When their fears were confirmed and Phyllis DeSofi was given a diagnosis in 1980 of progressive multiple sclerosis, husband Oliver knew what he had to do. Banking memories was at the top of the list. ...more

December 26, 2009

Fresh off its third state title in four seasons, Plant High's football team made a big leap in the national prep rankings. ...more

December 22, 2009

For the third time in four years, Plant High's campus became celebration central. ...more

December 20, 2009

Deputies zapped a Sarasota man with a stun gun after he allegedly robbed two men at gunpoint Saturday, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. ...more

December 19, 2009

The Plant High football team won its third state title in four years Friday night, beating Bradenton Manatee, 21-14, at Orlando's Citrus Bowl to cap a 13-1 season. One year after winning the Class 4A crown, the Panthers closed with 13 consecutive victories in bringing the 5A trophy to South Tampa. Plant led 21-0 at halftime, then held off Manatee's rally to become the first Hillsborough County football program to win three state championships in the playoff era. ...more

December 19, 2009

We interrupt this James Wilder Jr. for King of the World highlight video with this story: Once upon a time, in 2006, Plant High was making a run to a first state football title, and a few area coaches hated it. Plant, the school with everything, was muscling in on football. One coach complained that all he saw in the newspaper was "Plant, Plant, Plant." ...more

December 19, 2009

If Manatee High (13-1) defeats Plant High (12-1) in tonight's Class 5A state football championship game in Orlando, Hurricanes senior wide receiver Ace Sanders will continue a family tradition. In 1983, his father, Tracy Sanders, was quarterback on Manatee's first state championship team, a 14-0 squad that defeated Miami Southridge for the title. ...more

December 18, 2009

Plant coach Robert Weiner was in the early stages of celebrating his team's first state championship in 2006 when the armchair quarterbacks began peppering him with suggestions. ...more

December 17, 2009

The Plant Panthers and Manatee Hurricanes are both deserving contenders for the 5A state football title. ...more

December 16, 2009

The Class 5A state championship meeting with the Plant Panthers is more than just a game for Manatee High's Brion Carnes. ...more

December 16, 2009