September 8, 2012

PJ Smith
FlaVarsity.com

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Dr. Phillips' veteran defense bent but didn't break, and despite a furious second half surge by rival Olympia, the visiting Dr. Phillips Panthers (2-0) surpassed the Olympia Titans (1-1) 31-18 in front of a packed house at Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida.

Big plays dotted this game, but the afterthought for most Central Florida fans will be a high-ankle sprain suffered by Dr. Phillips quarterback Alton Meeks in the third quarter. The injury to the Panthers veteran starter gave Olympia life after falling behind 24-10 with just over a quarter remaining, and kept the game within reach well into the deep depths of the fourth quarter.

Dr. Phillips struck first with a 23-yard pass to Roderick Proctor to go ahead, 7-0, but it wouldn't take long for Olympia to answer back. Star sophomore quarterback Deondre Francois led the Titans through the air just like he did a week ago against Edgewater, connecting on a 30 yard pass to get into DP territory before hitting receiver Joe Gallagher for a 20 yard score in front of a silenced DP crowd, tying the game at 7 a piece.

Dr. Phillips then drove 80 yards in 12 plays, a grueling drive that ate much of the second quarter, as senior Eric Harrell found an angle and sprinted into the end zone for seven yards to put the Panthers ahead, 14-7. A field goal would make the score 14-10 with less than two minutes remaining in the half, but Dr. Phillips capped a pass-heavy two-minute drill with an electrifying score by junior athlete Deionte Gaines to put DP ahead back ahead, 21-10. Olympia receiver Alex Gomez returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards to the Dr. Phillips 28, but the Panthers stingy defense and key plays by senior safeties Matt Milano and Marcell Harris kept DP on top by 11.

After a second half Dr. Phillips field goal, the Titans would close the gap to 24-16 but that's as close as this one would get.

Following the injury to quarterback Alton Meeks, senior backup quarterback Stephen Maloney completed a crucial 4th down pass near the Dr. Phillips sideline to Eric Harrell, and Marvin Marshall found pay dirt soon after on a 38-yard run to put the Panthers ahead, 31-16. Olympia would tack on a safety for the 31-18 final, and Dr. Phillips did just enough to hold Olympia late in the fourth quarter.

Many across Central Florida's six-county area believe this was a match-up of the area's top two teams, and I may be a believer. Both teams had speed to burn and could see very good results ahead on their schedules. Olympia will travel to Freedom (1-1) next week, which upset West Orange 31-28 tonight, and Dr. Phillips will take on Wekiva, perhaps without starting quarterback Alton Meeks.

Highlights of Big Games from Around the Area

Apopka (1-1) got past a very good Lake Brantley (1-1) team, 15-9, but the story of that game was an injury to Apopka quarterback Zack Darlington. The injury places the Blue Darters in an eerie situation after having transitioned to the passing game over the last two seasons. However, Apopka gained good yardage on the ground against Dr. Phillips in week one and should hang around with Olympia in their September 21st district showdown. Lake Brantley, which ended the 2011 regular season 10-0, should still be considered a final four contender along with Timber Creek, Apopka, Fletcher and Olympia out of 8A-Region 1.

Jones (2-0), fresh off of a 20-17 upset of state-ranked Lake Wales, did it once again, pummeling 6A #3 Mainland (1-1), 40-8. At 2-0, Jones has passed a huge test against two teams that most statewide pundits thought had their number. Levonte Whitfield and the Jones Tigers are a team to watch coming out of class 4A.

South Sumter (2-0) has now scored 132 points in its first two games of the season (66 ppg), as it drubbed East Ridge 55-13. Keanu Neal has been a beast on offense and defense for the Raiders, and the boys from Sumter County could see a up on several rankings around the state of Florida.

Freedom (1-1), which was blown out 31-7 by high-powered Timber Creek (1-0), surprised many with a 31-28 win going away over the West Orange Warriors. West Orange went ahead 21-0 in the first quarter, but Freedom closed on a 31-7 run to take the upset. The Patriots are led by senior wide receivers Jeff Badet and Lee Grant and figures to at least contend in a stacked district against Dr. Phillips and Boone.

Another surprise on the night was the victory for Asiantii Woulard and Winter Park (1-1). The Wildcats took down Edgewater (a deceptive 0-2 team), 26-13. Many questions will be answered next week when Winter Park drives down Orange Avenue to take on Orlando Boone (1-0).

Osceola (2-0) struggled somewhat for the second week in a row, but the Kowboys topped Bishop Moore, 28-14. Osceola hosts Palm Bay next week in what should be an exciting game, and could be favored in every remaining regular season game thereafter.

Oviedo (2-0), which tore apart Lyman 60-7 last week, won a closer-than-the-experts-thought 30-20 decision over Seminole County rival Sanford-Seminole.

Boone (1-0), which beat West Orange 37-34 in OT in week one, saw their match up against high-powered Timber Creek postponed for a later date in the future. That high-quality match up will pit Boone's senior leader AJ Turman against super-sophomore Jaques Patrick.

Other Scores

New Smyrna Beach 41 DeLand 35 OT
Evans 42 Cypress Creek 10
Oak Ridge 27 Lake Highland 17
Lake Mary 33 Winter Springs 0
Lyman 21 Lake Howell 6
Poinciana 46 Celebration 40
Gateway 22 Lake Minneola 16
Leesburg 21 Eustis 20
Colonial 36 Deltona 6
Mount Dora 21 Tavares 0
Orange City University 28 Spruce Creek 12