Plant Defeats East Lake 28-21 in Overtime – SPT
By: Bob Putnam
St. Pete Times
December 3, 2011
EAST LAKE — This was a game few thought Plant High School could lose. The Panthers, a program steeped in playoff tradition with two state football titles the past three years, was playing East Lake in the Class 8A region final. The Eagles were playing in the postseason’s third round for the first time. Plant was too experienced, the experts said. Too explosive. Too much. The Panthers were favored by 28 points in one computer projection, the largest margin of any playoff game regardless of classification. The prognostications were correct, but Friday’s game turned out to be anything but a blowout. Plant trailed most of the game and needed a touchdown to tie with 28 seconds remaining in regulation before winning in overtime 28-21.
The Panthers (12-1) will host Neptune Beach Fletcher in the state semifinals. “We had been humming along in the playoffs, but I had to put in the kids’ heads that this wasn’t going to be easy,” Plant coach Robert Weiner said. “East Lake was physical and brought it on every play. There was so much character on both sides tonight. And really, to be honest, East Lake deserved to win as we did.” For 45 minutes, the Eagles (9-4) ignored the predictions and kept the Panthers in check. From Tyler Lane getting the tough yards on the ground, to gutsy quarterback Pete DiNovo completing passes at pivotal moments, to the defense playing without fear, East Lake acted as if this was a pressureless contest.
The Panthers, who had scored more than 50 points in each of their first two playoff games, resorted to trickery to take their first lead as Aaron Banks took a handoff on a reverse and lofted a 56-yard TD pass to Austin Roberts. The extra point was blocked as Plant led 6-0 in the first. In the second quarter, the Eagles found their rhythm on offense and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run by Tyler Lane. Sebastian Gonzalez’s extra point gave East Lake a 7-0 lead. East Lake scored again on a 45-yard pass from DiNovo to Artavis Scott, who eluded a defender to race down the sideline for a touchdown. That made it 14-6 Eagles at the half. Plant responded, capitalizing on a fumble and converting it into points as Wesley Bullock scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. Banks threw to quarterback James Few on a 2-point tie 14-all.
The Panthers appeared as if they would break the game open in the fourth quarter with a drive that reached East Lake 2. But the Eagles recovered a fumble and went on a methodical drive that was capped by Lane’s second touchdown on a 2-yard run. East Lake led 21-14. Plant countered with a drive past midfield. But on fourth down, Few was picked off by Devin Abraham with 3:31 remaining in regulation. The Eagles appeared to have run for a first down that helped kill the clock, but a holding penalty eventually forced them to punt. With less than a minute left, Few completed three key passes, the last an 8-yard touchdown pass to Dereck Mann with 28 seconds left to force overtime. “East Lake was ready to play and we weren’t,” Few said. “This was a great atmosphere to play in. We had a huge fight on our hands and had to regroup in the second half. We felt like we were getting killed, but were only down by one score.”
Plant took the lead in overtime on a 10-yard run by Bullock. The Panthers sealed the win by stopping the Eagles on downs. Afterward, East Lake coach Bob Hudson stood in a corridor of the locker room, and, after a long pause, walked out to talk to the media. Hudson thought about it for a moment, but no matter how much he replayed the ending in his head, it was not going to change the outcome. “We were supposed to have the biggest loss in the state,” Hudson said. “But we had them and gave everyone their money’s worth. I’m so proud of these players, seniors and coaches.”
Rivalry Week Plant vs. Robinson – TBO
Sports reporters Katherine Smith and Joey Johnston discuss the “Rivalry Week” showdowns coming to the area Friday night, including the Tampa Tribune/TBO.com Game of the Week between Robinson and host Plant High.
Plant vs Bergen Catholic Game Highlights Video
Plant vs. Bergen Catholic Game Highlights Video. In a contest described by Coach Weiner as, “”One of the really titanic battles I’ve been involved in just in terms of physical play. The gut check and being able to win it that way, it was really unbelievable. I’m really proud of our kids’ perseverance and overcoming adversity.” By Eduardo Encina SPT.
Plant 36 Hillsborough 6 Game Highlights Video
In a series that dates to 1927, the Panthers continued their recent dominance over Hillsborough, taking their fifth straight game from the Terriers in the latest chapter of Hillsborough County’s longest high school football rivalry.
Plant 34 Jesuit 20 Game Highlights Video
Before a sold-out Dads Stadium, Plant got big plays from a constellation of sleek backs en route to a 34-20 victory against Jesuit in the hyped renewal of a series that could pulsate for the foreseeable future
Just in Time For The First Day of Practice
The Boys of Fall – Just in Time for the First Day of Practice. Kenny Chesney has a music video supporting his football-themed single “The Boys of Fall” which debuted on ESPN Sports Center. “Every day we see the world of sports come to life on ESPN, and I’m thrilled that ‘The Boys of Fall’ has found a home there,” he said. The video features “a montage of Chesney singing the song wth high school, college and NFL football game highlights, and various fan, coach’s speeches and football-related community shots.” It is directed by Shaun Silva.
GO PANTHERS!
Phillip Ely and Coach Weiner Talk About the Panthers – BHSN
By Drew Fellios
Bright House Sports Network
July 26, 2010
Nineteen games.
Nineteen wins.
That best sums up Phillip Ely’s tenure as
Plant’s starting quarterback. Heading into his senior season, perfection
as a starter is something not even the great Robert Marve or Aaron Murray can claim before him.
Remind him of that, and the Plant senior QB stays humble. He
knows his success can be attributed to Plant’s dominance as an
overall program just as much as it can to his ability.
But you can’t deny these facts.
No Plant QB has been more clutch in big games as early in his career as Ely.
Factor his pick-me-up win over Hillborough in 2008 followed
by his thrilling TD passes to Orson Charles to beat Armwood in the 4A
regional final. That set the table for Murray’s return and Plant’s title
number two.
In 2009, the final three games defined him.
A win at Countryside in the mud in a game that clearly could
have gotten away. Ely kept the Panthers on track. The following week, he
led the Panthers into Bryant Stadium and toppled Polk County dynasty
Lakeland. He finished at the Citrus Bowl, leading Plant to their
third state championship in four years. Put it all together and Phillip
Ely has had a near-perfect Plant career.
But he’s not done yet.
Plant 21 Manatee 14 State Championship Highlights Video
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Plant Panthers Defeat Manatee to Win the State Championship for the 3rd time in 4 Years.
Panthers are second to none!