Miramar Loses 8A Title Game To Tampa Plant

The Miramar Patriots were trying to be the first Class 8A state champions in Florida, however they were beaten by the Plant Panthers of Tampa 31-20 on Saturday night at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Plant, who won their third state title in four years, lost the Class 5A title to St. Thomas Aquinas last year. Miramar won the 2009 Class 6A state title and returned to Orlando for the second time in three years. The Panthers scored on their opening possession as Wesley Bullock had a 21-yard run at 9:45. It was a six-play 63-yard drive in which Bullock had rushed for 56 yards. Less than two minutes later, the Patriots capitalized on fumbled punt return as D'Vontis Arnold ran in a two-yard touchdown on a one-play drive to tie the game 7-7. Plant retook the lead at 4:03 as James Few scrambled in from eight yards out. In the second quarter, Grant Van Aman kicked a 37-yard field goal with 9:38 left. On the Panthers next possession, Mike Tate scored on a one-yard run with 1:05 remaining in the half to complete a ten-play, 44-yard drive and take a 24-7 lead. The Patriots closed the gap with two touchdowns in the third quarter. Malcolm Lewis caught a 31-yard pass on the left sideline from Camren Hudge at 2:40. Trevor Robinson made a 27-yard touchdown catch just 24 seconds later on a two-play drive and Miramar cut the lead to 24-20. Miramar was bottled near their end zone midway through the final quarter. On third down from their own one-yard line, Hudge fumbled the ball in the end zone and it was recovered by Tate Rogers for a 31-20 Plant lead.