Dr. Phillips Flag Football overcame a 13-6 deficit with two fourth quarter touchdowns to defeat Tampa Robinson, 20-13, in the State Quarterfnal at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee. Quarterback Hannah Schaible eclipsed her school record with her 51st touchdown pass of the year but it was her heart that sent the Panthers back to the Final Four.
Robinson came into the game with one of the state’s most heralded defenses and drove down the field on their intial drive and took a 7-0 lead on an eight-yard scoring pass. DP (17-0) got on the board at the end of the first quarter when Schaible found Ashley Diedrich in the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown pass but the extra attempt failed and DP trailed, 7-6. In the second quarter, Robinson struck again when a short pass over the middle turned into a 50-yard score for a 13-6 lead. The score would remain the same as the thiird quarter came to a close and the Panthers, looking to repeat as State Champions, needed a spark. With under eight minutes left in the game, they got it. Schaible connected with Shya Garrett and the senior raced 12 yards and dove into the end zone to cut the deficit to 13-12 before Rachel Lopez hauled in the game-tying extra point pass. There was plenty of time left in the game, though, and Robinson took advantage, driving deep inside DP territory. On third and goal at the Panthers’ five yard line, Hannah Schaible stepped in front of a pass in the end zone and returned the interception nearly 40 yards to stymie the Robinson scoring threat.
The Panthers couldn’t convert on fourth down on their drive but the defense stepped up again and forced Robinson to punt with under three minutes remaining. It didn’t take long for DP to strike. Schaible took the snap, scrambled out of pressure, took off downfield and outran the Robinson defense for 60 yards towards the end zone. At the two, Schaible leaped into the air and just as her flag was about to be pulled, dove across the goal line for the go-ahead touchdown. For good measure, Schaible ran in the extra point conversion and the Panthers pulled out a 20-13 victory to advance to the Final Four for the second consecutive year and third time in school history. Schaible completed 16 of 26 passes and two touchdowns, giving her a record 51 this season. Malia Harrison caught a team-high seven passes and defensively, Daija Phillips and I’munique Green tallied five flag pulls apiece. DP will take on Duval County’s Baldwin High School at 10:30 am this morning. Should they win, they will advance to the State Championship game at 7:00 pm.
