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Football: Plant City 19, Tampa Bay Tech 3

 
Published Oct. 3, 2015

PLANT CITY — Markese Hargrove might be rather generously listed at 5 feet 8, 170 pounds in Plant City's program. But the senior tailback's shoulders are plenty broad enough to carry the Raiders' offense.

Hargrove ran 28 times and scored the go-ahead touchdown Friday night as Plant City remained perfect in Class 7A, District 9, defeating visiting Tampa Bay Tech 19-3 in a key district showdown.

"Once I get home and lay down I get real sore and in the morning it's kinda hard to wake up," Hargrove said. "But I get iced up (today) and it's all good. Right now I don't feel anything because of all the adrenaline."

Hargrove racked up 170 yards rushing and had a score wiped out by a penalty. And his second carry of the third quarter turned the game around.

With Plant City trailing 3-0 at halftime and following a TBT punt, Hargrove burst up the middle untouched into the end zone for a 47-yard score, giving the Raiders the lead for good.

Meanwhile, the Raiders' defense was stifling. Plant City (5-1, 3-0) held the Titans (3-3, 2-1) to 70 yards rushing and another 3 through the air. Denis Boric's 32-yard first-quarter field goal was all that separated Plant City from its first shutout this season.

"Our defense was high intensity all night," said Raiders linebacker Steven Ogletree, who finished with a sack. "We brought it all night."

Plant City also recorded three interceptions and a safety. The Raiders have surrendered a mere 16 points in their past three games, all district wins.

"We were missing quite a few starters out there on defense tonight and some freshmen really stepped up," Hargrove said. "I love coming to bench and being on the sideline and watching them play. Love it."

Following the fourth-quarter safety, quarterback Corey King put the game away on the ensuing possession with a 37-yard touchdown run to make it 19-3 with 5:20 to play. King ran 13 times for 102 yards and finished 5-of-10 for 50 yards.

"We have a lot of district games remaining," Ogletree said. "So we can't stop now. It's nice to be undefeated (in the district), but there's work to be done."