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Raiders Win By 1 Point In 3 Overtimes

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By DAREK SHARP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

PLANT CITY - Two 12-0 teams played a game befitting their records Tuesday, and in the end it all came down to an extra point.

Thankfully for Plant City, it was the Raiders who came up with it.

In a dramatic playoff game, Plant City High's flag football team edged Freedom 27-26 in triple overtime, earning a trip to the Florida High School Athletic Association finals in Boca Raton. The Raiders were scheduled to meet Dunedin in a state quarterfinal game Friday night.

If the Raiders won, they might find themselves playing for a state title today, as both the semifinals and championship game will be held. Regardless of what happens in Boca Raton, no Raider will be able to forget the game that got them there.

"We knew it was going to be a battle; I mean, they were 12-0, too," Plant City coach Larry Langston said.

An enthusiastic and large crowd was on hand at Raider Stadium, rivaling attendance at most boys football games.

Freedom kept Plant City off the scoreboard with an athletic defensive group the likes of which the Raiders had not seen. But Plant City's defense was stiff and allowed the offense a chance to win it at the end.

It was 7-0 Freedom with two minutes left in regulation, and the Raiders were facing a fourth down from the seven-yard line. Plant City had used all of its timeouts, meaning it had to come up with a touchdown or the Patriots would be able to run out the clock.

Raiders quarterback Qwet Shaw, frustrated all night by Freedom, made a huge touchdown pass to Tic Bennett and an equally important pass for the extra point to Tekeyah Clark to tie it 7-7.

Both teams got the ball at the 10-yard line to start the overtime period. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the first overtime, but both missed on the extra point.

Freedom went up 20-13 in the second overtime, forcing the Raiders to again score seven; Danielle Kirsey caught the touchdown, and Clark again was there for the extra point. On the next play, Freedom scored, but opened the door for Plant City when it didn't get the extra point.

Kate Wicker, who had been held without a catch all night, made her first to tie the game.

"We knew it was going to be close," Wicker said. "I guess I picked a good time to make my first catch."

Shaw came up with a beauty. On a breathtaking reversal of field, she found Clark for the game-winning extra point, a long pass to her right that Clark cradled.

Plant City had a much easier time in its first playoff game April 26, jumping all over East Bay, 27-12.

If the Raiders won Friday against Dunedin they will play the Jupiter-Atlantic winner at 3:30 p.m. today. The state finals are at 7 p.m.

The games are being held at West Boca Raton High School.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampatrib.com.

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