TAMPA, Fla. – Robert Weiner remembers it well. More importantly, he remembers the players quite vividly.
The last time Plant High School’s football team lost to Tampa rival Robinson was 19-10 in 2004, Weiner’s first season as head coach for the Panthers, who went 3-7 that year.
After rattling off the names of four or five players from that team, Weiner said, “Those kids bought into what we’re about. We stood on their shoulders for a long time. We don’t forget those kids.”
From that season, Weiner has built a Florida state power, which is saying a lot because the state is considered one of the true hotbeds for high school football. {VIDEO_21bfa363-8271-4d91-9ae2-5a2ce4421e32,floatRightWithBar}The Panthers have gone 46-7 since that time and captured a pair of state championships, the first in 1996 and the second last season.
During that four-season plus span, Plant has defeated Robinson four straight times – 45-35, 52-14, 56-0 and 42-0 — breaking a 22-22 record between the two schools up until 2004.
The rivalry continues Friday night when the Panthers (7-1) host Robinson (8-1) in a Nike 5 Days to Friday special.
MaxPreps reporters and hosts Casey Littlejohn and Adam Spencer have been on the Plant campus all week, will cover the contest and bring you video reports.
Weiner told Littlejohn: “We’re excited. It’s a long time rivalry. We were dead even with them a couple years ago but we’ve got them the last couple of years. This is the best team they’ve come in with during those years. It’s going to be an exciting game.”
Plant graduated one of the nation’s premier quarterbacks last year – Aaron Murray (now at Georgia) — but return one of the state’s stingiest and most active defenses.
Following a 32-30 loss to Tampa Bay to start the season, the Panthers have allowed just 54 points in seven straight wins, including three shutouts, the last coming last week in a 40-0 win over Chamberlain.
The Panthers constantly harass opposing quarterbacks, proven by a combined 30 sacks from James Wilder Jr. (11), Michael Mirabella (10) and David McCarthy (nine).
Wilder is the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout running back by the same name. {VIDEO_803fd14e-691f-451f-88e2-852c2dd322cb,floatRightWithBar}“Although he’s a guy who can take over a game by himself, (Wilder Jr.) is very much a team guy,” Weiner told the Tampa Tribune. “What has struck me is you sometimes see the guy who is great already and he's not improving. He's great, he stays great and he never transcends to the next level. James gets better every single day.”
Offensively, Plant isn’t nearly as prolific as it was with Murray. Quarterback Phillip Ely has completed 63 of 119 for 896 yards and 10 touchdowns in six games, and Turner Glover (48-455-7 TDs) and Wilder (61-426-8) lead a rush-by-committee unit.
Likewise, Ely spreads the ball around to a number of threats, led by Sampson Allen (24 catches, 440 yards, five touchdowns). Among four others with 10 or more catches is Eric Dungy (13-182-1), son of former NFL coach Tony Dungy.
Robinson enters having piled up 385 points – to just 94 for its opponents – and also boasts a balanced attack and attackers.
Quarterback Blake Rice has completed 76 of 141 for 1,377 yards and 20 touchdowns. His favorite target is Ruben Gonzalez (29 catches, 483 yards, seven touchdowns), but Frankie Williams (24-402-6) and Byron Pringle (17-450-3) are huge playmakers.
Williams has 13 touchdowns overall, so as a running back, receiver and defensive back.
Like Plant, the Knights run by committee, led by J.J. Hubbard (48-424-4), but Tim Randolph and Robert Smith have combined to rush for nine touchdowns.
Robinson’s only loss is to Newsom (41-20), but since then it has won four straight by a combined 211-19 count.
“All of South Tampa is going to be at the game," Weiner said. "There’s going to be a lot of life and energy in that stadium. That’s what we like – big-time football.”
Click here to see much more in-depth reporting Casey and Adam, who have spent the week in Tampa.
