Panthers proud of regaining Orange Crate

DR. PHILLIPS Having hoisted the trophy himself as a standout senior linebacker after beating West Orange back in 1996, Rodney Wells understands the importance of the Ol’ Orange Crate Rivalry to the community and to his alma mater.

After all, it’s been a part of his life for two decades.

So, although he stopped short of calling last Friday’s 40-3 blowout victory against the Warriors revenge, the Dr. Phillips head coach acknowledged its significance.

“In my program, we don’t talk about revenge — we just talk about getting it right,” Wells said. “(Losing in 2015) hurt us — that crate hadn’t been away from Dr. Phillips in a long, long time. As we walked off the field and saw them celebrating with what we feel like is our crate, it stung.”

That stinging feeling Wells described wasn’t just coach speak to motivate players, either. For seniors such as defensive end Robert Porcher, knowing the Week Three matchup could be the last time he gets to face West Orange meant that they had to get it right. 

“They took that game from us last year; I’ve been waiting for this game for a long time,” said Porcher, a Nebraska commit.

The Panthers raced out to a 12-0 lead before most of the fans had taken their seats Sept. 9, but then things slowed a bit as West Orange quarterback Austin Burton developed an early rhythm and the Warriors offense moved the ball. But, time after time, the West Orange drives stalled without reaching the end zone, and as the game went on, the Panthers’ defense frustrated Burton and the Warriors.

“We just mixed it up — played a little zone, a little man, a little cover two and a little cover -three,” Wells said, explaining the approach to containing West Orange’s talented quarterback. “That’s a guy (Burton) who is a Division I-quarterback for a reason … I hadn’t seen many guys that accurate.”

An interception returned 103 yards for a touchdown by Tanner Ingle proved to a pivotal moment in the second quarter as it extended the Panthers’ lead to 19-0.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].