By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
For some reason, when the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard clock Friday night at Dad’s Stadium in south Tampa, some got the sense that Tampa Plant’s 17-14 win against rival Seffner Armwood was an upset.
But was it really?
Plant led for most of the contest, got tremendous efforts from sophomore quarterback Phillip Ely and tight end/wide receiver Orson Charles, forced three turnovers on defense and withstood Armwood’s furious late rally that ended with a missed field goal.
Upset or not, the result sends Plant (12-1) to the Class 4A state semifinals where it will host Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer (12-1).
Ely finished the Armwood game with modest numbers, completing 10 of 29 passes for 143 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Charles was huge, making four catches for 90 yards and scoring touchdowns on a 26-yard pass in the second quarter and on an ultimately game-clinching 39-yard pass in the third quarter.
The usually dominant Hawks were the ones pushed around this time, seeing their season come to an end at 12-1.
Armwood put up a fight right to the end but couldn't duplicate its opening night win, when it topped Plant 9-2 before an ESPNU national audience.
Backup quarterback Rob Jones filled in for starter Mywan Jackson, who suffered a right shoulder injury and was in and out of the game in the second half. Jones guided the Hawks into position to tie the game but Garrett Schmiz’s 32-yard field goal bent left with eight second left in the game, preserving the Panthers win.
In the Class 5A region finals, Tampa Chamberlain suffered a 40-20 setback at nationally-ranked Lakeland and Largo beat Punta Gorda Charlotte 59-17. In the Class 3A region finals, Dade City Pasco hung on for a 13-12 win against Citra North Marion.
In the Class 2A state semifinals, Tampa Catholic surrendered a late lead, losing to Miami Gulliver Prep 19-17.
In what was likely was Chamberlain coach Billy Turner’s final game, the Chiefs never really threatened. The 71-year-old Turner, who has coached at Chamberlain for 30 years and has more than 200 wins at the school, watched his team’s fantastic season come to an end at the hands of an outstanding Lakeland squad.
The Chiefs (11-2) fell behind 21-0 by halftime and never recovered.
Largo, meanwhile, fared much better. The Packers got 268 yards passing from quarterback Ryan Eppes, including touchdown passes of 87, 27 and 35 yards. Eppes also ran for a touchdown while guiding the Largo offense to at least two touchdowns in all four quarters en route to winning in a laugher.
The win sends Largo (12-1) to its second straight Class 5A state semifinal appearance. Largo will face 13-0 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
Pasco, meanwhile, has not advanced this far in the state playoffs since it won the 1992 Class 3A state championship.
The Pirates (12-1) played solid defense (forced six turnovers) and just enough offense (a Jamaal Sampson touchdown run and two Brennan Allen field goals) to slip into the state semifinals. Pasco will host the semifinal game against Tallahassee Godby (11-2).
Tampa Catholic won’t get a chance to erase the memory of last season’s Class 2A state final loss. The Crusaders (9-4) fell a game shy of getting back to the finals, losing in heartbreaking fashion to Gulliver Prep.
After taking a 17-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Tampa Catholic was part of a bizarre series of events that led to the loss.
First, Gulliver Prep attempted a fake punt on fourth down from its own 22-yard line. After taking over the ball at the 10-yard line, Tampa Catholic drove to the 2-yard line but failed to score on a fourth down from the 1-yard line.
That’s when Gulliver Prep took over with five minutes left in the game from its own 2-yard line and didn’t give the ball up until after a 4-yard touchdown pass ended the Tampa Catholic season.
Tampa Bay Teams in the State Semifinal Round
CLASS 5A
Largo (12-1) at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (13-0)
CLASS 4A
Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer (12-1) at Tampa Plant (12-1)
CLASS 3A
Tallahassee Godby (11-2) at Dade City Pasco (12-1)
