Plant and Wharton By the Numbers
The Plant Panthers jumped out to an 35-0 halftime lead and then coasted to 46-13 district title-clinching victory over the Wharton Wildcats Friday night at Mitchell D. Muley Stadium. And the numbers didn’t lie.
TEN – Number of different Plant players who had at least one carry on the night (with Patrick Brooks leading the way), two more than the number of different Plant players who had at least one pass reception (led by seniors Austin Hudson and Cam Winter and junior Jordan Reed).
NINE – Consecutive District Championships for the Plant Panthers and head coach Robert Weiner, the longest current streak in the State of Florida. Although the Panthers have one district game remaining on their schedule, the win Friday night clinches the district title for Plant.
EIGHT – Uniform number of Plant defensive back Derrick Baity, whose interception and 25 yard return for a touchdown early in the second quarter gave the Panthers a comfortable 21-0 lead.
SEVEN – The number of wins that Plant now has after starting the season with a tie and an early season loss.
SIX(TY) – Yards that sophomore Scoop Bradshaw traveled with his return of a free kick by Wharton after Wildcat QB Chase Litton was tackled in the end zone for a safety by several members of the Plant defense. This was Bradshaw’s first career varsity touchdown. Bradshaw also had at least one tackle for a loss from his safety position.
FIVE- Uniform number of Plant quarterback Colby Brown, who threw for over 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but no interceptions, in earning Player of the Game honors from BHSN.
FOUR – First half touchdowns scored by Plant.
THREE – First half field goals by a duo of Plant kickers. Junior Clarke Miller connected from 36 and 38 yards, while senior Hunter Anderson split the uprights with a 35-yard effort.
TWO – Second quarter touchdowns by Plant senior Fletcher Barnes – one on a 3-yard run and one on a 12-yard pass. Also, the number of TD passes thrown by Wharton’s quarterback, Chase Litton (a 29-yard scoring strike to Austin Colley and a 5-yard pass to Auden Tate on the final play of the game).
ONE – Touchdown-saving tackles by Plant kicker Christian Chambers, who followed his 4th quarter kickoff with a terrific sideline tackle.
Plant moves to 7-1-1 on the season (4-0 in the district) and travels to play district foe Alonso next Friday night. Wharton, on the other hand, drops its second game in a row, after five consecutive wins, and falls to 6-3 (2-2 in the district). The Wildcats have a must-win district showdown next Friday night on the road against Bloomingdale.