Tydre Ward wears several different hats in the Plant City Raiders’ depth chart, but the junior loves returning kicks and punts with the special teams unit. On Friday, August 21, it was Ward who took a booming Riverview punt to the end zone in the second quarter and killed off any momentum the Sharks had before halftime.
How did it feel getting the final score of that game and putting Plant City ahead for good?
It felt good. Just being able to help my team out, it really felt good to take that punt return back and get everybody hyped. We wanted to bring the win home. We’ve been waiting. They (Riverview) had been talking a lot, so we just had to come out and do what we had to do.
What were they saying?
They were saying they were gonna come out and beat us, put up 28 points on us and, obviously, they only scored one time. After that, they didn’t really have nothing else to say after the game.
How long have you been playing football?
Seven or eight years. I started when I was 9 years old. I was with the Plant City Dolphins, and in my last year I went to the Turkey Creek Trojans.
Are you related to Wayne Ward?
Yes, he’s my uncle.
How many other family members have played for the Raiders?
There was my uncle, my uncle Rodney and my grandfather, so I’m the fourth person to play. My brother (Treshaun Ward) is the fifth.
So you’re a third-generation Raider. How does it feel to keep up that legacy?
It feels good. I’m just trying to keep the tradition going, trying to get my brother to follow in my footsteps. I’m trying to learn how to be a big role model for him, since this is his freshman season, so I’m gonna show him how to do the right things and just keep it going.
Do you play any other sports?
Track and field. I ran the 4×100 meter dash last year.
If you could play any sport you’ve never tried before, what would it be?
I’d say it would be baseball. I’d be an outfielder. I like catching the ball.
What positions do you play?
Kick return, punt return, defensive back, running back and slot receiver.
Which is your favorite?
Punt returns and kick returns.
What position do you think you’d be best-suited for in college?
Slot receiver. I can make mismatches with the linebacker with my quickness and my routes.
If you could play football for any NFL team, what would it be?
The Dallas Cowboys.
Let’s say a little kid who’s just getting into football comes up to you and asks how to be a good football player. What’s the first thing you tell them?
Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because mistakes are gonna come here and there but, at the end of the day, you’re just making yourself better by making those mistakes. Just make sure you’re giving 110% — not 50%.
What are your personal goals for this year?
Just being able to become a better role model for whoever’s out there looking at me right now. And being the type of person that everybody would like to be around, on and off the field.