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Ely Looking Ahead

Tribune photo by JIM REED

Phillip Ely took over the Plant offense and won seven consecutive starts in Aaron Murray's absence.

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By KATHERINE SMITH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2008

TAMPA - Plant High backup quarterback and fill-in starter Phillip Ely heard the applause and was taken aback.

The pro-Panthers crowd showered some love on Ely when his name was announced as he received his gold medal following Plant's 34-14 victory against Tallahassee Lincoln in the Class 4A championship game Saturday. The applause was just as loud as it was for Aaron Murray, the player Ely replaced when the senior broke his leg and dislocated his ankle in the sixth game of the season.

"That meant a lot to me," Ely said. "I'm glad to know that people care and that they didn't forget about me."

How could they forget what Ely did? He took over the Plant offense and won seven consecutive starts, including the regional final against Armwood. That playing experience will prove invaluable next year.

"I didn't expect to have it this year. It came out of nowhere," Ely said. "It's something I wasn't supposed to have, but now that I have it, it's definitely an advantage for next season. And we want to try and keep this thing going."

Plant will return three starters on defense and three on offense, four if you count Ely's starting experience.

"We're going to have a lot of fast players and a lot of big players next year," junior wide receiver/defensive back Eric Dungy said. "Allen Sampson is going to be a big player for us and so is DeAndre Queen. And then of course Phillip.

"We definitely want to go out and win it again."

Plant won't get the opportunity to defend its Class 4A championship, because the Panthers are moving up and joining arguably the toughest classification in the state.

Plant joins Class 5A, along with Lakeland, Miami Northwestern and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. All three were in championship games this year, with St. Thomas Aquinas defeating Lakeland for the 5A title. The three have a combined 15 state championships.

"At some point in Florida, you're going to have to play some tough teams," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "Wherever you are, whatever the competition is, you have to be ready to step up and compete."

The Panthers will celebrate their most recent championship for a while, but then it's back to work. Murray, who has graduated from Plant so he can early enroll at Georgia next month, and wideout Orson Charles are leaving for San Antonio at the end of the week to prepare for the Jan. 3 Army All-American Bowl Game.

Charles and others seniors, including Hunter Baldwin, who have garnered a lot of Division I interest and offers, will begin to plan trips. Weiner plans to sit down with Charles today and narrow his extensive list of Division I scholarship offers down to five.

As for the underclassmen, they'll soon hit the weight room for the offseason conditioning program.

"The offseason begins now," Ely said, "and I'm excited to see what next season has to offer."

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

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