Senior running back Eric Harrell rushed for a career-high 167 yards and a touchdown to lead top-ranked Dr. Phillips to a 35-18 victory over host DeLand. DP (5-0) erased an early 7-0 deficit with 21 straight second half points to defeat the Bulldogs for the second consecutive year and remain undefeated in the four-game history of the series.
After a scoreless first quarter, DeLand marched 66 yards in 13 plays, converting a fourth and goal, to take a 7-0 lead on a three-yard scoring run by Jo Jo Kemp. On the ensuing kickoff Denzell Hanna gathered it in on the 21, ran up to the 24 then turned and fired the football back across the width of the field to Roderick Proctor at the 21. Proctor darted up the visiting sideline to the DeLand 40, broke two tackles and barreled his way into the endzone for a 79-yard touchdown return to tie the game at 7-7.
On DeLand’s next possession, Auggie Amone’s tackle in the backfield jarred the football loose. Kenderson Obas pounced on the fumble to set the Panthers up at the DeLand 18. Five plays later, Stephen Maloney lofted a pass into the left corner of the endzone for Denzell Hanna, who out-leaped the defender for an eight-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead. DeLand responded with a field goal before the half expired but the third quarter belonged to the Panthers.
On the opening drive, Eric Harrell took a second down handoff 24 yards down to the DeLand 28 before Marvin Marshall followed a tremendous downfield block by Hanna and lunged into the endzone for a 28-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 21-10. The Panther defense then held DeLand to a three and out and the offense set up shop at their own 32 but it didn’t take long to get back on the board. Eric Harrell took the first carry 12 yards to the DP 44 and two plays later, the senior punched through the left side untouched for a 56 yard touchdown, his tenth of the season, to give DP a 28-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter Kelvin Clue recovered a DeLand fumble at the DP 48. Eric Harrell went back to work, carrying six times for 49 yards, highlighted by a 28-yard scamper down to the DeLand two, before Deionte Gaines spun his way in from a yard out for a 35-10 lead with 8:41 left (see attached video). Harrell’s performance marks his third straight game rushing for over 100 yards. Roderick Proctor accounted for 123 all-purpose yards, and the Panther defense forced three critical turnovers, two of which were converted into touchdowns.
Dr. Phillips Women’s Volleyball closed out a strong tournament weekend with a 4-1 record and a runner-up finish at the Orlando Sports Complex. DP (13-5) picked ups wins vs. Sebastian River and Tampa Plant Friday and followed up with two victories Saturday vs. Bishop Verot (25-20, 25-19) and Vero Beach (25-17, 25-18) before falling to Olympia in the championship game (24-26, 25-20, 12-15). For the day, Briana Jackson tallied a whopping 70 assists and 29 digs, Hannah Schaible closed out with 24 kills, 29 digs and four blocks, Rachel Sawyer registered 21 kills and 29 digs and Kelly Rocklein tallied 19 digs.
At the prestigious FLrunners.com Invitational Saturday in Titusville, DP Women’s Cross Country placed sixth in the field of 24 teams. Seniors Bridget Blake and Amber Johnson both competed in the Race of Champions and both posted season-best times. Blake’s time of 18:41 was good for tenth place overall while Johnson came through the tape in 18:59, 18th place in the field of 149 runners. In the unseeded race of 180 participants, Sierra Middleton led the Panthers with a ninth place time of 20:44 followed by Abbey Baron (27th at 21:39), Anika Sison (44th at 22:15), Melissa Lore (55th at 22:39) and Amina Onyame (82nd at 23:15).
Adam Lawrence’s season-best time of 17:32 led Men’s Cross Country at the FLrunners.com Invitational Saturday in Titusville. Coulson Canty turned in another strong race, finishing in 18:21, with Tommy DiMauro (18:29) close behind. Jan Hildebrandt came through at 19:05 while Darren Warrington (19:46) and Marcus Murphy (20:53) finished out the field for the Panthers. As a team, DP finished in 28th place.
