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Panthers' Defense Geared Up

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Plant High School football players Aaron Murray & Allen Sampson form arguably the best offensive tandem in Florida.

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By KATHERINE SMITH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

TAMPA - Plant's defense can sort of empathize with Armwood's.

But while Hawks defenders only have to worry about trying to stop Plant's potent offense this week, Panthers defensive players must contend with them on a daily basis.

"It's no secret that they are the best offense," Plant defensive tackle Austin Clark said. "We've got a quarterback who is unbelievable and great skill players. It definitely helps us going up against the best every day."

Friday night against Armwood's offense, Plant will be facing a new scheme. Last year, the Hawks beat the Panthers twice with their smash-mouth running style. In the first game, Armwood rushed for 340 yards. In the second, led by quarterback Mywan Jackson's 142 yards, they racked up 318 rushing yards.

This season, Armwood has gone to a spread offense, but that hasn't caused concern for Plant.

"It really doesn't matter what they do," said Clark, one of three returning defensive starters. "We do what we do. Whatever they are doing over there doesn't really matter to us."

Plant's defensive scheme, with some tweaks every season, has been about 15 years in the making by co-defensive coordinators John Few and James Harrell, going back to their time as assistants together at Jesuit.

"Our defensive philosophy is always to attack what a team does best first," Few said. "We're always going to prepare for what they do best and try and take them out of their comfort zone."

They also try to create turnovers, knowing that whoever wins the turnover ratio usually wins the game. Two years ago, when Plant defeated Armwood in the regional final en route to its 2006 Class 4A state championship, the Panthers defense collected six turnovers.

In last year's playoff loss to Armwood, Plant turned the ball over six times, while its defense recovered only two fumbles.

For all the publicity Plant's offense receives, its defense continues to just go about its business knowing the accolades will come from the people who count the most.

"This has been a pretty high-profile offense the past several years," Few said. "Before that, we never felt like offensive linemen, but we do now. But everyone who walks in that locker room knows what we do and how well we play. Our goal is to keep getting better."

TICKETS GOING FAST: Less than 2,000 tickets remain for Friday night's Armwood-Plant football game.

Tickets went on sale at both schools Tuesday, with Plant selling out of its 3,000 allotted tickets. Armwood has approximately 1,700 tickets remaining that will be sold to students during lunch periods and to the general public in the main office after school.

Any remaining tickets will be sold at Plant's gate before the game.

Keyword: Preps to watch a video preview of Friday night's game.

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