After Friday night’s football slate, Strawberry Crest found itself tied with Plant City and East Bay in the district standings. Three quarters of Monday night football determined a champion and a runner-up.
For the first time since 1973, East Bay is a district champion. They did it with back-to-back 7-0 wins over Crest and Plant City, capitalizing on mistakes like the Raiders’ kick return fumble with 35 seconds left.
The running backs were the X-factor for the Indians, scoring both touchdowns. Chris Greene scored on a 26-yard run in the Crest game, and Randen Cortez scored on a fade route in the Plant City game.
In the second-place game, Plant City’s Sedrick King scooped up an Austin Carswell fumble with 1:44 to go and took it 15 yards for a score. The PAT missed, however, and all Crest had to do was score a touchdown.
The Chargers got as far as the 25-yard line, but three incomplete passes in a row left them at fourth-and-10 with just over 20 seconds to play. John Broome then sealed the win with his second sack of the evening. It wasn’t the position the top-seeded Raiders wanted to be in, but for now, they’re glad they’ve punched a ticket to the playoffs.