- December 4, 2025
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Dr. Phillips High School’s football team didn’t intend to spend its Thanksgiving break only enjoying turkey, a good meal and time spent with loved ones.
The team wanted to play football.
Dr. Phillips defeated Fort Pierce Central 22-21 Friday, Nov. 21, with a game-winning field goal at Lawnwood Stadium. For back-to-back seasons, the Panthers are headed to the regional finals on its quest to become the Class 7A FHSAA Football State Champions.
With 41 seconds left on the clock, Dr. Phillips’ quarterback Tien Williams found receiver Zhytrez Ervin from 26 yards away to the end zone and put the Panthers within two.
The Panthers’ kicker Federico Montalvo-Salazar. He nailed a 25-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth to complete the team’s fourth-quarter comeback.
“It was one of the most emotional games I’ve ever been a part of,” DP head coach Rodney Wells said.
The fourth quarter truly was a rejuvenation period for the Panthers. Fort Pierce Central led 21-6 with only 4:10 left in the game, but Dr. Phillips returned back to score the final 16 points of the game.
“The third quarter was finding our identity, looking for what works and then we spread it out,” Wells said about losing running back Zion Matthews in the first half.
He refered to Matthews as DP’s “engine.” Matthews is expected to be back on the field for regional finals.
Wells said the team finding its identity against FPC will “absolutely” help prepare for its regional final game at Vero Beach Friday, Nov. 28. The team knows it has a variety of players who excel in their respective position.
The Fighting Indians and the Panthers are no strangers to each other. Last season, Dr. Phillips defeated Vero Beach 21-14 in the regional finals.
Any playoff game is no easy task, especially this one against Vero Beach, which is 12-0 and has been dominant in the playoffs. Dr. Phillips prepares to make the journey over to Vero Beach with hopes of returning to the state semifinals.
“We call ourselves road warriors,” Wells said.
The Panthers received the seventh seed and knew all of its games would be road games.
“The guys are locked in and focus, and they are ready for the next challenge Vero Beach is,” he said. “We played them last year. It was a tough game...but they’re a different team and we’re a different team, so we have to play.”
By record, West Orange was the most dominating team in the West and Southwest Orange football scene. The Warriors held a 9-1 record and were crowned Class 7A District 5 regular season champions.
It thrived on its home field in the opening game of the playoffs against Plant City before voyaging down to Venice for the regional semifinals.
The last two seasons, Venice defeated the Warriors in the playoffs and the team knew its road would have to go through the defending state champions, Venice, once again.
Quarterback AJ Chung throwing 241.2 yards, finding receiver Edison Delgado for 64.9 yards, running back Jayden Ammons’ 61.7 rushing yards and outside linebacker Nolan Turner’s 9.8 tackles wasn’t enough for victory.
The Warriors fell for the third consecutive year to Venice 70-35 Friday, Nov. 21.
Chung threw five interceptions, while the Indians never returned the favor to West Orange. Despite the turnovers, Chung threw three touchdown passes to finish his sophomore career with 40 TDs. The Warriors will have the No. 9 QB in Florida back after this year, and as Chung enters his junior season, he’ll continue to grow his talents.
West Orange closed out its 2025 season 10-2 and will begin the preparation period for when football season rolls around next year.
