DP Panthers are 9-0, closing in on another undefeated regular season

ORLANDO — It seemed a trick was being played when the Dr. Phillips and Freedom varsity football teams switched ends of the field after the first quarter.

The visiting Panthers had yet to put any points on the scoreboard — odd because top-ranked DP outscored its previous eight opponents in the opening quarter 80-9. 

But the scarier task is playing Dr. Phillips for a full 48 minutes. That’s because the Panthers take pride when it comes to imposing their will over the course of four quarters. 

Dr. Phillips proved that again last week, posting a 35-3 victory over the Patriots on Halloween to secure the Class 8A District 5 title and a first-round home playoff game Nov. 14 against District 6 runner-up Bloomingdale.

Head coach Rodney Wells, whose birthday came on the same day DP raised its overall record to 9-0, emphasized that point.

“It’s important to win the district and get those playoff games at Dr. Phillips,” he said.

A Freedom win over Dr. Phillips could have forced a three-way tie (along with Boone) atop the final 8A-5 standings. The Patriots (4-5) came out inspired on a windy and chilly Senior Night, but DP broke through with three touchdowns during an eight-minute span in the second quarter and the defense and special teams did the rest.

“We started to lean on them and move the ball straight ahead on offense,” Wells said. “I think we played very well defensively throughout the game, other than that drive before halftime where 30 yards in penalties helped them make a really long (46-yard) field goal. Offensively, we’ve got to score when we get in the red zone.”

Senior Kelvin Clue, who entered the game as DP’s second-leading tackler, was credited with 10 tackles and Jamari Smith registered his team-high fourth interception as the Panthers kept an opponent out of the end zone for the fourth time this season. Free safety Vernon Walker and Daquan Isom also helped Dr. Phillips win the field-position battle by combining for 84 yards on three punt returns, while kicker Ethan Shafer converted five extra points and had a 46-yard punt.

“Over the last three weeks (Walker) has been having some really nice returns, and you could see the guys on the sideline were really excited about him and what he’s going to do with the ball,” Wells said. “He had a real nice return that flipped the field position in the first half, but it was Senior Night for Freedom and they were literally fighting for their playoff life. If we didn’t win this game, it would have been a three-way tie with us, Freedom and Boone.”

Isom also finished with 119 rushing yards on 14 attempts and two touchdowns.

Isom’s 6-yard TD run opened the scoring at the 9:07 mark of the second quarter — quarterback Rudy Norwood’s 46-yard pass completion to Mike Macon came on the previous play — and he broke two tackles on an impressive fourth-down carry that resulted in a 37-yard touchdown with1:09 remaining before halftime.

The Panthers missed a 26-yard field goal and lost a fumble in Freedom territory during a scoreless first quarter, but the offense still finished with 396 yards, as the Patriots consistently crowded the line of scrimmage. Norwood had touchdown passes of 22 yards to Jeremiah Harris and 13 yards to Emare Hogan, Jaylon Hamer contributed 77 yards on nine carries, and Kenny Palmer (40 yards on four attempts) added a 4-yard TD run.

Dr. Phillips is scheduled to end the regular season Friday, Nov. 7, at Showalter Field against Winter Park. The Wildcats own a 5-4 overall record and will miss the FHSAA playoffs after reaching the Class 8A regional semifinals last season.

“They (the Wildcats) are always coached up well and they always play hard,” Wells said. “They had a real good season last year, and it’s hard to win over there at Showalter Field. So it’s going to be a good game for us going into the playoffs.”

DP is preparing to make the program’s ninth straight postseason appearance (which includes the 2010 season where the Panthers vacated their district and region titles and state runner-up finish). The Panthers have also won 32 consecutive regular-season games dating back to a 38-19 loss against Edgewater High School in 2011.