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Game of the week matchup: TBT vs. Plant

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Tribune staff

Published: September 3, 2009

GAME OF THE WEEK: TAMPA BAY TECH AT PLANT

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m., Dad's Stadium, Tampa

AT STAKE

TAMPA BAY TECH: It's a non-district game, but Titans coach C.C. Culpepper keeps calling this one "huge." Why? Besides wanting to start off on the right foot, Culpepper says TBT is looking for a little respect by knocking off last year's Class 4A state champion on the road. If the Titans can do that, Culpepper said it would be a major accomplishment for a program that last season won its first playoff game and reached the postseason for the second time in school history.

PLANT: This one's for early bragging rights in the new 5A classification. Just like Armwood and Plant had to go through each other in 4A the past several seasons, Tampa Bay Tech and Plant could become playoff opponents in the toughest classification in the state. The Panthers are also looking to reclaim homefield advantage. They don't lose often at Dad's Stadium, but they did last week to Bradenton Manatee. It was the first time in Coach Robert Weiner's six years at Plant they lost a Kickoff Classic.

KEY STAT

TAMPA BAY TECH: In last week's 35-14 road win against Plant City, the Titans' defense did not allow a touchdown. The Raiders' two scores came on an 88-yard kickoff return to open the game and an interception returned 99 yards for a touchdown just before halftime.

PLANT: In Friday's loss to Manatee, for the first time in Coach Robert Weiner's stint as head coach at Plant, the Panthers had two backs rush for more than 100 yards. T.J. Glover (125 yards) and James Wilder Jr. (107) helped the Panthers amass 328 rushing yards, the largest single-game rushing total in Weiner's tenure.

KEEP AN EYE ON

TAMPA BAY TECH: Maurice Hagens. The bruising senior fullback is the guy every opposing defense has tried to stop the last three seasons, usually with little success. Hagens, however, has a stronger supporting cast this fall and could have the pressure lifted by an improved passing attack.

PLANT: T.J. Glover. The senior tailback really clicked into another gear this summer and could be the latest offensive weapon in the Panthers' entertaining scheme to have a breakout season. If he gets the ground game going early against the Titans, that will take some pressure off a young quarterback.

KEY MATCHUPS

WHEN TBT HAS THE BALL: The Titans are all about controlling the clock with a huge offensive line and strong running game. If they can eat up time, minimize mistakes and keep Plant's offense off the field, they have a solid chance to win. But TBT will have to keep the Panthers' defense honest with some semblance of a passing game. That's where junior QB Johnathan Williams and his "7-11 Combo" of receivers CJ Jackson and Charles Davis will be essential.

WHEN PLANT HAS THE BALL: With Ely likely sidelined for this game, sophomore QB James Few should get his second start in a row. In last week's loss to Manatee, Few threw for 188 yards, including two touchdowns and two interceptions. He'll get a lot of help from Glover, Wilder and WR Allen Sampson, who might be the most versatile player for Plant. Few will have a physical offensive line protecting him, while also opening up holes for the running game. A strong Titans linebacking corps, led by Sam Jones, could make that difficult.

QUOTABLE

"I looked at them last year as the team, like we were in 2005, that just started to come alive a little bit and were on the verge of catapulting into state prominence. And I think that's where they are right now. It's going to be a tremendous battle, because I think in the end when the whole thing washes out, we'll be one of the best teams in the state and I think they'll be one of the best teams in the state. So this matchup is a really great matchup at the beginning of the year." — Plant coach Robert Weiner on the Titans

"We definitely need (this) type of game to make that statement — not just for us as a coaching staff and as a team but for everyone around the county. People have been complaining for two years now about our schedule, but we have nothing to do with that. We play whoever (county athletic director) Mr. Lanness (Robinson) assigns to us. We're glad to be opening up with Plant and everyone else on our schedule." — TBT coach C.C. Culpepper.

Katherine Smith, Bill Ward

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