Since flag football became an official sport under the FHSAA in 2006, Plant City High has been one of the winningest programs in the state.
For the past three years, head coach Larry Langston has held a summer tournament for high school teams to tune up and stay in shape before the school year begins.
Since its inception, the tournament has become a summer tradition for Langston and his team.
“We try to attract the top teams in the state,” Langston said. “You’ll see the teams that regularly make the state playoffs playing in tournaments like this. We want to be in that class of teams, and being able to host a tournament like this is great for our program.”
Nine teams will participate in the fourth annual Plant City Flag Football Tournament, which is sponsored by the Tampa Bay Flag Football Association, in which Langston has been involved for 21 years and has led for the past 11. The two-day tournament begins July 27 with pool play and continues on July 28, with a single elimination tournament. In the past, the tournament has been held at Otis M. Andrews Park, but this year, all games will be played at the nearby Ellis Methvin complex, next to the Plant City public tennis courts.
“This tournament is all about giving the teams some reps and live action,” Langston said. “With it being summer and between the weather and kids being involved with other things, getting out to play a few competitive games is needed.”
RETURNING CHAMP
In addition to some of the best teams in the county, including Robinson and Bloomingdale, Seminole Ridge High (West Palm Beach) once again will compete in the tournament. Seminole Ridge has won the state championship the past two seasons and has participated in the summer tournament in Plant City since its inception.
“They’ve been good to us the last few years, so we want to return the favor this year,” Langston said about his PCHS team competing in their upcoming tournament Aug. 10 and 11, in West Boca Raton. “You’re seeing more and more of these successful programs running tournaments. The ideal situation would be to have teams from all the regions of Florida run a big tournament through the summer.”
The trip east will be the first overnighter for PCHS, something that Langston feels will be a good team-bonding experience.
“We’ve got a lot of veteran players but also a lot of young and maturing players,” he said. “This trip will be good for all the girls.”
DISTRICT SWITCH
Plant City will enter the spring 2014 season with a different outlook.
The FHSAA released a tentative district realignment July 11, for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years. If approved, the realignment would have Plant City and Durant in separate districts for the first time. Plant City would be in District 12, with Armwood, Brandon, King, Middleton, Strawberry Crest and Tampa Bay Tech. Durant would be in a tough District 13, with Bloomingdale, East Bay, Lennard, Newsome, Riverview and Spoto.
“Obviously, you want to play your rival,” Langston said about Durant. “The girls and their families know each other. A lot of them grew up together or went to the same middle school or go to church together now. You want that kind of familiarity each season with your rival.”
PCHS and Durant also have battled it out for the district title since 2007, including last spring’s championship game. Durant won its first and only district title in 2007, while the Lady Raiders won in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Those five titles are tied with East Bay for the most in Hillsborough County.
In addition to nine district games, teams are allowed up to three non-district opponents.
“I don’t foresee us not scheduling Durant next season,” Langston said.
Langston added he would like other non-district games to be against quality opponents.
“I want us to play as competitive of a schedule as possible,” he said.
Plant City will return several playmakers, including quarterback Avery Brown and receivers Samantha Black and Stephanie Galloway. Langston also said JV quarterback Kellen Morris will be playing center this spring.
Fourth Annual Plant City Flag Football Tournament
WHEN: July 27 and 28. Games begin at 9 a.m. each day.
WHERE: Ellis Methvin Park; 2401 E. Cherry St.
TEAMS: Alonso (two teams), Robinson, Bloomingdale, Plant City High, Lakewood (St. Pete), Seminole Ridge, West Palm and a combined team of Brandon, East Bay and Durant.
