Hennis scores 5 TDs for Plantation

Naheem Hennis scored five touchdowns and the Plantation defense forced three second-half turnovers as the host Colonels rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat visiting Dwyer 41-27 in a 7A tri-county gold semifinal at PAL Field.

Hennis opened the scoring for Plantation on a 3-yard touchdown run for an early 7-0 lead.

Dwyer tied the score on its ensuing possession by going 65 yards in just four plays, capped by Tre’Von Taylor’s 14-yard slant pass for a touchdown to Kyle McNeal.

After the Colonels fumbled at the Dwyer 11 to end their next drive, the Panthers went 89 yards to take a 14-7 lead on Taylor’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Hopkins on the opening play of the second quarter.

Plantation answered by going 80 yards in 11 plays to cut the deficit to 14-13 on a 2-yard touchdown run from Hennis.

Following a Panthers field goal, the Colonels retook the lead with just under two minutes to play in the first half on a 10-yard touchdown rush by Hennis, his third of the first half, to make it 21-17.

However, Dwyer had just enough time in the half as the Panthers drove 76 yards and converted a fourth-and-3 from the 5-yard line to take a 24-21 halftime lead as Xavier Scott hauled in Taylor’s third firsthalf touchdown pass.

Xavier Bolden’s 68-yard kickoff return to the Panthers 26 to open the second half flipped the momentum back to Plantation and the Colonels capitalized by regaining the lead, 27-24, on a 1-yard touchdown rush by quarterback Cedquan Smith.