Markese Hargrove’s family has a passion for athletics. Many of its members have excelled in sports at Plant City High School, be it football, basketball, track and field, or anything else.
But in the senior’s case, he’s upholding another family tradition: pounding the rock for the football team.
Hargrove is the fourth person in his family to play running back for the Raiders. Before him was his brother, Dazmond Patterson, and uncles Joslin Shaw and Liron Thomas.
Of course, the role came with high expectations.
“They told me it would be a lot of weight on my shoulders, because Plant City is a running team,” Hargrove says. “They said to just be prepared for that, to make sure I’m in shape and ready for it.”
The most recent family member to fill the role was Patterson, who couldn’t have set the bar higher for Hargrove or anyone else playing the position. The current Ohio University Bobcat spent three years on the Raiders’ varsity squad, playing for then-coach Wayne Ward from 2009-11. He finished his career with 3,335 rushing yards, 28 rushing touchdowns, 986 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches.
Patterson ran for over 1,200 yards in both his sophomore and junior campaigns, and gained 821 on 90 carries in his final season.
Like his brother, Hargrove is not a big guy. But he is an explosive athlete.
Hargrove has gained 536 yards, thus far, averaging 107.2 per game, and he has scored seven touchdowns. He hasn’t been deeply involved in the passing game this year. He did show his ability to be an effective receiver in 2014.
Hargrove has several college offers in his pocket, but has yet to make a commitment. He’s playing it smart, planning to make his decision only when he feels he’s found a program that feels like home.
Of all the people outside the team that have given Hargrove advice, his brother had the words that may have been taken most to heart.
“Dazmond (Patterson), he always told me to never let my size determine how I play,” Hargrove says.
“He told me to never let someone else feel that I’m too small to do things like put my shoulder down and run somebody over. Don’t be afraid to do things like that — always keep going.”
VS. TAMPA BAY TECH
The Raiders (4-1; 2-0 district) have been rolling lately, but so has Tampa Bay Tech.
Following back-to-back losses to Sickles and Wharton, the Titans’ (3-2; 2-0 district) offense has been on fire. Since getting quarterback Cyrus Wade more involved with the offense — and giving him the reins as the starter last week — the unit has scored 86 points in the last two weeks. In comparison, the Titans scored 46 in the first three weeks of the season.
Part of this can be chalked up to Tech’s recent strength of schedule. Its last two opponents, Bloomingdale and Strawberry Crest, are both winless. If they were ever going to bring Wade up to speed with the offense, last week was the perfect time to do it.
But Wade did look good in his first start, completing three of his six pass attempts against the Chargers and scoring twice. It’s understandable that he didn’t get many pass plays called this time around, especially with Tech averaging 6.4 yards per carry against the Chargers’ defense. That run-heavy approach will likely continue against the Raiders’ defense.
Head coach Greg Meyer and his staff have progressively been turning things around in Plant City’s biggest problem area: pre-snap penalties. The proof is in the pudding. Last week, against East Bay, the Raiders stayed focused on the line and were able to dispatch East Bay with relative ease.
They also addressed any concerns with Hargrove’s ankle, which he had recently tweaked. The senior picked up 101 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. He says his ankle is healed.
The area in which the Raiders should be concerned is in the passing game. Plant City didn’t have the ball for nearly as long as the Indians (2-3; 0-2 district).
Junior quarterback Corey King was held to three completions on 11 attempts. One did go for an Antoine Thompson touchdown, but the Raiders will need King to be as efficient as possible against a defensive backfield featuring Marchalo Judge.
Contact Justin Kline at plantcityobserver.com.
DURANT
The Cougars (4-1; 1-1 district) were handed their first loss last week, a 27-24, double-overtime thriller at Lennard (4-0; 1-0 district). A 2OT loss to a good team like this is far from the worst thing to happen to anyone, but the district loss could complicate things for Durant.
Fortunately for the Cougars, they’re set to host an 0-4 Bloomingdale (0-1 district) team that, after taking a 47-13 loss at Tampa Bay Tech, appears to be in the middle of a free fall.
WHEN: 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City
WHERE: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
STRAWBERRY CREST
The Chargers (0-5; 0-2 district) took a brutal 39-6 loss to Tampa Bay Tech (3-2; 2-0 district) at home Friday, Sept. 25, and will face another tough test at Lennard this week.
The Longhorns’ offense, behind running back Jahryn Bailey, is one of the most prolific units in the district.
Meanwhile, Strawberry Crest’s defense has given up 30 or more points in all but one of its games.
WHERE: 2002 E. Shell Point Road, Ruskin
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2