If there was ever a statement game on Plant City’s schedule, the Friday, Oct. 2, matchup against Tampa Bay Tech was it.
That’s no slight to the Redman Cup, but this Titans team had some of the highest expectations in the district. That’s what happens when you have an offense bouncing back from the loss of superstar Deon Cain, a roster containing all-county talent Marchalo Judge and a defense known for its physical, nasty on-field results.
And then, they looked like cellar-dwellers in a 19-3 loss at 1 Raider Place.
The loss, in hindsight, ended up securing the Raiders the district crown they’ve been chasing for years. A win could have still put Plant City in the playoffs as a No. 2 seed, but would the Raiders be the talk of the town as they are now?
In the Titans’ defense, the squad they trotted out against the Raiders looked like it was thrown to the wolves. It was banged up. Injuries prevented the Titans from doing what it had so often done to other opponents, such as the 47-13 and 39-6 wins in the weeks before the Plant City game.
But something about that loss lit a fire in the Titans. They hosted Armwood on Friday, Oct. 9, and, to the surprise of almost everyone, hung within five points of the mighty Hawks.
The Titans averaged 30 points scored per game in their next three wins, first getting back in the hunt with a 35-26 win over Lennard and then punishing Durant, 28-0. The game against East Bay, a 28-13 win, secured their playoff spot before they ended the regular season on a bye week.
Last week, the Titans extended their win streak to four games by shocking a highly-touted Countryside team, 31-21, with a run that included 24 unanswered points scored. Quarterback Trent Wyatt had one of his best games of the year, going 8-for-12 with 83 yards and three touchdown passes. He also rushed for 99 yards, contributing much of Tech’s 229-yard performance that night.
To say Tech is on a roll right is an understatement. Perhaps these Pinellas County teams just can’t hang with Hillsborough’s squads. Regardless, a win streak is a win streak, and this team is not to be taken lightly.
The Raiders know this better than anyone. Although the players do occasionally let their confidence run wild during games, they were largely laser-focused on their assignments in October. Raider fans can expect the same thing this time, especially since the Titans are healthy again.
Because of the nature of Tech’s defense, it’s reasonable to say that the cooler heads will prevail in the Friday, Nov. 20, game.
For the Raiders to win, they cannot allow Tech’s physical play to get in their heads. The Titans defense is going to give the Plant City offense the hardest test it’s faced since Armwood, point blank period. It’s up to the Raiders to keep their cool and do work if they want to see the next round of the playoffs, and fans can bet that that’s exactly what head coach Greg Meyer has been telling the athletes in practice this week.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
Where: 1 Raider Place, Plant City
When: 7:30 p.m.