens his age have part-time jobs at restaurants or retail stores; Newman considers his work on the water and online with the @newman.fishing Instagram account a part-time job. Newman said he started seriously exploring the idea of Instagram fame during his freshman year of high school. “I just grew up fishing in my back yard in ponds. I’d catch fish and take crappy photos and post them every day,” Newman said. “I figured out how to gain followers and by my freshman year, I had around 6,000.” Though it’s a high number for most people, the senior shrugs it off. He said he stayed dedicated to fishing as much as he could, when he could, and eventually found gigs fishing at events while wearing sponsors’ apparel or using

their goods. Newman fishes after school nearly every day and posts regularly to keep his social media impressions up. He’s also made friends in the online fishing community who have helped raise his profile. Their reposting of his photos and videos, he said, boosted his follower count by giving the content the chance to go viral with hundreds of thousands of views. He now has more than 20,200 followers and 15 sponsors who watch him fish all around the state, in fresh water or salt water. He’s also competed on the school’s fishing team. He partnered with Abigale DeVane, who earned a bass fishing scholarship to Savannah College of Art and Design, and is now considering SCAD himself. Whether he ends up at SCAD or Auburn — his top two choices — or another school, Newman’s goal is to keep on angling for both fish and followers. With this much success already, he’s going to enjoy the ride as long as he can. “I just go with the flow,” Newman said. “I don’t let anything worry me because that means I’d just get stressed out. I just do what I can, when I can do it.” Crest fans need not worry about fishing getting in the way of football though. Head coach Ron Hawn speaks highly of Newman and considers the senior one of the most important parts in the entire Chargers machine. Hawn said he has the instincts, tenacity and work ethic to succeed and will be counted on as a leader of the defensive unit.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

FHSAA Playoffs: It’s complicated, but it works JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

None of the Plant City-area teams made the playoffs in 2017, but one thing was made clear across the state: the new system gets the job done. In February, the FHSAA approved a five-point increase for losses taken to opponents in all four tiered categories. Category 1 losses net a team 35 points, Category 2 losses net 30 points, Category 3 losses net 25 points and Category 4 losses net 20 points. Teams that forfeit games get the points for a loss. In case you forgot, the categories are determined by teams’ win percentages. Any team winning 80% or more of their games falls into Category 1; Category 2 features teams between 60-79%, Category 3 teams fall in the 40-59% range and Category 4 teams win no more than 39% of their games. Only teams with at least eight games played will be playoff eligible. Three bonus points are awarded for playing teams that finished in the previous year’s (in this case, 2017) MaxPreps or USA Today final rankings and for playing teams that made the playoffs in either 2015 and 2016. Because Plant City made the

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cut in 2015 and Durant made the cut in 2016, anyone who plays them will get the three-point bonuses that carried over from last season. For those keeping score at home, Category 1 losses can be worth up to 38 points if that opponent made the playoffs in 2016 and/or 2017, Category 2 losses can get you 33 points, Category 3 losses can get you 28 points and Category 4 losses can get you 23 points. It’s still in effect that, if one of your opponents only played nine games for whatever reason, your team won’t be penalized and the end-of-year points total is still based on the percentages. Though Hurricane Irma essentially killed off two calendar weeks of football last year, many schools dropped only one game and held a series of early-week make-up games to hit the ninegame quota for staying penaltyfree. Last season, the FHSAA updated point standings on a weekly basis. Point totals and weekly standings will be viewable at fhsaa.org/sports/football.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

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See the future stars The Plant City area’s youth football scene is loaded with talent and playing on Saturdays.

