Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sports

TBO > Sports

Plant's Murray Tosses 7 TDs

By NICK WILLIAMS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2008

Updated: 09/20/2008 12:54 am

TAMPA - After watching Aaron Murray throw for 378 yards and seven touchdowns with an interception - in the first half - and leading his team to a 56-14 victory against Middleton on Friday, there were only four words Plant coach Robert Weiner figured his quarterback would say to his offensive line after the game.

Lunch is on me.

"I had all day to throw," Murray said. "My offensive line was unbelievable. We say if you give me four or five seconds, and our receivers are good enough to get open, I just have to make a good pass and we're good to go from there."

Murray, who has committed to Georgia, had ample time to throw in the pocket, connecting on touchdown passes of 5, 74, 28, 9, 44, 15 and 35 yards.

"It was a great first half," Murray said. "We were clicking on all cylinders, on offense and defense. We got a couple of turnovers to get the ball back fast. We say we want to get better every week and as an offensive unit, we definitely got a lot better this week."

"He is way, way, way too good for anybody to give him that kind of time," Weiner said. "With the kids we have at the skill positions, Aaron Murray sitting back there with that kind of time, and our offensive line, I'm just so proud of them."

Senior tight end Orson Charles finished with 116 yards receiving and three touchdowns, while junior Allen Sampson had 129 receiving yards and two scores.

"I was excited to come out here with my new teammates and play with Plant against a new team, this being my first time against Middleton," Charles said. "I just didn't want to let my teammates down. I came out with everything."

Plant's offense put points on the board, but it was the Panthers defense that won the game. The unit, which has allowed three offensive touchdowns in three games, forced a fumble, had an interception and finished with four sacks.

"First, we just have great some great defensive players," Weiner said. "We understand that what we want to do more than anything on defense is swarm to the ball. It seems like there's 15 guys on the field making tackles. And that's a fast team we played tonight, regardless of how we got up on them early. That's not a bad football team."

Junior Greg Hickman led the Tigers (1-2) with 56 yards rushing, while Rodney Johnson added 37 yards on the ground. Freshman quarterback Greg Windham completed eight passes for 57 yards.

"We've played well so far but we haven't played a complete game like that," Weiner said. "We really came out and did a good job.