Plant’s leading receiver Aikens questionable for state championship game

Posted Dec 10, 2011 by Katherine Smith

Updated Dec 10, 2011 at 05:38 PM

A knee injury sustained in Plant’s 26-7 state semifinal victory against Neptune Beach Fletcher could keep Austin Aikens out of the Class 8A state championship game.

Aikens, the Panthers leading receiver, injured his knee late in the second quarter of the game. Panthers coach Robert Weiner said Aikens was undergoing an MRI to determine the extent of damage and that his availability for Saturday’s game is uncertain.

Aikens entered Friday night’s game with 35 receptions for 686 yards and 11 touchdowns. The senior receiver had his biggest game of the season in the first round of the playoffs against Orlando Boone when he posted 136 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Aikens is also a major contributor on special teams where he has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.