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Murray's Injury Tempers Win

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: October 17, 2008

Updated: 10/17/2008 03:53 am

TAMPA - Aaron Murray's teammates gathered around him in the locker room at halftime, offering the Plant quarterback words of encouragement.

"We're going to win it for you," one of the Plant players said.

Murray's teammates finished what he started by defeating Hillsborough 44-28 at Dad's Stadium on Thursday night. The victory was a bittersweet one, however, as Murray may be lost for the season with a broken leg.

"Aaron's probably the best player in the country and you don't want to lose the best player in the country anytime," Plant coach Robert Weiner said.

Murray dislocated his ankle near the end of the second quarter. Team doctor Seth Gasser popped the ankle back into place before he was carted off the field. Gasser said he feared Murray had a fracture, possibly to his tibia. If that's the case, Gasser said, Murray is done for the season. The University of Georgia commit was taken to Tampa General for X-rays.

Murray was his usual productive self before the injury, throwing for 205 first-half yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 95 yards and one touchdown. Murray accounted for four of the seven touchdowns in the first half. He was also one of two serious injuries.

A couple of plays after Murray was hurt, as backup quarterback Phillip Ely drove the Panthers down the field, Hillsborough wide receiver/defensive back Terrence Mitchell was hurt trying to break up a pass to Plant wideout Allen Sampson in the end zone.

Mitchell was strapped to a backboard, carted off the field and taken to a nearby hospital for observation. Gasser, who tended to Mitchell along with paramedics on the scene, said Mitchell had movement in his lower extremities and suffered a concussion.

Hillsborough's Lindsey Lamar put up 174 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers.

H-Lamar 80 run (Colborne kick)

P-Sampson 37 pass from Murray (Rhodes kick)

P-Charles 3 pass from Murray (kick failed)

H-Lamar 61 run (Colborne kick)

P-Murray 9 run (Sampson pass from Murray)

H-Lovett 9 pass from Austin (Colborne kick)

P-FG Rhodes 25

P-Charles 26 pass from Ely (Rhodes kick)

H-Lovett 66 pass from Austin (Colborne kick)

P-FG Rhodes 41

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