TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Plant Finishes With A Rout

ADVERTISEMENT

By ADAM ADKINS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2007

TAMPA - The Plant Panthers wanted to use Friday night's game as a springboard into the playoffs. They accomplished that - and in a big way.

Plant quarterback Aaron Murray threw for 368 yards and seven TDs - in the first half - as the Panthers steamrolled Robinson 56-0 at Dad's Stadium, giving the defending Class 4A state champions a huge game under their belts heading into next week's playoff game against Northeast.

"That was pretty spectacular what we did there in the first half," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "Robinson was a feisty group, but our offensive line did a great job and our skill players just made plays and Aaron put the throws right on the numbers."

Darn near all of Murray's throws were on the numbers. He threw five first-quarter TD passes, those going to three receivers - two each to running back Lovell Jackson and receiver Joseph Epps and one to receiver Derek Winter, who led all Plant pass catchers with four for 134 yards. Murray's two second-quarter TD passes went to Kevin James, covering 67 and 1 yards. He finished 15 of 22.

"We gave him all the time in the world. He got all the time in the world, and our poor defensive backs were back there running around and doing a good job in coverage, but you can't expect a guy to sit back there for 11 seconds and not be able to pick you apart," Robinson coach Mike DePue said. "This kid Murray has great feet and great vision, and we just gave the kid way too much time."

Murray's seven TD passes give him 41 on the season, well ahead of the pace of former Plant quarterback Robert Marve, who set the state single-season record with 48 touchdown passes last season. Marve didn't throw his 41st TD pass until his 12th game last year.

Murray's only two flaws in the game ironically came on his final two plays. His final pass of the first half was intercepted, just his second interception thrown on the season, and he was sacked on the first play of the second half. All of Plant's starters were pulled after the first play of the second half, with the Panthers (9-1) leading the Knights (1-9) 49-0.

By that time the damage had been done, and the Panthers already had accomplished everything they needed to.

"We preach to try and get better each week. We don't want to get worse each week. We don't want to look at this game like we're going to go out there and do whatever. We look at this game like we're going to try and get better for the playoffs so that we're 100 percent come playoff time, and we did that."

"We're just excited that the regular season's over and it's time for the second season to get started here. We wanted to kind of catapult into it, and this did it for us," Weiner added. "It was exactly what we wanted, and our kids have responded every time."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be

reached at (813) 657-4533

P-Jackson 33 pass from Murray (Marvel kick)

P-Epps 19 pass from Murray (Marvel kick)

P-Jackson 50 pass from Murray (Marvel kick)

P-Winter 34 pass from Murray (Marvel kick)

P-James 67 pass from Murray (Marvel kick)

P-James 1 pass from Murray (Marvel kick)

P-Lerom 24 pass from Marino (Rhodes kick)

or aadkins@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT