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'The Training Wheels Are Coming Off'

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: October 8, 2008

PLANT CITY - Through the first half of the high school football season, Plant City High's defense has established itself as the strength of the team.

And, Raider head coach Jason Strunk said, that unit has room to get even better.

Thursday's huge district game against East Bay would be a prime spot to put that improvement on display. At 0-1 in District 5A-7, the Raiders can't hardly afford a defeat against the Indians. The game will be played at Durant High School's football field because the new turf at Raider Stadium isn't ready for football action.

"We've been playing just a basic look so far. I haven't in the first month of the season installed my real defense yet," Strunk said. "The training wheels are coming off."

Strunk explains that several schemes, such as multiple blitzing packages, will be added and that essentially every player will be asked to do more.

Certainly the Raiders have shown the capacity to handle more responsibility. The defense has thrived even with its best player Duran Lowe hampered by an ankle injury.

Thursday will provide a unique challenge, facing East Bay and its wishbone offense. East Bay is led by running back Chaz Burrows, who singlehandedly led the Indians to a win over Brandon in their 5A-7 opener on Sept. 26.

Because of Plant City's upset loss to Bloomingdale, this week becomes a virtual must-win for the Raiders' playoff hopes.

The loss to Bloomingdale may end up being a nonfactor - if Plant City can win its remaining three district matchups, starting this week. A defeat Thursday would leave the Raiders hoping for a three-way tie for second place as their only hope for gaining playoff entry.

Led by players such as Lowe, linebacker Travis Vollick and top defensive back Rameem Billington, the Raiders have had a chance to win every game they've played. The defeat at Bloomingdale, for example, was by a 7-0 score where Bloomingdale benefited from four turnovers but could only score once.

Lowe, a senior who has drawn interest from several Division I schools and has a "soft" verbal commitment to Wake Forest, has made a big impact on Strunk.

And it helps that Lowe has chipped in offensively, playing running back at times in what otherwise has been an all-freshman backfield.

When Lowe has been unable to play because of the ankle sprain, which took place in the first quarter of the season opener against Durant, Strunk said fellow senior Vollick has been an outstanding leader.

"He's a little undersized, but he hits like a ton of bricks," Strunk said.

Through five games, the Raiders have still been unable to perform in front of their home crowd, a result of the new turf taking root at Raider Stadium. The East Bay game was originally scheduled to be played at home Friday.

There still is uncertainty as to when the turf will be approved by Hillsborough County's athletic department. The Oct. 24 home game against Newsome will also likely be moved to .Durant, 4708 Cougar Path.

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