From soccer and softball players to cheerleaders and calendar girls, the Plant City High School flag football team features a wide range of skill sets.
It’s the main reason why head coach Larry Langston said this may be his deepest and most talented team yet, despite being young at several positions.
“We have a lot of youth in key positions,” he said. “But I think we have more athletes than ever before.”
The Lady Raiders have established themselves as one of the best teams in Hillsborough County since flag football was sanctioned as a sport in 2007 by the Florida High School Association. Plant City has claimed district championships in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012.
Those four district titles are matched only by East Bay — a District 13 team — in Hillsborough County.
“We were the first to four because we got ours on a Tuesday and they got theirs on a Wednesday,” Langston said. “That’s our little poke to them.”
Plant City will open the season at home March 19 against that East Bay team.
FIELD GENERAL
One of the most important spots to fill going into the season was behind center, after losing three-year starting quarterback Katie Evans to graduation.
But for Langston, there wasn’t much doubt who would take on that role.
“Everyone loved Katie and she was a great leader, but Avery has that same knack,” Langston said of new starter Avery Brown, the starting point guard for the PCHS girls basketball team. “Her mechanics are very good.”
Brown, a sophomore who was a key contributor as a wide receiver last season, will become just the third quarterback in the eight-year history of the flag football program at PCHS.
“We’ve been fortunate not to have a lot of turnover at the quarterback position,” Langston said.
A soft-spoken leader, Brown played quarterback for the Lady Raiders last summer, giving her some experience for the varsity spring season.
“I’ve learned just to keep your head up and eyes down the field,” she said.
Despite her age, Brown has earned the trust of her teammates.
“Everyone knows that she is our main girl,” said senior captain Ali Grimmel, who is also a cheerleader and a calendar girl at PCHS. “Last year, we saw that she was a star player at wide receiver, and now, she’s our star quarterback, and everyone knows to look up to her now.”
RARE ADDITION
Because they are both spring sports, it is rare to have softball players share their time with a school’s flag football team. The Lady Raiders are fortunate to have three players — Kristen Wyckoff, Shae Coughlin and Kacie Booth — share time.
“She’s been very accommodating to us,” Langston said of softball coach Amanda Sawyer. “We’re glad we’ve got three great girls.”
A senior committed to play softball for the University of South Florida, Wyckoff should be the biggest addition to Langston’s team. With her speed and acceleration, Wyckoff instantly became one of the fastest on the team, and Langston plans to use her in a variety of skill positions.
“She’s going to be kind of like our utility player,” he said. “She’s just so fast. She’s quicker than a lot of the boys out here.”
COMPETITIVE RIVALRY
Plant City’s biggest competition in District 14 is regional rival Durant.
“It’s come down to us and them the past few years,” Langston said.
The Lady Raiders have defeated the Lady Cougars for the majority of their district titles.
“That’s our rival team and the district trophy has kind of become our rivalry trophy,” Grimmel said. “We love our trophy, and we plan to keep it.”
Durant will be hungry to break that steak. The entire Durant roster returns this season after going 9-2 last season and 6-0 in district play, before the loss to Plant City in the district championship.
Three-year starting quarterback Jessica McClernan will be a key asset for the Lady Cougars.
“She’s undoubtedly one of the best athletes in the county,” said head coach Bradley Brunson.
McClernan also plays safety and punts. The junior captain is Durant’s all-time passing leader, with 1,853 yards.
Durant also will seek leadership from senior Sydney Millard, the Lady Cougars all-time sack leader. Sophomore wide receiver/cornerback Ashley Piechowiak will also be another key player.
“Speed has been the main focus of our team this offseason and I believe that speed puts us in the best position to win games,” Brunson said.
Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.
PLANT CITY RAIDERS
Head coach: Larry Langston
2012 record: 11-2
Key players: Avery Brown, Samantha Black, Ali Grimmel, Kristen Wyckoff, Kacie Booth and Shay Wright
Notable games: East Bay March 19; Strawberry Crest March 21; and Durant April 11