After the Armwood game, Plant City has done nothing but pass its tests. Could the Raiders overcome a notably athletic defense? Sure — they beat Brandon, 21-13, on the road. Could the Raiders beat a team with three or four of the top playmakers in the district, let alone Hillsborough County? Sure — they beat […]
Continue ReadingPlant City
Sidelines 11.27.15
Do you have a good Sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com, or Tweet us at @PCTOSports. Football + Dolphins present check to hospital After the Dolphins picked up the first win of the day, the team held an on-field ceremony to honor the memory of late president Buddy Bennett and present the […]
Continue ReadingFOOTBALL: Plant City 35, Tampa Bay Tech 15
The Tampa Bay Tech Titans, finally healthy, were expected to hang tight with Plant City in the teams' Nov. 20 rematch. They did not. Now, following a 35-15 win, the Raiders are bound for the FHSAA regional championship game on Friday, Nov. 27. The home team got in front early in the game and, after […]
Continue ReadingTampa Bay Tech at Plant City: Round 2
If there was ever a statement game on Plant City’s schedule, the Friday, Oct. 2, matchup against Tampa Bay Tech was it. That’s no slight to the Redman Cup, but this Titans team had some of the highest expectations in the district. That’s what happens when you have an offense bouncing back from the loss […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? Friday Night Notes 11.20.15
Since we had no more surprise sports stories this week, Friday Night Notes is back. The Plant City Raiders are the only game in town and, for much of last Friday’s playoff game against East Lake, the Raiders looked like the only team in the game. It was a 47-34 win that probably should have […]
Continue Reading2015 Gridiron Report: Playoffs, Round 2
The Plant City Times & Observer brings you another installment of our 2015 weekly podcast, the Plant City Times & Observer Gridiron Report, breaking down high school football match-ups in the Plant City area for the entire 2015 season. Sports Editor Justin Kline is the host of the podcast, which features a weekly “Game of […]
Continue ReadingFOOTBALL: Plant City 47, East Lake 34
For the first time since 1999, the Plant City Raiders can say they survived the first round of the playoffs. "Survived" may not be accurate in this case, however, as the Raiders cruised to a 47-34 win over the East Lake Eagles that, at one point, was a 40-14 game. Corey King scored the first […]
Continue ReadingEast Lake at Plant City: Playoffs!
Without question, tonight’s football game will be the biggest that Plant City High has hosted in quite some time. The Raiders, having won their district for the first time in nearly a decade, finally get to have a home field advantage in the FHSAA playoffs, after several years of enduring tough road crowds. And, for […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? A true champion
With apologies to Durant High football fans, I have to take a quick break from Friday Night Notes. This is just too good to not share. I’m used to getting emails from local parents who want to tell me about how great their kids are — and why they should be named Athlete of the […]
Continue ReadingT.J. Chase named Semper Fi All-American
Note: this post has been updated from the print version to reflect the most accurate 2015 stats, which have changed since press time. At 8 a.m. on a Friday morning, T.J. Chase stands tall in front of a packed Plant City High School auditorium. He and his teammates, all seated in the middle rows, couldn’t […]
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