DOVER PATRIOTS Aug. 25: at Lakeland Eagles Sept. 8: vs. Brandon Cowboys Sept. 15: at Turkey Creek Trojans Sept. 22: vs. Lakeland Gators Sept. 29: vs. East Bay Bucs Oct. 6: at Mulberry Seahawks Oct. 13: vs. Pinecrest Pilots Oct. 20: at Seffner Seahawks

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

TCYFCC KICKOFF TIMES Mighty Mites: 9 a.m. Pee Wees: 10:30 a.m. Midgets: 12 p.m. Junior Varsity: 2 p.m. Varsity: 4 p.m.

nterested in catching local youth players in action? Check out the following remaining schedules for area teams. TRI-COUNTY YOUTH FOOTBALL & CHEERLEADING CONFERENCE PLANT CITY DOLPHINS Aug. 25: vs. Mulberry Seahawks Sept. 8: at Southwest Junior Saints Sept. 15: at Brandon Cowboys Sept. 22: vs. Brandon Broncos Sept. 29: at New Tampa Wildcats Oct. 6: vs. Seffner Seahawks Oct. 13: vs. East Bay Bucs Oct. 20: at Lakeland Gators TURKEY CREEK TROJANS Aug. 25: at Southwest Junior Saints Sept. 8: vs. Brandon Broncos Sept. 15: vs. Dover Patriots Sept. 22: at East Bay Bucs Sept. 29: at Seffner Seahawks Oct. 6: vs. New Tampa Wildcats Oct. 13: at Lakeland Eagles Oct. 20: vs. Pinecrest Pilots

TCYFCC PLAYOFFS Nov. 3 first round sites: Mulberry Seahawks, Seffner Seahawks, Turkey Creek Trojans, Brandon Cowboys Nov. 10 second round sites: Pinecrest Pilots, Lakeland Gators Nov. 17 Superbowl site: Lakeland Eagles TCYFCC CHEER-OFF Oct. 27 at East Bay Bucs MIDFLORIDA FOOTBALL & CHEERLEADING CONFERENCE PLANT CITY COLTS Aug. 25: at Polk County Panthers Sept. 1: vs. Tampa Bay Lions Sept. 8: at Lakeland Destroyers Sept. 15: vs. St. Pete Gators Sept. 22: at Daytona Dolphins Sept. 30: vs. Frostproof Dawgs Oct. 6: at Lakeland Lumberjacks

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

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QB: Braxton Plunk, Plant City I don’t think many, if any, Hillsborough County football players got more out of a change of scenery than Braxton Plunk. After transferring from Strawberry Crest to Plant City, Plunk took a massive leap forward developing under coach James Booth. Over half of his pass attempts were completions and he racked up 2,126 yards (212.6 per game) and 20 touchdowns against nine interceptions. This is the area’s most improved player, hands down. RB1: Cameron Myers, Durant No one player was more important to their team in 2017 than Cameron Myers was for the Durant Cougars. Myers put together a stellar senior season, picking up 1,738 yards and 21 touchdowns

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on the ground as the lead back in the Cougars’ run-heavy offense. Though Myers would still have had a great year without the Redman Cup game, he gained 393 rushing yards and scored four times on Plant City’s defense. RB2: Eric Wilson, Plant City Like Plunk and Mario Williams, Eric Wilson was a Plant City newcomer who thrived in 2017. The sophomore running back led the Raiders with 648 rushing yards and six touchdowns last season, really coming into his own around the middle of the season. Most notably, he scored all three of Plant City’s touchdowns against Tampa Bay Tech and picked up 144 yards in the Redman Cup game. Wilson was also a member of the 4x100 relay team that made it to the 2017-18 FHSAA state track and field championships last season.

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PlantCityObserver.com

WR2: Tyler Hood, Plant City Tyler Hood was also a reliable presence for Braxton Plunk and the Plant City offense in 2017, leading the Raiders with a careerbest 734 yards. It was a big step up from his junior season with Plant City, in which he gained 297 yards in seven games. Hood’s performance netted him first team all-county honors and a spot in the East/West All-Star Game. FLEX: David Tabakovic, Durant Durant’s rushing attack was led by Myers, but the Cougars’ rumbling Russian enjoyed a great year of his own. Fullback David Tabakovic was the thunder to Myers’ lightning, plowing through defenders to the tune of 660 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tabakovic eclipsed 100 yards twice last year and finished with 98 yards on seven carries against Lennard, but his season highlight was the 137-yard, four-touchdown performance in the Redman Cup game. OL: Durant If you’re going to run the ball as much as Durant does, your offensive line had better be good. As area fans got to see

a we s o

DB3: C.J. Barnes, Durant As well-rounded as any defensive back in the area, Corey “C.J.” Barnes was credited with 61 total tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in his sophomore season. The rising junior likes to play hard and fast and should be one of Durant’s most important contributors in 2018 and 2019.

