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Raiders Seek Advantage

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By DAREK SHARP, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

PLANT CITY - Emotions should be at a high Friday at Raider Stadium. It will be Senior Night, and the Raiders are playing Brandon with the District 5A-7 title at stake.

If Plant City has its way, it will not be the last home game the seniors experience.

Friday's winner stays home for the first round of the state football playoffs, which begin Nov. 9.

Plant City will be put to one of its sterner tests of the season as Brandon brings in some tremendous skill players. But the Raiders have been able to overmatch most of their opponents' talent with a great group of their own on defense.

Seniors like Brent Butler, Semi Durant, Willie Haynes, Brennan Roberson, Chase Thompson and Joseph Upthegrove have been together for three years and would love nothing better than to ensure at least one more kickoff at Raider Stadium.

'The seniors are a tight-knit bunch,' said Raider head coach Kevin Kelley. 'They go out together, hang out together. ... They're like family.'

Some of the younger 'siblings' have also played key roles in strengthening the formidable defensive unit, notably juniors Duran Lowe and Denzel Drone.

Plant City's leading tackler as a sophomore, Lowe is gaining attention from many Division I colleges.

'Players like him come around only so often. I've only coached two or three kids as good as him, ever,' Kelly said.

Drone also is playing at a Division I college level. Kelley said that Drone made one tackle on Armwood running back Eric Smith that was so impressive, even the offensive coaches had to come in and watch the videotape - and they watched it about a dozen times.

In eight games, only once has Plant City surrendered more than two touchdowns. And in that game, a 31-0 loss to Riverview, the offense fumbled on each of its first two possessions to dig Plant City into an early 14-0 hole. Plant City did not have either of its top two running backs, Sirchauncey Holloway or Keith Dawson, available because injury in that game, either.

The defense can't be faulted in either of Plant City's other two losses: It only gave up seven points in regulation in a 15-14 overtime loss to Wharton; and Plant City held Armwood to its lowest output of the season in a 14-10 game. In the five Raiders wins, the defense allowed an average of six points.

But this week the Raiders may be facing the best offense they have seen so far. Brandon's Samir Baker and Marquel Gilmore have about 750 yards and average more than eight yards per carry. Baker is the threat to break a long run; Gilmore is more of a bruiser.

'Baker is very quick and has that great cutback ability,' Kelley said. 'And they have some other guys who are real good, too.'

In addition to the strong running game, Brandon quarterback Tracy Burr is not afraid to air the ball, averaging about 17 attempts and 135 yards per contest. His favorite target is Jeremy Tillman.

The Raiders are hoping to have their standout defensive end Durant suited up Friday. Durant often will switch ends as the offense lines up so that he is matched with the stronger side. He injured his shoulder in the Raiders' game Oct. 19, the 17-0 win at Newsome that clinched a playoff berth.

Regardless of who wins between the Raiders and Eagles, both teams face a tough playoff bracket, which includes the top two teams in Class 5A. Three-time defending state champion Lakeland is playing No. 2-ranked Kissimmee Osceola on Friday to decide the District 5A-8 title, but both of those squads have already qualified for the postseason.

If Plant City wins its first playoff game - which would have to be considered an upset whether it's Lakeland or Kissimmee Osceola - the 'reward' likely would be a game against the other one of those two teams.

That's what makes this Friday so vital. The Plant City-Brandon winner would be at home not only for the first round, but also for at least the second round if it can advance. Friday's loser would be on the road for at least the first two weeks.

Friday's game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. At the same time, Lakeland is hosting Kissimmee Osceola.

Plant City wraps up the regular season next week at Freedom High School.

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