Mike Gottman has never been one to sugar-coat an opinion about his football team. So for the Durant High head coach to speak highly of the future at the end of this season is telling for Cougar fans.
The Cougars missed out on the playoff picture with last week’s 28-0 loss to Tampa Bay Tech, which was both uncharacteristic of the team’s play this season and likely the result of a wave of injuries hitting the squad late.
The hope now is to end the season with a 7-3 overall record and then start working on a 2016 playoff team.
Since Durant is returning many more players than it did at the beginning of this season, the team will certainly come with fewer question marks. But of all the impact players who will be looking to show improvement in 2016, perhaps the most intriguing guy is running back Jake Harris.
If that name doesn’t sound familiar it’s because Harris is a first-timer on the varsity team. He was called up and expected by many to play a smaller role as insurance to senior Jalen Forté. He became an impact player.
He didn’t post Crispian Atkins-like numbers this year because, for some time, he was very much a product of a running back committee. But through eight games, Harris leads the team with 95 carries for 555 yards and one 100-yard game. He’s tied with Forté in the touchdowns department, with three, and sits slightly behind the senior with a 5.8 yards-per-carry average (Forté averages 6.4 YPC).
Early in the season, those in the know raved about his potential. Anyone who’s spent time in Durant’s press box knows about him — and the time he cleanly hurdled a defender in the Newsome game (which is illegal at the high school level, but still impressive).
He’s often been the guy to move the chains for a first down when it’s looked like Durant needed it most. And with Forté set to graduate, Harris appears to be first in line for the RB1 spot on the roster.
VS. KING
King High doesn’t jump off the paper at first glance. The Lions have a 4-5 overall record, and their 3-2 district record put the team firmly behind Armwood and Brandon and, therefore, out of the playoffs. Most of its four wins haven’t come against anyone impressive, and all were close.
But Gottman says that this team’s athleticism still makes it dangerous. Hillsborough High would agree: the Lions upset the Terriers, 14-11, in overtime Friday, Sept. 18 — not too long after Durant got its own win over the program, then considered a huge upset.
The Lions also hung with Lennard, losing 28-21 in regulation but, somehow, staying alive despite allowing Jahryn Bailey to get 218 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
This isn’t a strong passing team, as its receivers have combined for just four touchdowns on the season and roughly 106 yards per game. Quarterbacks Demario Brisbon and Delvin Austin have combined for four touchdowns and eight interceptions. The ground game will decide King’s fate, and their leader in that area is senior Otis Williams, who has 709 yards and six touchdowns on the ground this year, and averages 5.2 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Lions can get to the quarterback if need be. The team has 22 sacks on the season and, although not one player has more than Valion Joyce’s and Malik James’ four sacks, it has 10 guys who have entered the “sacks” column.
If anyone’s equipped to handle an athletic team like this, it’s the Cougars. While not all injured players are expected to be back, most should return.
And, knowing what the Cougars can do when they have enough of the roster active could be enough to get the team into the “wins” column one last time.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
OTHER AREA ACTION
Plant City picked up a 28-20 win over Lennard last week that wasn’t as close as the score indicates. It allowed the Raiders (8-1; 6-0 district) to sweep the district, and the team is now looking forward to hosting East Lake Saturday, Nov. 14.
They’re about to face Freedom Friday, Nov. 6, which was sent into a two-game losing streak with last week’s 36-0 loss at Sickles. The Patriots (3-6; 3-3 district) are, at this point, trying to sneak up on the Raiders and end Plant City’s regular-season schedule with a loss.
WHERE: Freedom High School, 17410 Commerce Park Blvd., Tampa.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6
Strawberry Crest took a 38-2 loss to Bloomingdale last week, handing the
Bulls (1-8; 1-5 district) their first win of the year. The Chargers (0-9; 0-6 district) are now in real danger of going winless in 2015.
Friday, Nov. 6, they’re traveling to face a Gaither team that’s coming off of back-to-back shutout wins: 28-0 over Wiregrass Ranch Friday, Oct. 23, followed by last week’s 40-0 win over winless Leto. Both were on the road, so the Cowboys’ home environment should be a loud one.
WHERE: Gaither High School, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6