last season, the Cougars’ o-line (literally) paved the way for one of the deadliest rushing attacks in Hillsborough County to pick up eight yards per carry and score 32 touchdowns. The line also kept senior quarterback Carlton Potter healthy for all 10 games. In short, another excellent coaching job by Wesley Wyatt. K: Kelly Kash, Durant Durant found itself in the end zone quite often in 2017 and kicker Kelly Kash was money when her number was called for a PAT. Kash made 33 of 35 extra point attempts over eight games and was generally the most consistent kicker in the Cougars’ rotation.

DB4: Rio Oliver, Strawberry Crest Rio Oliver’s last season of high school ball was spent at defensive back and wide receiver, but it was at DB where the tall senior really made his mark. Oliver came up with 29 tackles, three picks and eight passes defended in 2017 and, when he did come up with the ball, he made the most of it: two of his interceptions were returned for 60 yards or more. Oliver also played for the Chargers’ basketball team last year and appeared in 23 games.

DEFENSE DB1: Demarcus Governor, Durant If you need to lock down somebody’s top wideout, Demarcus Governor is your man. Durant’s best cornerback led the Cougars in passes defended in 2017 and also logged 29 tackles and an interception. He’ll be back with the Cougars for his senior season to bring experience and leadership to the defense.

LB4: Thomas Steed, Strawberry Crest The leader of Strawberry Crest’s linebacking corps in 2017, Thomas Steed’s high football IQ and motor were put to good use in his senior season. Steed finished the season with 87 total tackles — a whopping 70 of which were assists — and an interception. He was one of the team’s bright spots on defense all year and always seemed to be around the ball. DL: Durant The Cougars were able to control many of their games by winning in the trenches on either side of the ball. The D-line consistently put pressure on quarterbacks and helped linebackers like Christian and Novo thrive.

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LB3: Aaron Novo, Durant Aaron Novo played a key role in Durant’s front seven in 2017, racking up 83 total tackles, two sacks and eight tackles for loss. Novo led the Cougars with 9.2 tackles per game and most notably recorded 20 total (11 solo, nine assists) in the Nov. 3, 2017 season closer against Armwood.

LB1: D.J. Gordon IV, Plant City The Raiders have one more year with arguably the best football player in the Plant City area. D.J. Gordon IV consistently gave offenses headaches in 2017 and parlayed his skills into a three-star rating and a commitment to play for coach P.J. Fleck at Minnesota. He’s an athletic, smart linebacker who does justice to Plant City’s reputation as a linebacker factory.

DB2: Tyreke Harrison, Plant City One of the most athletic players on Plant City’s roster, Tyreke Harrison, showed in 2017 he can be both a reliable defensive back and a threat on offense and as the team’s return man. Harrison’s track-tested speed (he was also on the 4x100 relay team) makes him someone teams have to keep an eye on no matter how he ends up with the ball in his hands.

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LB2: Bryar Christian, Durant Bryar Christian, Durant’s leading tackler of 2017 (86 total), stepped up big time for the Cougars. Christian picked up 3.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in his senior season, both teamleading stats, and also led all front seven players with three passes defended. Christian is also known for his time on the baseball field, where he played first base, outfield and pitcher for Durant’s varsity team over three seasons.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

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WR1: Mario Williams, Plant City Demario Williams certainly earned his “Super Mario” nickname as a freshman. The multisport athlete caught a team-leading 10 touchdown passes in 2017, coupled with 703 receiving yards, and became Plant City’s top playmaker thanks to his turf-burning speed. Williams can also be found speeding along the basepaths for Plant City’s baseball team.

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

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