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Football shuffle heats up rivalry

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: August 26, 2009

PLANT CITY - Since 2004, there hasn't been anything more at stake than bragging rights when Plant City and Durant met in football.

This season, with a brand-new football alignment throughout the state, the Raiders and Cougars are again district rivals.When they meet Oct. 9 at Durant, the foes will more than likely be deciding each other's playoff fate.

"The atmosphere for our games is going to be even greater this year," Durant head coach Mike Gottman said. "Plant City is the big one but all of our local rivalries, when we meet the district title could be on the line."

The new District 5A-6 includes Plant City, Durant, Bloomingdale, Newsome and Riverview.

When Durant moved up to Class 6A before the 2005 season, it put the Cougars in a very small group of Hillsborough County schools with 6A football programs. In fact there was only one other, Riverview.

Those two had to be grouped in the same district with the closest 6A schools, all the way down in Sarasota. That setup held for the past four seasons and yet in that time, a "big-time" feel never really enveloped the games.

"It just wasn't the same excitement level against Sarasota and Sarasota Riverview as it will be now in our district," Gottman said. "We now have a schedule against all of those eastern Hillsborough County teams, and the games mean a lot more."

Plant City actually was grouped with Bloomingdale and Newsome, along with Brandon and East Bay, for the past four years. Brandon is still 5A but got grouped with Tampa Bay Tech, Wharton and Freedom in District 7. East Bay was dropped to 4A and now must compete with the likes of Armwood and Hillsborough in 4A-9.

Last year Newsome and Bloomingdale reached the playoffs, as did the Cougars with a runner-up finish. Newsome may be considered the favorite to claim 5A-6 this season as the Wolves are coming off an 8-3 campaign.

If Newsome is as strong as expected, the stakes will be even higher when the Raiders and Cougars square off. The top two finishers from each district qualify for the playoffs, so the Plant City-Durant loser might be pushed out.

The Raiders start right into district play against Newsome (at home Sept. 25) and the Cougars won't play them until the final week of district contests (Nov. 6).

Durant will add to the east-county feel of its schedule with non-league games against Brandon, East Bay and King. Plant City also plays East Bay (in next week's opener) and Brandon.

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