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Panthers Defense Springs Big Upset

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: December 6, 2008

Updated: 12/06/2008 12:22 am

TAMPA - Tony Dungy knows defense.

He helped build one of the best with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before winning a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts.

He witnessed a defensive battle Friday night at Dad's Stadium, where Plant outplayed Armwood for a 17-14 Class 4A regional final victory, ending a three-game losing streak to the Hawks. Armwood had a chance to tie the game with eight seconds remaining, but a 32-yard field goal sailed wide left.

"That was a great defensive game," said Dungy, whose son Eric plays for the Panthers. "I was more nervous at the end than I was in the Super Bowl."

Plant's defense showed up the vaunted and nationally recognized Armwood defense, with its multitude of Division I prospects, to help the Panthers advance and host Friday's state semifinal game against Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer.

"They're great kids who have a great work ethic and they bought into the system," said Plant co-defensive coordinator John Few. "We've got a lot of great football players that maybe individually aren't going to be five-star recruits but collectively, they sure are a five-star defense."

One highly touted recruit made a huge difference for Plant (12-1). Tight end/defensive end Orson Charles spent the entire night making life miserable for Armwood. When he wasn't in Hawks quarterbacks Mywan Jackson and Rob Jones' faces, he was running all over the Armwood defense.

Charles scored both touchdowns for the Panthers, a 26-yard strike and a 39-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Phillip Ely. Ely, who finished the night 10 of 29 for 143 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, had great protection and was sacked just once.

"When has Charles not been huge," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "He's a physically huge individual, he's got a huge heart and he just plays huge every single game."

After Armwood (12-1) scored a touchdown to open the second quarter, Plant responded with 17 unanswered points. The Panthers moved the ball at will against Armwood at times.

And just like in 2006, when Plant last beat Armwood en route to a state title, it was the defense that came up with the big plays - a defense that lost its three starting linebackers at various times to cramping. The Panthers offense was able to turn three of the turnovers collected by the defense into 10 points.

"Our players just keep making plays and that's what the playoff time is about, particularly against a team like that," Weiner said. "We said before the game if our offense could punch it in three times, we knew our defense would hold them down the stretch.

"It was a little bit tighter than we wanted it to be, but we'll take it."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

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