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Running Back's Injury Hurts Durant, Too

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: October 15, 2008

PLANT CITY - A three-week injury is obviously not the end of the world, even if it's to a top player such as Durant High running back Ryan Rice.

But the timing is pretty bad for the Cougars on this one.

While head coach Mike Gottman is grateful Rice's shoulder injury is not season ending, it does come at the most critical juncture of the season. Durant is in the middle of a stretch where it hits the road to face both of its Sarasota district rivals.

"Losing Ryan, that hurts," Gottman said. "He's like a walking playbook on the field."

Gottman said that Rice, who was initially feared to have broken his collarbone, might be ready for the team's last District 6A-6 game Oct. 31 against Riverview. But he will definitely be out for next week's trip to Sarasota Riverview.

Rice was hurt Oct. 3 during the team's 10-0 win over Brandon. Brandon sophomore defensive lineman Billy Jackson hurt Rice while making a tackle, driving Rice's shoulder into the ground.

"Ryan was just making a cutback inside, and Jackson's just a young guy; he kinda just fell on him," Gottman said.

Now the Cougars will turn to two running backs, juniors Antonio Morris and John Hicks, to fill in for Rice, who had 303 yards on the season when he was injured.

This week Durant goes up against a team that has had its share of injuries. The Cougars are at Freedom High, which in one game - a 27-16 loss to Alonso on Oct. 3 - lost its standout quarterback Josh Grady (hamstring) and receiver Rodney Lyons (ankle).

Both players are unlikely to be ready to take on Durant this Thursday; most Hillsborough County teams are playing Thursday night since Friday is a non-school day.

Kickoff from Patriots Stadium is at 7:30 p.m.

Also in action Thursday is Plant City High, which has the rather enormous task of facing Armwood High School. The Hawks are ranked nationally and have simply been able to overwhelm opponents all season.

Armwood's defense was considered its strength, but the offense, led by quarterback Mywan Jackson, is catching up. Jackson is getting steadily better at mastering Armwood's new spread attack. He threw for five touchdowns in a recent win over Jefferson.

The kickoff at Armwood is at 7:30 p.m.

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