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Murray Deserves Plenty Of Credit

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By KATHERINE SMITH

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

TAMPA - Ask Aaron Murray about his record-breaking football season last year and he's quick to point out the talent that surrounded him.

Sure receivers Cornelius Gallon and Derek Winter made Murray look good. But truth be told, Murray made them, and the rest of the Plant offense, look almost unbeatable.

Murray, The Tampa Tribune's 2008 Hillsborough County Football Athlete of the Year, deserves a lot of credit for the insane numbers Plant's offense put up last season. The Panthers outscored opponents by 300 points in 13 games and averaged nearly 40 points per game.

Any question of whether Murray was capable of replacing Robert Marve as Plant's starting quarterback was answered when the junior led his team deep into the postseason.

"The year just went by so fast," Murray said. "I remember my first start, my first win, my first touchdown. Just being with those guys, throwing the ball to Derek Winter and Cornelius Gallon and Kevin James and working with Lovell Jackson and Nathan Marvel was just a blast. I loved every minute of it."

What's not to love? Except for falling to Armwood twice, including the playoffs, Murray helped Plant reel off nine consecutive regular-season victories, including a come-from-behind thriller against Chamberlain, and two playoff wins.

Individually, Murray set a state record with his 51 touchdown passes, breaking Marve's record. He threw for 4,012 yards and completed 61 percent of his passes.

Not only did Murray lead the Panthers in passing, and Hillsborough County too, but also he led Plant in rushing with 932 yards and 12 touchdowns. Oh, and he also averaged 42 yards per punt.

There was a lot of hard work behind those numbers, including rehabilitation from a torn shoulder muscle he suffered during his sophomore year.

"People may see an outstanding product like him on the field and not realize where he came from," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "Aaron's always been talented, but coming off the injury that he came off of and the constant improvement of his mechanics that has created this really exceptional quarterback in every part of the game, that's the part that's really impressive."

Murray wants to build off last year's experience and obtain the one thing he covets most - a state championship.

"I told him if he continues to improve, we'll do some really good things here at Plant and he'll do some really good things in college," Weiner said. "He could have an opportunity to play on Sundays if he improves at this rate for the rest of his life."

FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Aaron Murray, Plant, Jr., Quarterback

Jahleel Addae, Riverview, Sr., Running Back

Jarvis Giles, Gaither, Jr., Running Back

Eric Smith, Armwood, Sr., Running Back

Cornelius Gallon, Plant, Sr., Wide Receiver

Blake Kennedy, Lennard, Jr., Wide Receiver

Derek Winter, Plant, Sr., Wide Receiver

John Plasencia, Jesuit, Jr., Tight End

Chris Cardon, Gaither, Sr., Lineman

Austin Chatman, Chamberlain, Sr., Lineman

Matt Patchan, Armwood, Sr., Lineman

Mark Popek, Plant City, Sr., Lineman

Rhonne Sanderson, Plant, Sr., Lineman

DEFENSE

Ryne Giddins, Armwood, Jr., Lineman

Max Holloway, Jefferson, Sr., Lineman

Marco Mendoza, Tampa Catholic, Sr., Lineman

Dontavious Pyron, Chamberlain, Jr., Lineman

Gorby Loreus, Jefferson, Sr., Linebacker

Petey Smith, Armwood, Jr., Linebacker

Marc Thomas, Hillsborough, Sr., Linebacker

Mike Whitescarver, Gaither, Sr., Linebacker

Samir Baker, Brandon, Sr., Defensive Back

Justin Bell, Chamberlain, Sr., Defensive Back

Chuck Grace, Hillsborough, Sr., Defensive Back

Angelo Hadley, Armwood, Jr., Defensive Back

SPECIALISTS

Nick Cattoi, Gaither, Sr., Kicker

Corey Page, Sickles, Sr., Punter

Christian Green, Tampa Catholic, So., Athlete

Coach of the Year: Bob Henriquez, Tampa Catholic

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