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Echoes of 2006 around Plant's latest title-contending team

 
Quarterback Robert Marve, now on the Plant coaching staff, led a largely unknown group to the program’s first championship.
Quarterback Robert Marve, now on the Plant coaching staff, led a largely unknown group to the program’s first championship.
Published Dec. 9, 2016

TAMPA — A decade ago, Plant High won its first state title in football. When the players came home from Miami, fans were already waiting in the parking lot to greet them.

A pep rally was held in the team's honor the first day back at school. The band played. Students cheered. Children were in awe. Tampa mayor Pam Iorio said it was one of her proudest moments.

The Panthers became South Tampa's beloved team. That championship, won on Dec. 9, 2006, set off a run of unprecedented success. There were more playoff appearances, more state titles for a program that turned into a powerhouse.

Tonight, this decade of dominance comes full circle. Plant faces Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (11-2) in the Class 7A state championship game. A Panthers title would come on the exact day as the first title 10 years ago.

The similarities between the first state championship team and this one are not lost on Plant coach Robert Weiner.

"I could see it from the first day with the team we have now," Weiner said.

In 2006, no one had any idea what was about to unfold. The Panthers won. And won. And won. Plant, Plant, Plant became the rallying cry.

The team went through the regular season undefeated. The run continued through the postseason, culminating with a thrilling come-from-behind 25-21 win over Ponte Vedra Nease.

About the only player considered a superstar was quarterback Robert Marve. But he did not become one until that season. The team was mostly made up of players whose individual identities and skills did not matter as much as their collective performance.

In the championship, Marve threw two interceptions and the Panthers let a 17-point lead slip away. No matter. Marve led Plant on game-winning drive in the final two minutes. Nease took the ensuing kickoff, made a few laterals and nearly scored.

Luke Rorech made the game-saving tackle, 23 yards from the end zone, with three seconds remaining. Players swarmed the field. They sobbed, all in stunned disbelief.

"I think the makeup is a little different, so is the style of play between the team that won in 2006 and this team," said Marve, who is now an assistant coach with the Panthers. "The biggest comparison is the heartbeat style of each team. They play together well. They went through a lot of same testaments that we went through and grew together."

Three other players from the 2006 team — Cornelius Gallon, Zack Midulla and Mike Walsh — are on the current coaching staff. The players from that championship team were honored during Plant's region quarterfinal game against Winter Haven.

It was a team that left an indelible mark on the community.

"I was in elementary school back then and all I kept hearing about was this football team at Plant," current quarterback Dane Frantzen said.

Frantzen became obsessed with the program. He vowed to become the starting quarterback.

He has led the Panthers to an undefeated season (13-0), the first time that has happened at the school since 2006. Plant was home throughout the playoffs this year, just like that first championship team.

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The makeup is the same, too. There are only a handful of Division I-A players. Most do not have stars attached to their rankings on recruiting web sites.

The team is made up of players like Frantzen, a good quarterback who became a great one this season. Or junior Clay Hancher, who blocked a punt in the final minute that led to a winning touchdown against Lakeland in the region semifinals.

"There seems to be a different unexpected hero every week," Weiner said. "You go in and you say, 'Clay Hancher and (junior RB/DB) Tobin Snead will be the ones to save our season.' And you would be like, 'What?' There are great role players who come through to make big plays. It's similar to what we had in 2006.

"That's what makes this so special."