Preps

Plant City 34, Freedom 33

By DON JENSEN, Times Correspondent
Published November 10, 2007

TAMPA - Senior running back Keith Dawson capped a fabulous four-touchdown game, scoring on a 79-yard reception from quarterback Clint Stearns with 2:24 remaining as Plant City (6-4) beat Freedom (1-9) in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Plant City, which faces Kissimmee Osceola next week in an opening-round playoff encounter, converted a fourth-and-7 at its 21 as Stearns threw his best pass to a wide-open Dawson across the middle. Dawson caught the ball and ran untouched into the end zone.

Dawson rushed for 148 yards on 19 carries, including TD runs of 79 and 5 yards. He also returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score as Plant City led most of the way.

Freedom took its lone lead at 33-28 with 3:44 remaining on a 3-yard run by quarterback Josh Grady, who completed 12 of 21 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

Two of Stearns' completions went for touchdowns, including a 50-yarder to Nick Pezzulick in Plant City's 21-point first quarter.

Plant City led by two touchdowns three different times, but Freedom rallied each time. The Patriots held a 381-368 edge in total offense and intercepted two passes, one by Scott Peek that he returned 25 yards for Freedom's first score.

Freedom running backs Kari Gallespie and Brae Davis combined for 147 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries. Wide receiver Larry Thompson led the Patriots with six catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.

Both teams punted only once.

[Last modified November 9, 2007, 23:12:22]