ORLANDO, Fla. -
Plant (Tampa, Fla.)
built itself into a national powerhouse largely based on the potent
passing that lifted the Panthers to state championships in 2008 and
2009.
On Saturday, Plant's defense flexed its muscle to lead the
school to its fourth football state championship in a 31-20 upset win
against
Miramar (Fla.). Miramar entered the game ranked No. 4 in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
Led by linebacker
Tate Rogers and defensive end
Mitchell Wright, the Panthers sacked Miramar quarterback
Cam Hudge seven times and held the Patriots to 4 rushing yards.
"We're
a team that is predicated on pressure. Sometimes we give up big plays
because of that pressure, but we remained consistent and made it
difficult for (Hudge)," Plant coach Robert Weiner said.
Wright
said he sensed Hudge's frustration. Hudge often had to throw on the run
to avoid sacks and rarely had an opportunity to throw across the middle.
"They
have a big, strong offensive line, but our coaches did a good job of
preparing this defense. They put us in position, with our blitzing, to
make big plays," Wright said.
The biggest defensive play came
with 6 minutes, 7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Miramar took
possession at its own 1-yard line after Plant running back
Wesley Bullock
fumbled on a run to the left side. The defense, though, broke through
the heart of Miramar's offense line, and Wright wrapped up Hudge, who
lost the ball as he fell. Rogers fell on the fumble for a touchdown to
give Plant a 31-20 lead.
"I was chasing him from behind, and I
saw the ball pop out. I knew it had to be mine. So I pounced on it,"
Rogers said. "We needed a big play there. We came out a little flat to
start the second half, and that got us going again."
The fumble
recovery lifted a Panthers squad that began to deflate. Plant built a
24-7 halftime lead with a trio of rushing touchdowns, but Miramar
stormed back late in the third quarter. The Patriots scored twice in 24
seconds to cut the margin to 24-20.
First, Hudge orchestrated a seven-play, 85-yard drive capped by a 31-yard touchdown pass to
Malcolm Lewis, who ran a skinny post and made a diving grab in the end zone.
Next, Patriots defensive back
Marrell Jackson scooped up a Bullock fumble at the Panthers' s 30-yard line, and Hudge found
Tanares Robinson
across the middle two plays later for a 27-yard touchdown. Robinson
appeared to bobble the catch in the end zone, and a Plant defender came
away with the ball. The officials, though, ruled that Robinson had
completed the catch for the score.
Miramar (14-1) appeared
doomed when Plant drove inside the 5-yard line midway through the fourth
quarter, but Bullock's second fumble gave the Patriots new life—at
least until Rogers' fumble recovery sealed Plant's victory.
"We've
been up big at the half all year, but coach told us at halftime that
this is not the same as earlier in the season. We needed to stay
focused," Rogers said.
Plant (14-1) struck first with a six-play,
60-yard drive, capped by a 21-yard touchdown run by Bullock, who
finished 124 rushing yards. He rushed for 56 yards on four attempts
during the Panthers's opening drive. Miramar came up empty on its first
drive, but the Patriots scored on a 2-yard run by
D'Vontis Arnold Arnold following a muffed punt return by Plant.
On Miramar's third play of its ensuing series, Plant senior defensive end
Michael Dvornik sacked Hudge near midfield, and Hudge fumbled. Linebacker
Eliel Shines scooped up the ball and returned it into Miramar territory. Moments later, senior quarterback
James Few scored on an 8-yard run to put Plant on top 14-7.
Plant extended the lead in the second quarter.
Grant Van Aman booted a 37-yard field goal to make it 17-7, and the Panthers took a 24-7 lead on fullback
Mike Tate's
1-yard run. Miramar never reached beyond its own 39-yard line in the
second quarter, and each of Plant's possessions started in Patriots
territory.
Hudge finished with 149 passing yards and two
touchdowns. Lewis had seven catches for 94 yards for Miramar. Wright had
seven tackles, including 1.5 sacks. Rogers had five tackles, including a
sack and three tackles for a loss.
Plant won for the third time
in four seasons. The Panthers were Class 4A state champions in 2008 and
2009. Plant also won a 4A title in 2006.
