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Panthers pour it on in rout over Ravens

Staff photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Plant quarterback Phillip Ely completed 11 of 21 attempts for 132 yards and a TD.

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By GREGG BECNEL

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 24, 2009

TAMPA - Plant fell behind early against Alonso's quick-strike offense, but the Panthers quickly erased the deficit and cruised to a 57-21 Class 5A-District 5 win at Dad's Stadium on Friday.

The Ravens (3-4, 1-1) struck first when C.J. Bennett hit Jesse Anaya (eight catches, 119 yards) down the middle for a 42-yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter.

Panthers kicker Chris Finn kicked field goals of 40 and 43 yards to get Plant within 7-6.

Bennett made it 14-6 when he hooked up with Justen Davis (four catches, 115 yards) on a 65-yard touchdown in the second.

Allen Sampson gave Plant the momentum when he returned the kickoff 98 yards for a TD. That was the first of 37 consecutive points for the Panthers (6-1, 2-0).

After its fourth-quarter collapse in Week 1's loss to Tampa Bay Tech, Plant kept its foot on the gas.

"We lost a game earlier this year after we had big lead," Panthers coach Robert Weiner said. "Alonso is a very explosive team. They can score points in a hurry, so after those first two scores our defense stepped up and made the right adjustments."

Bennett was 20 of 42 for 304 yards and three touchdowns. He was sacked five times and threw two interceptions.

Plant quarterback Phillip Ely completed 11 of 21 attempts for 132 yards and a TD. Running back James Wilder Jr. carried nine times for a game-high 64 yards, including a 1-yard plunge before halftime.

T.J. Glover scored twice for the Panthers. He caught a 5-yard pass from Ely at the start of the third and ran in from 20 yards to close the quarter.

"Ely gets the job done," Weiner said, "but we have a lot of weapons."

Between Glover's scores, defensive lineman Nathan Schnitzlein returned a fumble 10 yards for the score.

P-FG Finn 40

P-FG Finn 43

A-Davis 65 pass from Bennett (Rodriguez kick)

P-Sampson 98 kick return (Queen run)

P-Mirabella 1 run (Finn kick)

P-Wilder 1 run (Finn kick)

P-Glover 5 pass from Ely (Finn kick)

P-Schnitzlein 10 fumble return (Wilder run)

A-Mosley 11 pass from Bennett (Rodriguez kick)

P-Glover 20 run (Finn kick)

P - Mills 30 pass from Few (Finn kick)

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