3 TDs, 3 INTs earn Plantation a key win
PLANTATION At Plantation, the football team has taken a page out of the book of Miami Hurricanes’ motivational tactics.
The same way UM gives defenders the “Turnover Chain” for a takeaway, Colonels who force a turnover also get a gold chain necklace with a blue and red “PC” attached for Plantation Colonels. When an offensive player scores a touchdown or makes a big play, he gets a belt.
Running back Tyrik Bellamy wore the belt three times — the same number of times cornerback TJ Butler donned the chain — and Plantation earned a key District 12-8A victory, 34-28 over previously unbeaten Western on Friday night at PAL Field.
The Colonels (6-1, 4-1), who earlier this month lost to Miramar in the district, put themselves in prime position to get the first wild card spot or possibly engage in a three-team tiebreaker for the district title if the Wildcats (6-1, 3-1) can beat Miramar on Oct. 27.
“We knew we couldn’t lose anymore, so the kids took it as a challenge to come out tonight and really play a tough Western team,” Plantation coach Steve Davis said. “Our kids just had that test of fortitude and kept playing till the clock hit zero.”
Two of Butler’s three interceptions came in the second half, the first halting a drive in which the Wildcats were trying to break a 21-21 tie. He actually gets to go home with the chain, according to Davis.
“This thing’s huge, because we see after every turnover UM gets [excited)]” Butler said. “Now we’ve got our own. We’re going to have fun.”
After each of Butler’s second-half picks, Bellamy scored on the following play. He gave the Colonels a 28-21 lead as he scored early in the fourth quarter, going 60 yards up the middle.
“I broke the tackle. I didn’t know if they were behind me or not,” Bellamy said. “I just knew I had to keep running, keep my legs up and keep driving.”
The run to make it a twoscore game went for 45 yards. Bellamy, who finished with 159 yards on 13 carries, also punched one in from a yard out in the first quarter. Receiver Ja’Mari Sweet had the “Big Play Belt” in the first half with 124 of his 142 receiving yards plus two touchdowns coming in the first half.
Western got within six points when quarterback Harrison Story, who finished 14-of-24 for 175 yards, two passing touchdowns, two on the ground and three interceptions, threw a touchdown pass to Jordan Smith with two minutes remaining. The Wildcats could not recover the ensuing onside kick, and Plantation picked up a couple of first downs to run out the clock.
Plantation led 21-15 after a back-and-forth first half. Sweet caught one touchdown pass from Roshard Branch from 11 yards out at the goal line and another that went 32 yards on a screen.
In between Sweet touchdowns, Story connected with Jaeden Fagan for a 15-yard touchdown. Story scampered 9 yards for Western’s opening touchdown.