Sports

Preps

Plant City 21, East Bay 10

By MATTHEW RICHARDSON
Published October 9, 2007

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Two highly-ranked rushing offenses clashed at East Bay's EG Simmons field. Plant City entered the game riding the legs of Sirchauncey Holloway, ranked fifth in the county with 488 yards. East Bay countered with senior Ryan Stubbs, ranked seventh with 474.

The Plant City rushing attack, however, which racked up 228 total yards and scored three times, was too much for the East Bay defense as the Raiders rolled to a 21-10 victory. (Though inclement weather postponed the game with 4:57 left in the fourth quarter on Friday, the teams didn't add to the scoreboard when the game resumed Monday night.)

Plant City (4-2, 2-0) struck first with as Holloway (17 carries, 82 yards) outsprinted the defense for a 46-yard TD run. East Bay (1-5, 0-2) countered with Forest Meredith's 31-yard field goal in driving rain.

Holloway struggled at times and was spelled by Keith Dawson (10 carries, 150 yards), who immediately paid dividends by slashing through the defense with a 47-yard TD of his own. Dawson had been out with an injury and, by coach Kevin Kelly's own admission, is "almost 100 percent healthy."

Holloway and Dawson have finally emerged as the tandem backs that Kelly and the Raiders offensive coordinators had in mind since the spring.

"We'd like Chauncey to get 20, 25 carries and Keith a least 15 touches. Between the two of them they're about two-thirds of our offense," Kelly said.

After the half, East Bay seemed to gain momentum, at times confusing the Plant City defense with their wishbone style offense. East Bay pulled to within four on a 10-yard touchdown run by Ryan Stubbs.

Dawson ended up turning the tide for good, outracing the Indians defense and scoring on an 85-yard touchdown run.

"If we get our minds right and everything I think we have a shot," Keith Dawson said of Plant City's chances against Armwood, whom the Raiders face Friday.

[Last modified October 8, 2007, 21:07:51]