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Durant Holds On To Playoff Hopes

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: November 5, 2008

Thanks, Riverview Sharks - now forgive the Durant Cougars for wanting to beat you.

Riverview, the team without whose help Durant would be eliminated from playoff contention, comes to town Friday for an all-important football meeting in District 6A-6.

"It's gonna be a great game," said Durant head coach Mike Gottman. "Both of us have a lot at stake, and I'm sure Riverview is going to pull out all the stops."

That level of excitement did not exist for the Cougars during their last outing, but soon after their Oct. 24 loss at Sarasota Riverview was over - and Durant thought it was eliminated from the running - news came that Riverview had recorded a surprise 13-0 win over Sarasota.

Riverview entered that game with no victories on the year. Now Durant can force a three-way district tiebreaker, which would take place at Durant on Monday night.

Also in action this week, and, like Durant, hoping for a shot at a three-way tiebreaker, are the Plant City Raiders. Though they lost a key 5A-7 contest to Newsome played Oct. 24, Plant City still is eligible for the postseason if East Bay defeated Newsome last Friday.

If that is the case, the Raiders must beat Brandon on the road this week and also have Newsome lose to Bloomingdale.

That would give Bloomingdale the district championship and put Plant City, East Bay and Newsome into a three-way tiebreaker.

As for Durant, if it wins and Sarasota Riverview can beat Sarasota, there would be a three-way tie for second place, and the Monday tiebreaker would determine who's headed to the 6A playoffs.

"Our kids were really down when we lost to Sarasota Riverview because they had worked so hard all year and it looked like it was for naught," Gottman said. "But we heard it over the speakers that Sarasota lost, and that gave us new life. There's nothing worse than playing a meaningless football game."

Had Sarasota prevailed against Riverview, the two Sarasota schools would have secured the district's two playoff spots while Durant and Riverview would have been eliminated.

Now, should the results go in Durant's favor, Sarasota Riverview would win the district with a 3-0 mark, whereas Durant, Riverview and Sarasota would all be tied at 1-2. Sarasota Riverview is expected to beat Sarasota, so the scenario is not at all far-fetched.

The swing in Durant's outlook is remarkable considering the Cougars have not won a district game yet.

Should things go Durant's way this Friday, then beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, Riverview and Sarasota would play for a quarter and whoever wins would face Durant to decide the district runner-up spot.

If either quarter concludes with the teams tied, they would revert to a Kansas-style tiebreaker with both teams getting a possession at the 10-yard line.

Durant would be the host because it has a better overall record; the Cougars would be 5-4 if they beat Riverview while the other two squads are below the .500 mark.

But first things first.

Durant, which is starting to get some of its previously injured offensive players back, hopes to put together a complete game against the Sharks.

In its district defeats in Sarasota, the Cougars led, only to be unable to hold the advantage.

Last time out, Durant jumped ahead of Sarasota Riverview 14-0 with John Hicks playing a key role.

He intercepted a pass to set up Ryan Rice's short touchdown run, and then on offense took in a 42-yard score himself.

But Sarasota Riverview answered back, and after Conner Bass' field goal for Durant tied the score in the third quarter, the Cougars would only gain seven yards the rest of the way.

Rice, in his first full game back from a shoulder injury, should be at full strength, and quarterback Je'Twan Smith (ankle) should also be good to go.

Unfortunately the Cougars lost two top linebackers against Sarasota Riverview when Ruben Garcia (knee) and Bill Whitcomb (concussion) were injured.

"It was a very physical football game," Gottman said.

Kickoffs at Durant and at Brandon are at 7:30 p.m.

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