TOP PERFORMERS: ‘Winning Days’ Return To Plant
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From 2005 through 2018, Tampa Plant’s football team was one of the best in Florida and among the elite nationally. With head coach Robert Weiner running the show, the Panthers were 166-25 with district, region, and state titles. When Weiner…
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Continue ReadingFrom 2005 through 2018, Tampa Plant’s football team was one of the best in Florida and among the elite nationally.
With head coach Robert Weiner running the show, the Panthers were 166-25 with district, region, and state titles.
When Weiner left to coach at the collegiate, things started to fall off – until Hank Brown was elevated to the head position three years ago, and just like that, this program has returned as one of the top programs in 4M and in the state of Florida.
Brown has been the Head Coach of Plant since April 2021, following a long tenure serving in various coaching capacities. Brown first joined the Plant coaching staff in 2004 and has served as Varsity Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line and Linebackers Coach.
Broward and Panthers have compiled at 26-9 record and have reached the state semifinals for the first time in nearly six years with a 20-14 road with over Riverview Sumner.
The Panthers will travel to Miami to play defending state champion Christopher Columbus – thanks to that win last Friday night.
In the victory over the Stingrays, there were a number of standouts. Among those on defense included LB Alex Tate 18 tackles (8 solo, 6 assists, 4 sacks, 3 quarterback pressures, 4 quarterback hits, 1 pass breakup), DT Ty Conze 9 tackles (3 solo, 2 assists, 2 sacks, 1 TFL, 1 Sack, & 1 QB Hit).
On the offensive side of the ball, QB J.C. Mirasola (8/8 175yds Long 55 1 TD 1 2pt & 10 rushes 65yds Long 21) athletic junior Waltez Clark Waltez Clark 6'2" | 185 lbs | RB Tampa Plant | 2025 State FL (9 rushes 52 yards, 1 reception 55 yards, 1 TD, 1 Tackle and 1 kickoff return for 40yds) and kicker Camilo Nanfra (2-2 field goals – 34 yards & 43 yards).
Other Region Finals top performances:
The No. 2 team in the nation, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna’s production in the last 20 quarters of football – 5 Shutouts, 298-0!
2025 S Bryce Fitzgerald Bryce Fitzgerald 6'1" | 175 lbs | ATH Miami Christopher Columbus | 2025 State FL , Miami Christopher Columbus had 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery in a Region Final win against Davie Western.
Tramell Jones Jr. Tramell Jones Jr. 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Jacksonville Mandarin | 2025 State FL (13 of 25, 266 yards, three touchdowns) found Ethan Sherman Ethan Sherman 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Mandarin Highschool | 2026 FL with the game-winning touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter and Jacksonville Mandarin beat Sanford Seminole on the road in a Region Final. Cornerback A.J. Belgrave-Shorter, Josiah Watkins and Jaime Ffrench and Tiant Wyche Jr. all contributed.
Venice 2024 QB Jadyn Glasser Jadyn Glasser 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Venice | 2024 FL , was 17 of 19 for 361 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 rushing score in a Region Finals win.
Chase Collier caught two touchdown passes from D.J. Moore to help Jacksonville Bolles beat Orlando Bishop Moore. Naeem Burroughs Naeem Burroughs 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Jacksonville Bolles | 2026 FL and Jacob Campen also stood out.
Darnell Rogers Darnell Rogers RB Jacksonville Trinity Christian | 2024 FL ran for two first-quarter touchdowns and Jacksonville Trinity Christian rolled to a Region Final win. Cameron Anderson also ran for a long score. In his final home game, LSU-committed quarterback Colin Hurley Colin Hurley 6'0" | 215 lbs | QB Jacksonville Trinity Christian | 2024 State FL threw touchdown passes to Jayke Jones and Lenox Hires.
2025 DL, Kemari Scurry, Madison County had 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 5 QB hurries and I tackles for loss.
Florida commit Myles Graham Myles Graham 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Gainesville Buhholz | 2024 State FL scored three second half touchdowns to keep Gainesville Buchholz unbeaten. Quinton Cutler also ran for touchdowns of 40 and 85 yards.
