Plant prepared to defend home turf

Posted Sep 29, 2011 by Katherine Smith

Updated Sep 29, 2011 at 05:22 PM

There’s no place like home for the Plant Panthers.

Dad’s Stadium has been the ultimate home field advantage for Plant. In the past five years, beginning with their perfect season in 2006, the Panthers are 37-3 at home.

Their lone losses were to Armwood in 2010 and 2008 and Tampa Bay Tech in 2009.

That loss to the Titans isn’t far from Plant players’ minds. The Panthers opened the season to Tech that year and were up 24-0 before the Titans staged an incredible comeback and defeated Plant 32-30.

“I will never forget that game. I still think about it all the time,” said Panthers senior defensive lineman Patrick Wright (19 tackles, 2 sacks). “That was probably one of the most devastating losses. I know we’re fired up for them to come back here again.’’

Tech comes into this game averaging 255.5 rushing yards per game. They’re led by senior back Cludner Lecount, who has posted two 100-plus yard games this season.

Plant’s defense, with playmakers Wright, leading tackler Mike Tate and secondary standouts Drew Madhu and Antonio Crawford, will counter Tech’s ground game with an attack that’s held opponents to an average of 107.3 rushing yards and no 100-plus yard single rushers.

“We’re a gap controlled defense so if everyone holds their gap, there’s no where to run,’’ Wright said. “That’s how we shut it down.’’