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Flag Football: State no surprise for Raiders

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By SCOTT PURKS

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 7, 2009

PLANT CITY - After Plant City traveled four hours to Boca Raton last season, ate lunch, checked into a hotel and tried to rest and then went to Boca Raton High School for a state quarterfinal game at 8 p.m. - after all that - the Raiders played three games in less than 24 hours.

"As it was happening we really didn't know what was happening," Plant City captain Katie Peterson said of last year's run to the state final, where the Raiders lost 41-16 to Tallahassee Leon. "We were concentrating on playing hard, but it was hard to keep up with. It was just one thing right after the other.

"I mean we were playing and running around and then all of a sudden we were playing in the state final."

This year, Peterson said, that experience will help.

"Last year we didn't know what to expect," Peterson said. "Now we know what to expect and we expect to play well."

The Raiders' first state tournament game is a quarterfinal Friday at 4 p.m. against Tarpon Springs (13-1).

Few would be surprised if Plant City (14-0) didn't return with the crown.

"Their offense is clicking, that's for sure," said East Bay coach Mike Cooper, whose team fell to the Raiders 26-6 in Tuesday's play-in game. "You can't have a breakdown against them because they will take advantage of any opening you give them."

Leading the way is the Tampa Tribune's 2008 Player of the Year, quarterback Quet Shaw, who Plant City coach Randy Harris said "is using her weapons very well."

Weapon No. 1 is Shaw's feet, which sprint and juke faster than almost every defender. Her arm is a close second, followed by her No. 1 target, Nika Walker, who may be faster than Shaw.

Add it up and its understandable how Plant City scores on almost 90 percent of its drives.

The defensive spark begins with rusher Yasmeen Honors and Walker, who was moved this season to middle linebacker.

FLAG FOOTBALL STATE TOURNAMENT

At Boca Raton High

FRIDAY

Quarterfinals
Plant City vs. Tarpon Springs, !4 p.m.
Tallahassee Leon vs. Daytona Beach Mainland, 5:30 p.m.
Jupiter vs. Delray Beach Atlantic, 7 p.m.
Pompano Beach vs. Fort Lauderdale Stranahan, 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

Semifinals
Plant City/Tarpon Springs winner vs. Leon/Mainland winner, 2 p.m.
Jupiter/Atlantic winner vs. Pompano Beach/Stranahan winner, 3:30 p.m.

Championship
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

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