Plant bursts onto national scene

Posted Dec 14, 2009 by Katherine Smith

Updated Dec 14, 2009 at 02:16 PM

Nothing like a shutout victory over a national powerhouse to bolster a team’s national standing.

Plant’s currently ranked No. 12 in the nation in the National Prep Football poll. They were unranked all season, but a 20-0 state semifinal victory against previously ranked Lakeland last Friday pushed the Panthers up in the standings. Bradenton Manatee, their Class 5A state champion opponent Friday night in Orlando, is ranked 4th in that poll. The Hurricanes defeated previous No. 1 ranked team St. Thomas Aquinas to advance to the championship game.

Plant also moved up to 23rd on the Rivals.com poll from No. 50, while Manatee makes its debut at No. 20. In the ESPN poll, Plant is ranked 18th and Manatee is 16th. Both were unranked last week.