Before last week, Bloomingdale’s flag football team was undefeated and Plant City’s was trying to lock up a playoff spot before it was too late.
When the two met at 1 Raider Place on Thursday, April 13, the Raiders pulled it off. Thanks in part to East Bay’s Tuesday, April 11, win over the Bulls, Plant City’s 19-13 overtime win secured the team a playoff spot and a share of second place in the district.
Plant City was in control for much of the game, starting with Lacey Hargrove’s catch-and-run touchdown in the first quarter that helped the team take a 7-0 lead. Though the Raiders wouldn’t score again until the fourth quarter, the offense produced long drives to eat up the clock and the defense kept Bloomingdale’s dangerous offense in check.
The Bulls’ luck turned around at the end of the third quarter, when the offense managed to drive into the red zone and score a rushing touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Fortunately for the Raiders, Holly Eddins answered back with a long touchdown catch and run of her own, though the extra point attempt failed.
Plant City’s 13-7 lead was erased by a Bloomingdale touchdown pass with 30 seconds left in the quarter, though the Bulls’ attempt to float a pass for the extra point was no good.
In overtime, Bloomingdale got the ball first but blew its chance to win with an end zone interception. On the ensuing drive, Plant City clawed its way to fourth down and short, where quarterback Alicia Zarate iced the game with a plunge into the end zone.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.