Brandon can’t let playoff chances slip away

Posted Nov 3, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Nov 3, 2011 at 01:32 PM

After upsetting state-ranked Plant City last week, 48-36, the Brandon football team forced a three-way tie for first place in Class 7A District 8 with the Raiders and Durant. Though the win was the Eagles biggest of the season, Friday’s game against East Bay may be the most important.

Brandon (4-4) needs to top East Bay (3-5) to secure a playoff berth or a force tie-breaker on Monday.”

“They’ve put up a lot of points on teams,” Brandon coach John Lima said. “They almost beat Gaither and they almost beat Plant City.”

Amazingly, the Eagles have won three of their last four games without star senior receiver Jalen Stringfellow, who has been out since Week 6 with a shoulder injury, and playing with their thrid string center. Although Friday will be Brandon’s homecoming and playoffs are on the line, Lima doesn’t expect his squad to come out sluggish.

“They are competitors,” Lima said. “This team, they show up and they scrap. The compete on the game field.”

East Bay has won two of the last three meetings.