In the Plant City area, there’s often no football game bigger than the battle for the Redman Cup.
The regular-season game between Durant and Plant City comes with additional stakes. There’s the trophy, the backyard bragging rights and the joy of a hometown rivalry.
But this year, the winner will most likely lock itself into the playoffs by the end of the night.
The game is arguably most important for the seniors of both squads, who have one last shot to make the playoffs before their high school football careers come to an end. For seniors, spilling onto the field at the end of the game and holding the Redman Cup in the air is like holding the keys to a new car. In this case, the car’s GPS system is displaying the route to the playoffs.
This game is a chance to create a legacy.
This game is a chance to create a moment in history for the current group of seniors; one day they may come back to watch the next generation sweat for the title and the trophy.
No matter the outcome, one thing is for certain with this game: the players, especially the seniors, will put everything they have on the field.
DURANT
For the Cougars’ seniors, this year’s matchup is about redeeming mistakes made in 2015.
“This is my last Plant City game,” wideout Brandon Myers says. “I want to go out with a bang. We came in last year with the same record we have now, and then we didn’t finish well … it’s a chance to rewrite our story and not have the same outcome as last year.”
Last year’s game was a 21-16 loss decided in the fourth quarter.
If last year’s narrative was about a surprisingly good Cougars team hanging with one of the best in 7A football, the Cougars believe this year’s is about that team coming back with added experience.
“Last year, we were so close to winning,” defensive end Xavier Lyas says. “We’re entitled to this win now. We’ve been working so hard for it. It’s our year to win.”
Myers, Lyas and their teammates have been waiting for this moment since 2015.
“I feel like this is the game to play,” Lyas says. “It’s a backyard rivalry. They’re a good program, they have a good offensive and defensive corps. We have that, too … for us seniors, it’s a game we have to win.”
PLANT CITY
The Raiders have won two of the last three Redman Cup games.
“We’re ready to get out there,” linebacker Steven Ogletree says.
But that doesn’t mean the group doesn’t get caught up in the emotions of the Redman Cup rivalry.
“It means a lot,” Ogletree says. “The competition, the fans that come out and support us — it’s just a big event for us.”
The catch this year: the Raiders are will line up against at least one former teammate. Perhaps the most notable transfer is senior defensive back Tammarrion Faison, who will see some action against the Raiders.
“It’s a huge game,” defensive end Nathan Hamilton says. “We’ve got to practice hard. Not only is it a big game, but we’ve got a lot of teammates over there.”
The Raiders, having bounced back from a big loss to Tampa Bay Tech with a 45-21 win over Bloomingdale Friday, Oct. 7, feel they’re as ready for this game as they’ll ever be.
“I’m not really a big person to get hyped over a game,” Hamilton says. “It’s just one game at a time. Now, it happens to be this game. We just have to go out there and execute, and we’ll be alright.”
But others are all in. Ogletree, in particular, feels this game will put Plant City back on the map.
“This year, y’all are going to feel me,” Ogletree says. “We’re going to beat them by more than 14 points … we’re coming back together. We just fell off a little bit, but we’re coming back together. I’ve got a good feeling about this.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.