Cougars, Raiders at odds

It could be the most meaningful game of the longstanding series when Plant City straps it up against Durant in football this Friday.

Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. at what should be a jam-packed Durant High.

For the first time since 2004 the Raiders and Cougars will play with more than just bragging rights on the line. The teams play each other every year, but for the past four seasons they were not in the same district. They are grouped together again, now in Class 5A-District 6.

Durant is out to a great start at 2-0 in district play, but still has to play co-leader Newsome after going against the Raiders. Plant City still holds playoff hopes and would love nothing more than to get in at Durant's expense.

The Raiders have received fantastic production from the sophomore combo of quarterback Bennie Coney and running back Dazmond Patterson, the only player in Hillsborough County this season to go over the 100-yard mark five games in a row.

But Durant's defense is not easy to penetrate.

Linebackers Ruben Garcia, Sean Kolanowski and Rance Rutherford have been the staple of the defensive unit. On the line, Josh Halferty has led the way in sacks and T.J. Davis has been the captain of the secondary.

One of the many subplots for Friday's game is who has engineered the defense. Durant's defensive coordinator is Kevin Kelley, a former Raider head coach.

The Cougars are coming off a thrilling game at Sickles, which also was 5-1 entering the Oct. 16 matchup, which Durant won 20-15. Durant led 14-3 until the fourth quarter when Sickles put on a rally - only to have the Cougars answer back, and win on Je'Twan Smith's 11-yard touchdown pass to David Claypool with 28 seconds left.

Durant trailed 15-14 but head coach Mike Gottman did not want to chance a field goal in the windy conditions at Sickles that night. For the victory and 6-1 start, Gottman was honored last week by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the high school coach of the week for the Tampa Bay area.

Plant City overcame a 1-3 start to climb back above the .500 mark. Although Coney, tight end Jordan Prestwood and Patterson - all underclassmen - are grabbing the headlines, the Raiders defense also has been strong.

Art Knight, a junior, is without a doubt the leader of the defense, according to Plant City head coach Jason Strunk. "Great linebacker; punishing tackler," Strunk said.

Three sophomores comprise the secondary - Sam Green, Antwan Armstrong and Derek Anderson - and junior Javonte Sykes has been great for the Raiders.

Even if Durant loses, it still would be in line for a playoff spot should it beat Newsome. But for the Raiders this is a must-win.