Before this season, Durant head coach Mike Gottman wanted to make one small move to honor one of the school’s biggest influences.
Cougar fans have undoubtedly noticed the Ron Frost memorial rock at its new home by the field house. The stone had previously been located near what is now the softball complex, which made it less visible.
The Cougars want to make the move official with the rock’s second dedication ceremony this season. A date hasn’t been set, but Gottman hopes to do it as soon as possible.
Although Frost was only at Durant for two years, his impact on the school — and football program — is still felt.
Frost, Durant’s first principal, opened the high school in 1995 after transferring from nearby Turkey Creek Middle School. He developed a reputation as a strong leader and motivator of students and is credited with laying a successful foundation for the high school.
“It’s hard to put it in words,” Denny Oest, former Durant assistant principal, says. “You had to see him in action, see the way he operated. He had a lot of spirit. A lot of planning, a lot of thought went into how we opened the school … to me, probably one of the best openings our district has ever experienced.”
Oest, who had worked with Frost on several occasions, was one of the TCMS faculty members who joined Frost in his move to Durant. He knew Frost and his wife, Sandra, well.
“He was a dynamic leader,” Oest says. “Great at motivating. He had the interest of the students at heart.”
Although the mascots couldn’t be more different, Frost wanted the school’s athletic programs to have a similar look as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The school’s shades of blue and gold are similar to those of the Irish and, as is Notre Dame tradition, there are green jerseys on hand for homecoming games.
When Frost died in 1997, following a battle with cancer, the school renamed the football field in his honor. In addition, the entire outdoor athletic area — encompassing football, soccer, lacrosse, track and field, cross-country, baseball and softball — is called the Ron Frost Athletic Complex.
“His legacy still lives on in that school,” Oest says.
The football team, which touches the rock together before every game, is hoping to honor Frost with a win Friday, Sept. 9, over nearby rival Newsome.
THE GAME
After taking a 17-7 loss at Hillsborough to start the season Friday, Aug. 29, Durant found its rhythm against Spoto Friday, Sept. 2, and cruised to a 33-0 win at home.
Quarterback Carlton Potter was able to shake off the Friday, Aug. 29, less-than-stellar performance against the Terriers. He completed 71% of his throws for 174 yards and three touchdowns against Spoto.
Wideout Brandon Myers recorded six catches for 40 yards and caught two of Potter’s touchdown passes, with the third touchdown coming on Jory Cole’s lone catch of the night: a 23-yarder.
Running back Jake Harris nearly out-gained Spoto’s rushing attack by himself. The senior gained 136 yards on 25 carries, while seven Spoto rushers gained 142 yards on 37 touches. Harris did not score, however. Junior David Tabakovic scored the Cougars’ lone rushing touchdown of the game.
The Cougars’ defense shut down a Spoto offense that relies heavily on its run game and held quarterback Anthron Dicks to one completion for seven yards.
Durant will face another run-heavy offense in Newsome Friday, Sept. 9. The Wolves made quick work of Strawberry Crest with wing formations, racking up 243 yards and six touchdowns among eight players. Newsome only passed the ball four times, with running back Patrick Jolly recording the team’s only non-penalized catch.
The Wolves were a more pass-friendly team at this time in 2015 but still committed heavily to the run.
For the first time in several years, though, they couldn’t top Durant. Thanks to a late Peyton Ledbetter field goal, the Cougars picked up a long-awaited win over their crosstown rival with just 215 yards of total offense.
As usual, Newsome figures to be a tough challenge. But the Cougars are confident that they can take two in a row from the Wolves and climb over the .500 mark.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.