Plant (Tampa, Fla.) vs. No. 3 Miramar (Fla.)Saturday's
Florida Class 8A championship game will be Plant's fourth consecutive appearance in the state finals and its fifth in six years. The Panthers were state champs in 2006, '08 and '09. This year, they are 13-1, losing only to nationally ranked Armwood (Seffner) on Oct. 28, 21-0. Running back
Wesley Bullock, a 5-foot-6, 150-pound junior, ran for a season-high 163 yards and a touchdown on only 11 carries in a
26-7 win over Fletcher (Neptune Beach) last week.
This is the second trip to a state championship in three seasons for Miramar, which won the 6A title in 2009. The Patriots (13-0) have played lights-out defense throughout the postseason, allowing just 20 total points in four playoff games.
According to the Miami Herald, they allowed only 178 total yards in a 14-6 semifinals win over Columbus (Miami). On offense, senior quarterback
Cam Hudge was spectacularly efficient, completing 22 of 25 passes for 244 yards and both Miramar touchdowns.
Mitch Stephens: Miramar 21, Plant 13
Steve Montoya: Miramar 21, Plant 20
Stephen Spiewak: Plant 17, Miramar 14
Kevin Askeland: Miramar 26, Plant 14
Jamie DeMoney: Miramar 23, Plant 13
Miramar practiced its celebratory sprint against St. Thomas Aquinas earlier this year. A potential state title will make that practice worthwhile.
File photo by Stuart Browning
