Plant lives to fight another day
By Don Haggard and Ryan Haggard
If the Plant Panthers have 9-lives, they surely used one of them in their thrilling comeback from behind victory against East Lake by tying the score at 21 with only 28 seconds left in the 4th quarter and winning in overtime 28-21.
Plant senior quarterback James Few overcame 3 interceptions, including one with 3:28 left in 4th while trailing 21 to 14, and showed his senior poise by leading his team with 1:42 left for the tying score. He was 3 for 4 on this drive including his only touchdown toss of the night, a 9-yarder with 28 seconds left. For the game, James was 15 of 23 for 205 yards.
Have to give props to the Plant defense, who stepped up when it counted most after that late interception, by forcing East Lake to punt with a 3 and out with 1:55 left. Senior utility defensive specialist John Holmes, starting for linebacker Tate Rogers (shoulder injury but still contributed), also came up big for this defense for he was in on 15 total tackles including 3 tackle for losses.
Panther junior running back Wesley Bullock had 20 carries for 79 yards and fought for tough yardage against a hard hitting East Lake defense including scoring from 2-yards out in 3rd quarter to help tie the score at 14 (after 2-point conversion) and then again from 10-yards on the first play of overtime for the game winning touchdown.
Plant junior wide receiver Dereck Mann had 5 catches for 45 yards but none bigger than the 9-yard juggling catch with 28 seconds left in 4th quarter to tie the score at 21.
Panther sophomore wide receiver Austin Roberts had 2 catches for 68 yards including hauling in a 53-yard TD pass after a reverse to junior backup quarterback Aaron Banks to put Plant up 6-0 in the 1st quarter.
East Lake which came in as a 28-point underdog took the 3-time state champions to the wire.
The Eagles were led by junior quarterback Pete DiNovo (16 of 23, 202 yards, TD, 2 INTs), who engineered an 82-yard drive in 4th quarter for a go-ahead touchdown including hitting senior fullback Tyler Carbonelli on a 21-yard pass up the right sideline while avoiding a number of Panther rushers.
Senior running back Tyler Lane carried the load for the Eagles with 23 rushes for 84 yards, scoring on a 2-yard run in 2nd quarter to put East Lake up 7-6 and then on a 4-yard run with 8:43 left in 4th Quarter to put the Eagles ahead again 21-14.
East Lake sophomore wide receiver Artavis Scott had 6 receptions for 92 yards in first half including a 44-yard catch and run in 2nd Quarter to put the Eagles up 14-6.
Sophomore linebacker Brendan Goettel was all over the field for the East Lake defense, he was in on 17 total tackles including 2 for losses and also had an interception.
Eagles sophomore cornerback Devin Abraham had an interception, fumble recovery, and was in on 6 total tackles.
Next week, Plant will host Neptune Beach Fletcher in the state semifinals.