Plant’s Ely back in pads and on the field

Posted Sep 23, 2009 by Katherine Smith

Updated Sep 23, 2009 at 09:44 PM

Plant starting quarterback Phillip Ely could see his first action of the season when the Panthers play at Riverview Friday night. Ely, who has been sidelined since the start of the season with a stress fracture in his lower back, returned to practice this week, donning pads for the first time in five weeks.

“It’s feels awesome because I’ve missed it so much,” Ely said after Wednesday night’s practice where he took snaps with the first team. “It was hard on the sideline, but I fought through it.”

Plant coach Robert Weiner said Ely isn’t 100 percent right now and still at level four of five in his rehabilitation, so the plan is to re-acclimate him slowly. Sophomore James Few has started in Ely’s absence. Last week in the Panthers 46-13 victory against Jefferson, Few threw for 139 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown pass to Allen Sampson.

“He’s not full tilt right now,” Weiner said. “He’s got to continue to strengthen his core and his abs and work on his conditioning. It won’t be full-go Phillip Ely on Friday night, but he’ll get some snaps.”