Plant’s Tate enjoying record-breaking season

Posted Dec 6, 2011 by Katherine Smith

Updated Dec 6, 2011 at 02:31 PM

There are two things Mike Tate is really good at - wreaking havoc and breaking records.

Actually, the Plant senior linebacker has done more than break records this season. He’s shattered them.

Tate set a new team single-season tackles record this postseason when he surpassed the previous mark of 160 (set by Hunter Baldwin in 2007) with 12 against Dr. Phillips for 162. Against East Lake last week, Tate had 18 tackles, including eight tackles for a loss, which helped set a new single-season tackles for a loss record with 68 (breaking the previous mark of 60 by Mike Mirabella in 2007).

He now has 180 tackles this season. Tate can add more to his impressive totals on Friday night when Plant hosts Neptune Beach Fletcher in the Class 8A state semifinals.

In just three playoff games, Tate’s accounted for 51 tackles, five sacks (11 on the season), one interception and two forced fumbles.

“That’s a season for most people,’’ Plant coach Robert Weiner said. “Mike never brings attention to himself. He just does what he does and he does it well.’‘