TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Panthers Can't Overcome Errors

ADVERTISEMENT

By KATHERINE SMITH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

SEFFNER - Before boarding the buses to head home, Plant coach Robert Weiner attempted to console the inconsolable. His players, many of whom were crying, were left to ponder the "what ifs."

Such as, what if Hillsborough County's most potent offense hadn't consistently shot itself in the foot Friday night?

A team so careful with the football during the regular season turned it over six times. Quarterback Aaron Murray, who had thrown only four interceptions through 12 games, threw three, including two on back-to-back possessions.

Ironically, Plant capitalized on six turnovers in their playoff victory against Armwood last year. This year, turnovers and numerous dropped passes ultimately did in the defending Class 4A state champions, 36-7.

"When you're trying to make a play, those things are going to happen," Weiner said. "You get behind, like we did at the beginning of the game, and then you press a little bit and try to make a play.

"You're going to make some mistakes in the same process of trying to make a play."

Plant fell behind early in the first half, thanks to a safety and one of Murray's two fumbles. A fumbled punt return by Lovell Jackson led to another Armwood touchdown and a 22-0 halftime score.

The Panthers' attempts to rally were halted by dropped balls. In all, Plant receivers, including the usually reliable Derek Winter, dropped eight passes, including three consecutive in one series.

"If you do that many things wrong and don't have that many things go right for you, you don't win the game," said Winter, who had six receptions for 61 yards.

The Panthers finally scored with 3 minutes, 4 seconds remaining in the third quarter when Murray rushed 25 yards for Plant's lone touchdown. Any momentum Plant gained was quickly sucked away when Armwood answered with quarterback Mywan Jackson's 32-yard touchdown run to put the Hawks up by 22 points.

Plant turned the ball over on four of its final six possessions. Overall, Armwood turned the six turnovers into 17 points.

"I played terrible," said Murray, who was 10-for-34 for 115 yards. "This wasn't my best game. I didn't step it up when I needed to step it up.

"I'm sorry the seniors had to go out on this note."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860 or ksmith@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT