Sports
Panthers Rise, Knights Fall in Regional Semis
Plant High pounded Dr. Phillips, while Robinson lost to rival Jesuit in football playoff action Friday night.
PLANT 49, ORLANDO DR. PHILLIPS 13:
The Plant High football team continues to scorch opponents ever since that at the hands of the Armwood Hawks. Since that Oct. 28 loss, the Panthers have outscored opponents 207-50, including Friday night's 49-13 steamrolling of Orlando's Dr. Phillips, as the Orlando Sentinel reports.
"That's been a real key for us, getting out in front early," head coach Robert Weiner told Patch.
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Junior Wes Bullock got two scores in the first quarter to put the Panthers in front 14-0. Dr. Phillips answered early in the second, but a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by senior athlete Antonio Crawford and another touchdown pass from senior quarterback James Few to junior receiver Dereck Mann made it 28-7 going into the half.
"Playing a talented team like that, with the homefield advantage, if we went up early, we were gonna really be able to put it on them," Weiner said.
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The Panthers would not let Dr. Phillips off the mat in the second half. They only allowed six points and picked a pass to seal the deal and help Plant advance to the regional finals against East Lake.
JESUIT 35, ROBINSON 20:
The Knights fell to their hated rival Jesuit on Friday night in regional semifinal action, TBO.com reports. The Tigers got a late-game touchdown to push the lead out to 15 points, but the game was within one score most of the way.
"We fumbled late in the game, with four minutes left," Knights head coach Mike DePue told Patch. "We thought we had a chance there."
The Knights were able to answer the first two Tigers scores with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by senior receiver Byron Pringle and a big catch-and-run for 95 yards and a touchdown by Pringle to go into the half down just 21-13.
Robinson closed to within eight points again in the fourth quarter, but Jesuit slammed the door with a 55-yard touchdown run.
"It was a wild game, a good high school playoff football game," DePue said.
Jesuit advances to play Pasco in the regional final, while Robinson ends its season at 9-3.
