The mixed martial arts trend has swept the nation. It seems as though everyone with an interest in the sport, young and old, wants to learn how those men and women on TV fight in those rings and cages. For Q. Wiggins, that’s not enough. What about the place where someone is more likely to […]
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Plant City Linebackers Leading the Way
Maybe it’s fair to say that losing defensive studs such as Montel McBride, John Broome and Sedrick King has hurt the Plant City Raiders. What’s not fair to say, though, is that these losses sucked the life out of this defense. Nowadays, one just has to look a little further up the field than the […]
Continue Reading2014 Gridiron Report: Week 8
The Plant City Times & Observer brings you another installment of our 2014 weekly podcast, the Plant City Times & Observer Gridiron Report, breaking down high school football match-ups in the Plant City area for the entire 2014 season. Staff Writer Justin Kline is the host of the podcast, which features a weekly “Game of […]
Continue ReadingWEEK 7: Newsome at Durant
What a heart-breaker. Facing a 33-31 deficit with five seconds to play, the Durant Cougars found themselves in field-goal range and on the brink of avenging last year’s loss. The kick missed, however, and the home crowd fell completely silent. No one can say it wasn’t a great game, though. Jalen Forte got Durant on […]
Continue ReadingDolphins, Trojans Clash on the Gridiron
The area’s biggest Little League rivalry continued Oct. 4, when the Turkey Creek Trojans came to the Plant City Dolphins’ house. It was mostly a good day for the home teams, which won three of the five games, but the Trojans’ Pee-Wee squad pulled out the day’s most intense win, 8-6, on a last-minute goal-line […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? Don’t Take “Pinktober” for Granted
I’ve said in the past that the whole “Pinktober” fad has been visually overblown. That’s not what I meant by writing that headline, because my stance on that hasn’t changed. What I am talking about is the reason behind the nickname. Say what you will about Breast Cancer Awareness Month having a stranglehold on the […]
Continue ReadingSidelines 10.10.14
Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com. FOOTBALL + Durant routs Strawberry Crest Although Erick Davis and Crispian Atkins were both back at 100%, Thursday night belonged to Kamerron Joyce. The Durant sophomore scored three touchdowns on the ground — two in the fourth quarter — putting the […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Patrick Colleran
Three games, 49 tackles — that’s how the last three weeks have gone for Plant City High School linebacker Patrick Colleran, whose 20-tackle effort in last week’s win over East Bay broke the personal record of 18 he set three weeks ago. Now, he’s getting attention from colleges like Minnesota, Stetson, Florida Tech and Indiana […]
Continue ReadingDurant Defense Gets Results Without Change
Normally, after a lackluster season, a football team will look to address its problems with some changes. Maybe they show up in practice or on the coaching staff. So, what did Durant do to get so much better? Well, here’s the thing: It sounds like the Cougars didn’t really change anything. “That’s pretty accurate,” head […]
Continue ReadingF.I.S.H. Hawks Fly Under the Radar
Eight-on-eight football can be fun to watch, even if it’s not as traditional as the 11-on-11 game. Especially for those fans who prefer the offensive side of the game. So, perhaps something non-traditional is good for the F.I.S.H. Hawks, a team that seems to defy convention — and is getting results. For six seasons, the […]
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