ORLANDO, Fla. — For just the second time in program history, the Dr. Phillips Panthers are headed to the FHSAA State Championship game. The full regulation time wasn’t enough to determine a winner Friday night between Dr. Phillips and Seminole Sanford as the Panthers escaped in double overtime, 37-34. Thanks to missed field goals and a pick-six by DJ Charles to start the second half, Dr. Phillips was able to upset the Noles on the road and hand Seminole their first loss of the season.
DID YOU KNOW: This is Dr. Phillips second time in program history in the state final game as the Panthers reached the title game 6 years ago in 2010. However, in 2010 the Panther lost to Miami Central. This time around, head coach Rodney Wells and company look for redemption and shot at the school’s first ever football state championship.
QUOTABLE: “It just a series of emotions. It has been an emotional week. Just to see these seniors advance and win that close game, because they’ve been on the other end of those one point and two point losses, it’s just so great to see them consistently work hard and get a chance to play for a state title. Hopefully, this just shows that we can overcome anything. They (Seminole) had a big swing when they got the onside kick then went up and we were down 11 or 12 points at halftime. So we could have gone in at half and tucked our heads but again it’s all about the seniors. It’s the best game we’ve ever played and one of the best I’ve been a part of,” said Dr. Phillips head coach Rodney Wells.
WHAT’S NEXT: For the Panthers, they are headed to Camping World Stadium next week. While Dr. Phillips and Seminole were battling it out, so were Deerfield Beach and Miami Southridge. The defense of Southridge appeared to be too much for Alabama commit wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and the rest of the Deerfield offense. Southridge won 26-7 which sets up a Dr. Phillips matchup in the FHSAA 8A State Championship game. The Spartans and the Panthers are set to play next Saturday night, December 10th, at 8pm at Camping World Stadium for a shot at a state title.
More
Less
