Game of the Week: Plant vs. Spoto

Posted Oct 14, 2009 by Bill Ward

Updated Oct 15, 2009 at 12:44 PM

Friday’s Tampa Tribune/TBO.com prep football Game of the Week is one of the most intriguing of the season: Plant, standing 5-1, travels to Riverview to take on 6-0 Spoto.

It’s a non-district game but it offers plenty of story lines. An established program—2006 and 2008 Class 4A state champion Plant—takes on a young school trying to make a big name for itself, Spoto. It’s the state’s No. 6 team in 5A, Plant, facing the No. 8 squad in 3A, Spoto. It’s the kids of Palma Ceia going across town to play the kids of Progress Village. It’s Panthers coach Robert Weiner and his large, established staff of coaches and trainers playing veteran coach Dale Caparaso’s smaller Spartans staff.

On the chalkboard, it’s a multi-faceted, high-powered Plant offense led by quarterback Phillip Ely taking on a blitz-happy Spartans defense that, powered by linebacker Rodney Williams, has allowed just 20 points in six games. And it’s a gritty Plant defense led by defensive end James Wilder trying to stop Spoto’s speedy option offense.

The Panthers will tell you their money games are their two remaining district games against Alonso and Chamberlain. But for Spoto, this is arguably the biggest game in the football program’s history. That alone should be enough to power this game to a high level of intensity.

For photos of each team preparing for Friday’s shwodown, follow this link: http://www2.tbo.com/photoalbum/2009/oct/14/plant-vs-spoto-pregame-photos/

For a video interview of the two coaches discussing this game, follow this link: http://www2.tbo.com/video/2009/oct/14/game-of-the-week-preview-plant-vs-spot-78298/video-sports/