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David 1, Goliath 0: The Right Team Won

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By MARTIN FENNELLY

mfennelly@tampatrib.com

Published: December 6, 2008

Updated: 12/06/2008 12:22 am

TAMPA - Score one for David.

Goliath, in this case Armwood, had been toppled.

In the bedlam at Dad's Stadium on Friday night, in the aftermath of Plant's rousing 17-14 regional playoff win against rival Armwood - there, we said it, it's a rivalry - Plant coach Robert Weiner grabbed his Kewpie quarterback from behind and lifted him in the air.

"How about that?" Weiner asked sophomore Phillip Ely.

"Amazing," Ely said.

Plant, Plant, Plant.

Amazing, amazing, amazing.

It's on to the state semifinals for the Panthers.

It's a shame it ended the way it did.

Exciting, but a shame.

It shouldn't have come down to the Armwood field-goal kicker hooking left on a 32-yard field-goal attempt with eight seconds left.

Coach Sean Callahan's Hawks had made mistakes, a lot of mistakes, but their heart was all over a late comeback led by their own backup quarterback, Rob Jones, who replaced the injured Mywan Jackson.

"The right team won," Callahan said.

Never mind that the right team's quarterback was only 15.

Never mind Armwood's defense. Plant's defense was better.

Never mind trying to stop amazing Plant tight end Orson Charles, who put on an other-worldly show on both sides of the ball, including two touchdown grabs. Among those watching were all college recruiters, including new Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin. Never mind college for now. This night was for Plant.

"Man, I'm just going to go sleep," Charles said.

And dream some more about a state title.

Hey, how could they lose? How could Phillip Ely fail?

After all, the Plant side of the house was full of great quarterbacks. Aaron Murray, on the mend from a broken leg, wore a headset atop Dad's home grandstand. On the Plant sideline was the one and only Robert Marve, who two years ago led Plant to a state title. Marve wore a headset, too. He whispered in Ely's ear all night.

"What Phillip did was amazing," Murray said. "The poise he showed, just amazing."

Ely threw two touchdowns, or two more than Murray threw in 12 quarters against Armwood. He took what the Hawks gave him, and in the end took everything.

"I don't really know how to put it into words," Ely said.

It didn't hurt that he was throwing to Charles, who beat two Armwood defenders on a fade route in the second quarter for a 7-6 lead, and in the third quarter beat seemingly every Hawks defender after catching the ball on a slant pattern and going spectacular for 39 yards to help make it 17-6.

And there was Plant's defense, defense, defense.

It gave up some big plays, but mostly it was there to stop Armwood.

Never mind that at one point all three of the Panthers' amazing corps of starting linebackers - Mike Mirabella, Beau Hume and Josh Varon - went down with injuries or leg cramps. At one point, they were all out. No matter.

"We have a lot of heart, sir," said Plant defensive lineman and co-captain Austin Clark. "We just have a lot of heart."

Heart, heart, heart.

And now they have Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer, on Friday at Dad's in the state semifinals.

Late in the game, on a photo deck outside that press box atop the grandstand, Murray was jogging back and forth with his headset still on.

He said his left fibula, the one he broke less than two months ago against Hillsborough, is completely healed. He says there's a chance he could be back for the semis.

"A chance," Weiner said.

"I'm going to rehab 24-7," Murray said.

Well, maybe not 24-7.

A guy has to sleep.

And dream a little more.

Friday was no dream.

"We're going to the state semis," Murray said.

Phillip Ely said it, too. Don't try waking him up.

"We did it," Ely said.

The right team won.

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