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FOOTBALL
+ Ex-Dolphins place second in Sarasota
Although this tournament was 7-on-7 football, these boys basically played 9-on-20 throughout the weekend — and placed second.
Team Shake and Bake, which won last month’s 7-on-7 state title, played in last weekend’s NFA 7-on-7 National Qualifier and did well enough to advance to the National NFA Tournament, to be played June 21 and 22, in Bradenton.
The nine boys, who played in the 13-15 Future Stars age group, found themselves on both sides of the ball in all six games: They often had to play teams that brought 20 to 25 players, many of whom were not playing both offense and defense in the same game.
Shake and Bake nearly won the tournament, but a successful two-point conversion was called back after the back judge called an offsides penalty.
The players include: Duke McGee, Chase Lawson, Tyler Hood, Briar Christian, Gunner Thomas, Devontae Lowe, Dillon Traffanstedt, Austin Farmer and Tate Whatley.
+ Durant to host football camp
Durant High School will again host its annual Mike Gottman Youth Football Camp is coming back.
The camp, now in its fourth year, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 9 to 12, at Durant, 4748 Cougar Path.
The camp is open to students rising into fourth- to ninth-grades. Registration will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at the school. For more, call Mike Gottman at (813) 323-4347.
+ Eight Cougars will play in college
A record eight former Durant Cougars have signed to play college football:
Nick Insley: Ave Maria University, Ave Maria
Cody Martin: Southeastern University, Lakeland
Gabe Brown: University of Mount Union, Alliance, Ohio
John Hendricks: University of Mount Union, Alliance, Ohio
Mason Bridges: Franklin College, Franklin, Ind.
Demetrius Brown: Methodist University, Fayetteville, N.C.
Brody Gonzalez: Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio
Trey Van de Grift: Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.