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Raiders' playoff fate riding on 2 games

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: October 21, 2009

PLANT CITY - Having surged into possible playoff contention, the Plant City High Raiders know they must come up with wins in their next two games to get there.

So there's the obvious at stake Friday when the Raiders host Riverview. A victory means Plant City will still control its playoff destiny heading into next week's clash with Durant.

But there's a little extra incentive for the Raiders against Riverview. A win would set up a first for the Plant City-Durant rivalry: their game would be broadcast live on the radio.

Tampa sports station WDAE 620-AM is waiting until Friday night's results to determine its Oct. 30 game, the idea being it wants to carry a contest with playoff implications. The station is considering other options, Gibbs vs. Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs vs. Hudson and Countryside vs. East Lake, but the Plant City-Durant game is first on the priority list.

Simply put, if Plant City wins, WDAE will have the Raiders and Cougars on the air for the first time.

Were the Raiders to fall this Friday they would slip to 1-2 in district play, but a win sets them up at 2-1 with just the Durant game remaining for the district slate. Durant sits at 2-0 but still must play the Raiders and then Newsome, which is shaping up to potentially be the top team in 5A-6.

If it wins the next twogames, Plant City at worst would be facing a possible three-way tie for first place. Durant and Newsome both would finish alone in first place should they win the rest of their district contests.

Plant City has greatly improved in the past month and its defense got a big boost last week with the return to the lineup of Raheem Billington, the defensive back who broke his ankle before the season.

Riverview gave Durant a bigchallenge on Oct. 9, leading the Cougars untilthe fourth quarter. The Cougars won 14-8.

Durant is off this week.

Editors Note: The writer is employed part time at radio station WDAE 620-AM.

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