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Plant City Earns 5A Playoff Berth

By KATHERINE SMITH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 19, 2007

LITHIA - Plant City coach Kevin Kelley gathered his team at midfield after their game against Newsome and didn't have much to say.

His message was short, but very sweet.

'Good news, we're in,' Kelley said.

The Raiders clinched a Class 5A-District 7 playoff berth with their 17-0 victory against Newsome. The win sets up a district showdown in two weeks against Brandon, with the winner taking the District 7 title.

'That game comes down to who is district champ and who is runner-up,' Kelley said. 'We looked at that game and thought if the year went the right way it might come down to that. Brandon's a very good club, so we've got our hands full.

'Our mind-set now is Brandon Eagles, and stop Samir Baker.'

Brandon's mind-set should be how to stop Plant City senior tailback Keith Dawson. Dawson rushed for 176 yards on 30 carries and scored both of the Raiders' touchdowns.

After junior running back Sirchauncey Holloway, who rushed for 130 yards in last week's 14-10 loss to Armwood, was shaken up in the first quarter and did not play in the second half, Dawson became a one-man wrecking crew.

Plant City took an early 3-0 lead after a 73-yard scoring drive culminated in John Dupree's 30-yard field goal.

Newsome threatened to go ahead late in the second quarter. After driving 72 yards to the Raiders 1-yard line, Newsome went for it on fourth-and-goal, but Plant City's defense stopped Wolves quarterback Kyle Parker on the keeper.

The Raiders suffered from poor field position in the first half, but they were able to take advantage of two Newsome turnovers in the second half to help with better field position.

In the second half, Plant City controlled the clock and unleashed its ground attack, led by Dawson, who accounted for more than half of the Raiders' 300 total yards. Newsome didn't have the ball much in the second half, but when it did, it wasn't able to do much with it and finished with only 128 total yards.

Friday night's road victory at Newsome Stadium was a first for Plant City.

'It's nice to clinch,' Kelley said. 'It's nice to clinch over here. We haven't won over here at Newsome since their inception. They're a class program, so it's nice to come over here and get a victory.

'They've always played us tough, and tonight was no different.'