The odds were already stacked against Plant at halftime of Friday’s Class 4 region quarterfinal game against Sumner. 

Struggling to find any consistency, the Panthers trailed by two scores. 

But these are the situations in which Plant thrives. 

After all, it’s the playoffs.

Better still, the Panthers were at Dad’s Stadium, home to so many fortunate bounces, favorable momentum swings and improbable finishes. 

Hank Brown knows.

The second-year Plant coach is a graduate of the school (Class of 1991) and was an assistant at his alma mater from 2004 until taking over the program last year. 

So there was no need to scream or even wave the white flag. 

Brown – and the Panthers – simply kept the faith. They came together on offense. They tightened up on defense. 

More importantly, they pressed every button but the one marked panic. 

The result? 

Another magical playoff moment with Plant rallying for a wild 37-34 victory. 

To understand how this happens so often with the Panthers, you have to understand the program’s postseason history the past two decades. 

Former Plant coach Robert Weiner, now the quarterback coach and co-offensive coordinator at Toledo, anticipated just about every situation. Every week, the Panthers went through a two-minute drill in practice. In the second half of the season, they simulated all kinds of situations that can come up in a game.

Where other teams might panic or be overcome by a sense of doom in those pulse-tweaking moments, Plant almost always operates with a sense of calm and firm belief that the game will turn in its favor.

It is more than just winning close games. The Panthers have made a habit of doing it with last-minute panache, especially in the playoffs.

Take the 2016 region semifinals. Plant blocked a punt in the final minute to set up a go-ahead touchdown to beat Lakeland In 2013, the Panthers converted a third and 15 from its own 3-yard line on a tipped pass to set up the tying score, then stopped a two-point conversion in overtime in a win over Orlando Dr. Phillips.

That preparation – and mindset – has continued. 

On Friday, the turning point came in the third quarter. Trailing 27-13, Plant’s Jaquez Kindell returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. 

Minutes later, a snap sailed over Sumner quarterback Greg Smith III’s head that was recovered by Rodes Robinson in the end zone to tie the game at 27. 

In the fourth quarter, Panthers kicker Camilo Nanfra hit a 37 yard field goal that just made it over the crossbar for a 30-27 lead. 

Still, the Stingrays would not go away. 

Smith III continued to make plays, hitting Tyler Williams on a 15-yard touchdown pass to put his team ahead 34-30. 

Plant answered on Trey O’ Malley 52-yard touchdown pass to AJ Durham with just more than two minutes left for what turned out to be the winning score. 

Another tight game. Another dramatic playoff moment. 

No big deal for the Panthers, who are not only used to fantastic finishes but also prevailing in them.