Dr. Phillips football rallies for thrilling 24-21 win in opener -- Observer Preps

DR. PHILLIPS Addressing his team from the locker room under Bill Spoone Stadium, with his Dr. Phillips Panthers trailing the University (Orange City) Titans 14-0, Rodney Wells couldn't help but feel like he and his team had been in a similar situation before — and recently.

"I just had this feeling in my body, I told the guys 'go back to the (2016 State) Semifinal game — it feels just like Seminole,'" Wells said. "We're making some boneheaded plays, we've got a lot of penalties."

It turns out Wells was not far off with his assessment, as the Panthers (1-0) rallied from 14 points down to score an exciting 24-21 victory.

And, like the game in Sanford last fall, the Panthers came out of the half and made a big defensive play to spur their offense — in this case, it was an interception by Braxton Clark that led to a touchdown run by Devodney Alford a few plays later. That was followed by a safety on the ensuing drive that cut University's lead to 14-9.

Later, in the fourth quarter, quarterback BeSean McCray broke free for a 61-yard touchdown run that — along with a successful two-point conversion — put the Panthers up 17-14. 

The Titans (0-1) responded, though, with their only points of the second half — a scoring drive that put University up 21-17 with 2:12 to play. 

That blow meant Dr. Phillips had to rally one last time, and it did — McCray hooked up with Davarius Bargnare on a big pass play, followed by a big rush on a keeper that brought the Panthers down to the University 12-yard-line. Two plays later, Alford crossed the goal line with 1:18 to play to give Dr. Phillips the lead for good.

A fumble on the ensuing Titans drive — forced by Japerri Powell — was recovered by Stephen Dix, to seal the victory for the Panthers.

Alford finished with two touchdowns on 123 yards rushing and McCray threw for 112 yards in addition to his rushing touchdown, though those numbers don't fully quantify all the things the transfer-quarterback did to help his team to victory.

"That's what you look for out of a senior captain and a quarterback," Wells said. "Devodney (Alford) made some really good plays."

Observer Preps correspondent Nate Marrero contributed to this report.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].