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'Workhorse' Raider aids comeback

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: November 11, 2009

PLANT CITY - Dazmond Patterson never searched for a reason why. Despite being a freshman and first-year varsity player for Plant City in 2008, Patterson never thought twice when Raiders coaches thrust him into one of the most prominent positions in high school football as the team's starting tailback.

What Patterson did was recognize a chance - one he didn't want to let slip through his fingers.

"I felt like they gave me the opportunity, and I had to seize it," Patterson said. "Obviously there was a reason they were doing it, so I just did the best I could."

There now is little doubt Patterson, the Raiders' sophomore tailback, fully seized that opportunity.

Patterson not only has been among Hillsborough County's most surprising players in 2009, but he's also emerged as one of the area's most productive running backs. He enters Friday's regular-season finale against Blake riding an impressive streak of eight consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing, and he's also coming off the best game of his prep career, when he rushed for a career-high 218 yards with two touchdowns in a big district victory over rival Durant.

"As he goes, we go," Plant City coach Jason Strunk said of Patterson, who ranks among the area's top rushers this season with 1,181 yards and eight touchdowns. "Dazmond's been our workhorse. He's been phenomenal. He's been great."He's also been a big reason why Plant City (6-3) has reversed its early-season misfortunes and is now headed to the state playoffs as the Class 5A-District 6 runner-up. Plant City travels to Plant for a regional quarterfinal playoff game Nov. 20. Patterson points to the camaraderie with his teammates this season as a major factor in his success.

"I feel a lot more comfortable," said Patterson, one of several underclassmen playing a prominent role for the Raiders this season. "The people that are with me now, I grew up with these people. It's easier to be a family. Last year it was just harder to connect. Now I'm just comfortable with my surroundings."

Patterson admits, however, that his comfort level isn't the only thing that has led to the breakout year. There was a lot of hard work involved, too, with much of that coming during offseason conditioning. Patterson, like the bulk of Plant City's roster, hit the weight room with a new enthusiasm, and it was something he desperately needed to do, according to his coach.

Strunk noted several occasions during Patterson's freshman season when the youngster seemed to get tossed around by the opposition. Although Patterson is listed at 5 feet 8 inches tall and 185 pounds, he has made gains in strength that have paid dividends, enough so that the Raiders feel he can shoulder the load during the stretch run.

That's something Patterson is confident he can do. He is quick to point out, however, that there are a lot of other working parts that click to make the Raiders successful, and all of them need to be fluent for the Raiders to attain all of their goals.

"I don't want to think of it as me carrying the load, because we all put in," he said. "I feel like I can do my part and if we all do our part, than we can be a good football team."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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