Duke Lewis Duke Lewis 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Starke Bradford County | 2024 FL returned a fumble for a touchdown off a Torin Brazell strip and Starke Bradford County remained unbeaten with a Region Final victory. JyQuez Cason added touchdown runs of 37 and 6 yards, and Jeremiah McKenzie Jeremiah McKenzie 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Bradford | 2025 FL scored.
Down 24-10 in the second half, Tampa Gaither relied on the running of Elija Mason Elija Mason 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Gaither | 2026 FL to get back into the game. He put the Cowboys in position to score on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Jayce Nixon Jayce Nixon 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Tampa Gaither | 2025 FL to Darryon Williams Darryon Williams 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Tampa Gaither | 2026 FL and the Cowboys went on to an overtime win.
For the second time in the past three seasons, Tampa Berkeley Prep are headed to the state semifinals. They did it by using the running tandem of Dallas Golden Dallas Golden 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Tampa Berkeley Prep | 2025 State FL and Joseph Troupe provided the bulk of the yards – and the points.
In September, Clearwater Central Catholic escaped with a 29-28 victory over Tampa Carrollwood Day. On Friday, Eduardo Cosenza hit a 23-yard field goal in the final seven seconds and Jershaun Newton Jershaun Newton 6'0" | 205 lbs | ATH Clearwater Central Catholic | 2025 State FL threw for two scores and ran for another in a thrilling 45-41 win. Keo Jenkins also added three touchdowns on the ground.
Jordan Magwood Jordan Magwood 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Seffner Christian | 2025 FL threw for four touchdown passes – two each to Bredell Richardson Bredell Richardson 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Tampa Carrollwood Day | 2024 State FL and Izaiah Williams Izaiah Williams 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch | 2024 State FL as Tampa Carrollwood Day fell short.
For the second time this season, Miami Norland sophomore kicker Noah Sidan Noah Sidan 5'11" | 165 lbs | K Chaminade-Madonna | 2026 FL helped the Vikings upend four-time defending state champion Miami Central. On Friday in the Region Final, he booted a 27-yarder in overtime to keep his team unbeaten.
Coming into Friday’s 1M Region 4 Final, very few people felt that head coach Jorge Zagales and his Miami Archbishop Carroll had any chance to win. With no time left, Bulldog’s kicker Ethan Silva Ethan Silva 5'10" | 170 lbs | P Miami Northwestern | 2025 FL booted the game-winner from 29 yards out.
In the loss to Archbishop Carroll, Miami True North Classical Academy freshman Zac Katz Zac Katz 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB True North Classical Academy | 2027 FL ended a record-breaking year by going 21 of 24 for 254 yards and 4 scores. He also rushed for 57 yards on 7 carries.
Tallahassee North Florida Christian senior QB J.P. Pickles J.P. Pickles 6'2" | 195 lbs | ATH Tallahassee North Florida Christian | 2024 FL , who led the Eagles’ offense to over 3,400 yards and 39 touchdowns, stepped up, scoring a late rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, and throwing a 60-yard touchdown to Zeke Ackerman.
Plantation American Heritage remained one of the top teams in the state as they beat district rival Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons for the second time this year as junior RB Byron Louis Byron Louis 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Plantation American Heritage | 2025 State FL scored 5 times and ran for 303 yards for the Patriots.
Ocala Trinity Catholic advanced to its second straight state semifinal as junior QB Preston Wright Preston Wright 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons | 2025 State FL was 13 of 24 for 270 yards and a score. He found 4 different receivers.
Led by Ethan Crossan’s 154 yards of passing and a defense primed to stop of one the area’s best running backs, the defending state champion Naples First Baptist captured Region 1S-4 championship. Jayden Petit Jayden Petit 6'4" | 180 lbs | WR Naples First Baptist | 2026 FL went over 1,000 yards receiving for the season with his 55 yards to reach 1,047. Sam Sparacio also rushed for 62 yards for the Lions, who won their seventh straight. Sparacio also had a touchdown run.
Kelby Tyre’s 96-yard kickoff return with :7 seconds left lifted Fort Myers Dunbar to a stunning win against Naples.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAMPA PLANT FOOTBALL
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