By: Katherine Smith
The Tampa Tribune
Published: May 10, 2010

TAMPA - Winning three state championships in the past four years put Plant High School's football-program football program in the national spotlight. That exposure will increase this year as the Panthers meet Bradenton Manatee on ESPN in this year's Kickoff Classic.

The preseason game, at Manatee on Aug. 27, is a rematch of last year's Class 5A state championship game, which Plant won 21-14. "It's exciting because of the with Manatee" Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "We need to get ourselves ready because they're returning a lot of good players and will be a good team again this year. "It's a special thing for all of the players to know that they're going to be seen by the nation."

Running back/linebacker James Wilder Jr. is expected to be one of the hottest recruits in the nation, and quarterback Phillip Ely and offensive lineman Tony Posada are also top Division I prospects. Weiner said despite the added national glare, Plant's priorities won't change. "We try to do a good job of keeping the players focused," Weiner said. "James is a tremendous team player, as are Phillip and Tony. The team always comes first"

Ely recently picked up two scholarship more offers, bringing his Division I total to 14. The latest were from South Florida and Iowa. Some of the quarterback's other offers are from Michigan State, Iowa State and Harvard. The Panthers open the regular season Sept. 3 at Tampa Bay Tech. Manatee also met in last year's Kickoff Classic. Plant previously played on ESPN against Armwood in 2008