Millions of American youngsters strap on shoulder pads and other protective gear to play America’s favorite sport: football. Of those, a little more than a million play high school ball. That figure whittles down to approximately 77,000 college football players at NCAA-member schools. When talking about the number of active players in the National Football […]
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Athlete of the Week 08.15.24
Hunter Johnson Photo courtesy of Mindi Johnson Hunter Johnson, a 13-year-old 8th grader at Turkey Creek Middle School, plays baseball for the Florida Burn-Lions. What position do you play in baseball? My primary position is catcher, but I’m a utility player and play wherever the coaches need me. Do you have a favorite all-time sports memory? […]
Continue ReadingYouth football League Registration Open For 2024 Season
For younger athletes who still want to participate in football but not at the high school level, the City of Plant City is proud to offer a youth flag football program for the 2024 season. Although schedules have not been announced yet due to registration still being open, it has been determined that the season […]
Continue ReadingDurant Cougars 2024 Football
Following success in a historic postseason run last year, the Durant Cougars, under the leadership of head coach Claybo Varnum, will begin their season ranked No. 15 in division 6A. Varnum, a Durant football alum, has been at the helm of the program since the 2021 season. Before that, he was an assistant coach for […]
Continue ReadingMajor Matchups 2024
Preseason August 16: Durant vs. East Bay The Cougars will meet their former head coach Mike Gottman and his team, who finished their season last year undefeated in district play and 8-3 overall, including making it to the district playoffs. A win for the Cougars in this non-district matchup won’t help their district playoff rankings, […]
Continue ReadingPlant City Raiders 2024 Football
2023 marked a new beginning for Plant City’s football program as Terrence Hicks, a former Wharton High School defensive back and Southeastern University football alum, took charge of the Raiders’ coaching staff. After what Hicks viewed as a successful season last year, the Raiders are ready to show every opponent what they are made of […]
Continue ReadingStrawberry Crest High School Chargers 2024 Football
After ending last season 4-6, Strawberry Crest’s head coach Phillip Prior is proud of how far he’s seen the team come since being hired in 2019. Prior was hired by the Chargers following former head coach Ron Hawn’s retirement that summer, and he already had experience rebuilding programs. Having coached at Poinciana and seeing what […]
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Courtesy of the Plant City Photo Archives
Continue ReadingAthlete of the Week 08.08.24
Mason Green Mason Green is a 14-year-old who attends Chris Welbon’s Karate Club. Mason will be starting at Durant High School next week. He just finished competing in Greensboro North Carolina, bringing home three gold medals. How did you get into Karate? I started karate as an after-school program. I was picked up at school […]
Continue ReadingAthlete of the Week 08.01.24
Sienna Parsons Sienna Parsons is a 17-year-old senior at Strawberry Crest where she plays on the girl’s soccer team as well as being on the club team, the West Florida Flames. When did you first start playing soccer? I started playing soccer recreationally in fourth grade after leaving competitive gymnastics. Who has been the most […]
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