Dr. Phillips Women’s Swimming placed third in the field of 32 teams, with place-winners in ten of the 11 events. Highlighting the day was senior Angela Algee, who captured the gold medal in the 100 fly with a blistering time of 56.09, and anchored the silver medal-winning 400 free relay team with Cindy Cheng, Allie Magrino and Emily Kliewer (3:37.61). Algee also placed eighth in the 50 free (24.85) and swam the fly leg of the sixth place 200 medley relay team (1:52.44) with Cindy Cheng (back), Blake Broullire (breast) and Allie Magrino (free). In the 200 free relay, DP placed sixth with Rikki Price, Blake Broullire, Emily Kliewer and Sunny Zhu at 1:43.95. Emily Kliewer placed eighth in the 200 IM (2:14.96) and tenth in the 100 fly (1:00.19). Cindy Cheng finished seventh in the 100 back (59.44) and 12th in the 200 free (1:56.66). Allie Magrino placed ninth in the 100 back (1:00.15) and 12th in the 100 free (54.87) and Blake Broullire was 13th in the 100 breast (1:12.28) and 15th in the 100 free (55.57).
Men’s Swimming placed sixth in the field of 35 teams. Both freestyle relay teams highlighted the DP attack as the 400 free relay team of Ian Perkins, John Meisenheimer, Ian Supra and Evan Staton captured the bronze medal in a season-best time of 3:15.66, less than two seconds off the school record set just last year. Equally impressive was the 200 free relay team of Ian Perkins, Eduardo Macias, Evan Staton and Ian Supra, that placed 4th in 1:29.16, also less than two seconds off last year’s record pace. Individually, the Panthers placed in five events with Evan Staton taking eighth in both the 100 free (48.35) and the 100 breast (1:01.65) while John Meisenheimer placed eighth in the 500 free (4:51.68) and ninth in the 200 free (1:46.96). Ian Supra took eighth in the 50 free (22.43) and 14th in the 100 free (49.88) and Gabe Baytan rounded out the points for DP with a 13th place finish in the 100 breast (1:04.40).
On Friday, Senior running back Eric Harrell rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown, his fourth consecutive 100+ yard game, to lead DP to a 23-6 victory over visitiing Boone. DP (6-0) utilized a balanced attack with 466 all-purpose yards (170 rushing, 168 passing, 128 return) and quarterback Stephen Maloney netted career-highs with nine completions for 130 yards to give the Panthers the inside track to a playoff berth in the district. A victory over Cypress Creek (10/18) or Freedom (11/2) would clinch a spot for the seventh consecutive year.
After a scoreless first quarter which saw Boone fail to capitalize on consecutive field goal attempts, the DP special teams made the most of their opportunity. With 1:04 remaining in the second quarter, junior Deionte Gaines fielded a Boone punt at the 42 and turned on the jets, racing virtually untouched down the home side of the field for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead. Boone bounced back quickly with an 81-yard touchdown drive spanning just 59 seconds but a blocked extra point by Marcell Harris allowed DP to keep a 7-6 lead into the halftime break.
The third quarter had been a black hole for every opponent, with the Panther defense not allowing a single point through the first five games, and that continued against Boone. The Braves managed a total of six plays the entire quarter due in large part to the Panthers clock-burning, 88-yard touchdown drive that chewed up nearly seven minutes. DP took over possession at their own 12 midway through the quarter as a result of a penalty that negated what would have been Deionte Gaines’ second punt return for a score. Instead, Eric Harrell rushed for 32 yards and hauled in a 21-yard reception before pounding it into the endzone from two yards out to increase the lead to 14-6 at the 1:02 mark.
In the fourth quarter, with the outcome still in question, the Panthers’ special teams made a difference once again. With 10:17 left in the game, DP’s drive stalled at the Boone 48 and junior Ricky Buckner rocketed a season-long 47-yard punt that was downed at the Boone one yard line by sophomore Jamari Smith. On Boone’s first play, senior linebacker Damarrion Ginlack blasted through the line and buried running back A.J.Turman in the endzone for a safety. With a 16-6 lead, DP put the game away on their next drive after Marcell Harris’ return set the Panthers up at their own 45. Two plays later, Stephen Maloney hit Roderick Proctor on a slant and the junior broke through three defenders and bolted down the middle of the field for a 49-yard touchdown. With a 23-6 lead, the DP defense stuffed Boone on fourth down with just over five minutes left and again with two minutes to go when Marvin Brown sealed the victory with his first interception of the season.
