Try as they might, the Raiders simply couldn't find any answers for Durant's defensive puzzle.
The Cougars shut down nearly every facet of Plant City's game in a 16-6 win at 1 Raider Place that came with two added bonuses: the Redman Cup trophy and the district's last remaining playoff berth.
"I was a little bit nervous early on, you know, we were giving up a few plays and the quarterback was hurting us a little bit," head coach Mike Gottman says. "But we settled down. It was a high-emotion game. It was the real deal. That's why you coach, for Friday nights, for this atmosphere."
Durant was the first to get on the scoreboard, as Peyton Ledbetter hit a field goal with 1:48 left in the first quarter. Plant City was able to snatch the lead away with its only score of the game at the 9:53 mark of the second quarter, when running back Treshaun Ward capped off a drive with a nifty spin move on a four-yard run into the end zone. But the Raiders' PAT attempt missed, keeping Durant within one possession.
The Cougars pulled ahead for good on the ensuing kickoff, which Brandon Myers took to the house for a touchdown.
Down 10-6, the Raiders tried driving for another score before the end of the half, but started to get unlucky. Quarterback Corey King lost control of a lateral attempt, which was then scooped up by Brandon Guido, which led to a scrum between the teams. After a brief sign of hope – Durant quarterback Carlton Potter was then picked off by Tyreke Harrison – the Raiders turned the ball back over and Myers was able to score again with an 11-yard catch in the back of the end zone. Although Durant's star wideout was hurt on the play, he walked off on his own power and rested in the second half.
There was no scoring in the second half, but plenty of drama. The teams traded the ball back and forth, picking each other off and recovering more loose balls, but the Cougars' offense was able to eat up enough clock to keep the tempo in the road team's favor. It also helped that defensive back Chris Gay snagged two picks in the go-home half.
With just over two minutes left to play, the Raiders attempted to drive from their own eight-yard line and picked up two quick first downs. Plant City did manage to convert on fourth-and-eight from their own 33, but the Durant defense stopped the ensuing drive to seal the deal.
Perhaps reality set in when Gottman grabbed the Redman Cup for the first time in two seasons and successfully juked several Gatorade cooler-toting Cougars.
"It's great," Gottman says. "I mean, we have a really hard time winning football games here, and it's just great to come over and get the Redman Cup back … words can't explain the emotions right now."