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Playoffs Have Different Feel For Plant

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2007

Plant officially begins its Class 4A state title defense tonight when the Panthers host Northeast in a regional playoff game at Dad's Stadium, and there are going to be a few differences for the Panthers this year.

The most notable is the fact that Plant, the state's Cinderella team in many ways last year, will have a huge target on its back this time around in the postseason, and flying under the radar all the way to the title game won't be possible.

That scenario has presented a different feel to the upcoming postseason for Coach Robert Weiner's team.

"There's a different feel to the way other people play us. We think that every opponent is going to be tough as heck and we've always thought that way. So that really hasn't changed. Now, everybody might bring their A game for us when maybe that wasn't always the case when we flew under the radar," Weiner said. "In the playoffs, you've got to play your best or you're not going to win anyways. I don't think our preparation is any different. I think maybe the different feel is last year when we did something great, it was like 'Oh, wow, this is cool,' and now there's more of an expectation of that."

The Panthers will be tested right out of the gate and have a huge task on their hands - in the form of Northeast senior running back Jeff Brinson. The Vikings' bruiser tore up Pinellas County this year, rushing for 1,754 yards during the regular season, a total he reached in eight games.

Plant's defense had some trouble stopping the run during last season's playoff run, and this season's unit struggled earlier this year against a back similar to Brinson - Armwood's Eric Smith. Smith, also a big, physical back, had 173 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Plant in the regular-season opener, the Panthers' only loss this season.

Brinson has missed the Vikings' past two games and the district tiebreaker after suffering a rib injury against Lakewood on Oct. 26, but he's been medically cleared to play tonight, according to Coach Jay Austin. Weiner knows Brinson will be tough to stop, but he thinks his unit is capable of doing so.

"He's a great player. He's got speed and he's got power and he's got moves. Sometimes you can go against a guy who has got certain run characteristics and battle it in that one way, but he's got all those things. But we just think we really don't play against guys," Weiner said. "They'll line up and they have a scheme and we'll play their scheme with our scheme. I just want our guys to play hard and swarm the football, particularly with a running back like that, that's what you have to do. He's not going to be tackled by one guy every time. You have to have six, seven guys to the football."

FAMILIAR FOE: Armwood coach Sean Callahan probably didn't have to watch too much film on the Hawks' regional playoff opponent tonight. That's because Callahan is well aware of Eagle Lake Lake Region.

This will be the third consecutive season Armwood will face the Thunder, though this is the first time the matchup has occurred in the playoffs. Armwood competed in the same district (District 12) as Lake Region the past two years before moving to District 11 this season. Armwood won the previous two meetings with Lake Region by a combined score of 92-7.

The Hawks tonight will welcome back junior LB Petey Smith, who has been out since late September after undergoing surgery for an abdominal ailment. Callahan said Thursday Smith will play "for as long as he can go."

The Hawks will be without one defensive stalwart tonight, as lineman Zachori Beasley won't be available. Beasley's grandmother passed away last week, and he is currently in Miami handling funeral arrangements with his family. Callahan said he expects Beasley to return next week, should the Hawks advance. Sophomore FB Rashyied Melvin (ankle) also won't play.

HISTORY LESSON: If history gives us any indication, Wharton, Sickles and Hillsborough will have a pretty tough time tonight in their regional playoff games.

None of the three teams have had much success with the challenges they face tonight: Sickles against Gaither, Wharton against Chamberlain and Hillsborough on the road in the playoffs. In fact, each has been victorious just once in their situations.

Sickles has met the Cowboys in each season since the program began in 1997, but the Gryphons are 1-9 all-time against their North Tampa rival Cowboys.

Hillsborough, which travels to Auburndale tonight, is 1-5 all-time in road playoff games under Coach Earl Garcia, and the Terriers have dropped their last three road playoff games.

Wharton is 1-5 all-time against Chamberlain, with the Wildcats' lone win coming in the team's first meeting in 1999.

But here are the interesting twists, which are undoubtedly good news for fans of the three teams.

While the Gryphons have just one win in the series against Gaither, that win came under current coach Pat O'Brien, who led Sickles to a 20-17 upset in 2004 in his first season as the team's head coach.

While Hillsborough has just one road playoff victory under Garcia, that lone win came in the only other trip to Polk County for a Garcia-coached Terriers squad in the playoffs. Hillsborough beat powerhouse Lakeland 26-7 in 2001.

The good news for Wharton is the Wildcats have never lost a first-round playoff game in two previous playoff appearances. Both games were won by identical 14-13 scores; in 2002 against Melbourne and 2005 against Alonso.

BAYSHORE WILL START FOOTBALL: Bayshore Christian athletic director Chad Clark confirmed the Faith Warriors will start a six-man football program in the fall. Although Bayshore only has an enrollment of about 100 between grades six-12, Clark said the team only needs 15 players.

"I'd like to have a 20-man roster," Clark said.

Adam Adkins, Katherine Smith,

Nick Williams

Keyword: Prep Report to view the All-Western Conference football teams, as selected by Hillsborough County's head coaches.

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