We're halfway home to the playoffs. Here's this week's Grab Bag, compiled by me, John C. Cotey, aftter digging my nose into stats provided by coaches to MaxPreps and HomeTeam. So if you want to get in here, your stats will need to be in one of these places. You ...
Read more
Wed. Oct. 03, 2012 at 1:28 p.m. | John C. Cotey
photo gallery PLANT CITY — Plant City took advantage of two first-half fumbles by Riverview and controlled the clock in the second half Friday night to roll to a 34-14 victory over the Sharks. On the opening drive of the game, Riverview marched 60 yards to the Plant City 1-yard ...
Read more
Sat. Sept. 22, 2012 at 1:05 a.m. | Travis Puterbaugh
PLANT CITY — With the game on the line, Plant City coach Wayne Ward gambled and put the ball in the hands of a freshman. Tavares Chase responded with a 5-yard touchdown run, and Plant City overcame an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Gaither, 23-21.With the Raiders trailing 21-17, ...
Read more
Fri. Sept. 14, 2012 at 8:30 p.m. | Travis Puterbaugh
The Grab Bag is getting bigger and bigger, and you don't need to do any panning to find the nuggets here. The're everywhere. And do not EVER forget, people: Big bank take 'lil bank. P.S. Coaches, players, fans, parents, to reach the Grab Bag, and you should, email cotey@tampabay.com or ...
Read more
Wed. Sept. 12, 2012 at 12:46 p.m. | John C. Cotey
PLANT CITY — In a game where both Freedom and Plant City looked to capture their first victory of the season, Plant City came out on top Friday night 14-9.In a scoreless first half that consisted of 12 penalties combined, Plant City came out firing in the second half. Freshman ...
Read more
Fri. Sept. 07, 2012 at 9:05 p.m. | Michael Paonessa
Grab Bag time! Read this, and tell me how the GB wasn’t nominated last year for a Pulitzer, or an Emmy, or something. I dare you. This isn’t a plastic sandwich bag, folks. Put on a bib, grab a salad fork and sit your butt down so we can get ...
Read more
Wed. Sept. 05, 2012 at 10:05 a.m. | John C. Cotey
DOVER — Backup quarterback Rayquan Johnson gained 9 yards on a keeper and was stopped at the 1-yard line, leaving Plant City to call timeout with 7.9 seconds left trailing Strawberry Crest 21-7. The Raiders never got the chance for another play Saturday because of what happened on Johnson’s run ...
Read more
Sun. Sept. 02, 2012 at 12:49 a.m. | Steve Lee
PLANT CITY — Jakarius Crittenden ran for a game-high 83 yards and a long scoring run as Hillsborough beat host Plant City 15-7 in a preseason game Friday night.With starter Trevor Steinke out with a broken leg suffered this summer, Crittenden seized his opportunity. Ahead 8-0 in the third quarter, ...
Read more
Fri. Aug. 24, 2012 at 8:32 p.m. | Brandon Wright
We’re breaking down a football district a day — from 2A to 8A. Today: Class 7A, District 8. Teams Listed in order of 2011 finish, with overall/district record 1. Durant (7-4, 4-1) 2. Brandon (6-5, 4-1) 3. Plant City (7-3, 3-2) 4. Newsome (6-4, 3-2) 5. East Bay (4-6, 1-4) ...
Read more
Thu. Aug. 02, 2012 at 12:33 p.m. | Joey Knight
Plant starts the 2012 season ranked No. 10 nationally in USA Today’s preseason top 25 poll, which was released today. Here’s what USA Today has to say about the defending Class 8A state champs: “Panthers won the 8A title, their fourth state title in six seasons, and could be better ...
Read more
Wed. Aug. 01, 2012 at 4:03 p.m. | Matt Baker
At Plant City Scores: Durant 49, Strawberry Crest 7 Armwood 7, Plant City 0 (halted) Spring game-breakers: The lightning that ended the second half with 9:22 to play was preceded by a deluge of miscues. The Hawks and Raiders combined for 11 penalties despite agreeing to no live action on ...
Read more
Thu. May 24, 2012 at 10:44 p.m. | Joey Knight
Because so few derbies — Kentucky or quarterback — are ever determined in one or two furlongs, Thursday’s slate of one-half jamboree contests likely won’t settle any behind-center battles being waged locally. But they could determine a clear leader. This is, after all, teams’ first live action of 2012 against ...
Read more
Wed. May 23, 2012 at 4:37 p.m. | Joey Knight
TAMPA — Thanks to a new arrival, second-year Jefferson coach Jeremy Earle has been digging through the archives. Trevor Register, a rising senior transfer from Tampa Catholic, enrolled at Jefferson in January and brought with him 592 yards of rushing offense that he amassed as part of the Crusaders’ two-back ...
Read more
Mon. May 14, 2012 at 3:25 p.m. | Laura Keeley
The Associated Press 2011 Class 7A All-State Team, voted on by media organizations around the state (area players in bold): First Team Offense QB - Cord Sandberg, 6-2 190, Jr., Bradenton Manatee RB - Marcus Levy, 5-11 185, Jr., Fort Pierce Central RB - Randy Bergan, 5-10 185, Sr., Clermont East Ridge WR - Chris Black, ...
Read more
Sat. Jan. 07, 2012 at 4:15 p.m. | Laura Keeley
Offensive player of the year Alvin Bailey, Jr., Armwood Why we picked him: Two reasons: 1) No one around was more priceless to his team, and 2) he may just have completed the greatest individual playoff performance in county history. A receiver/punt returner at the season’s outset, Bailey became the ...
Read more
Fri. Dec. 23, 2011 at 12:03 p.m. | Times Staff