FORT LAUDERDALE — With Corridor of Fame huge receiver and Dillard 1990 alumnus Isaac Bruce in attendance, senior Christopher Tillman scored on a 64-yard punt return and arrange one other rating with a 61-yard interception return as host Dillard rolled to a 39-0 win over Orlando Dr. Phillips within the Broward County Nationwide Showcase on Friday night time.
With the offense struggling early to maneuver the ball, Dillard turned to its protection and particular groups.
Tillman’s interception and 61-yard return with 52 seconds remaining within the first half flipped the sector and led to the Panthers’ first rating. Dillard took a 7-0 lead with 23 seconds remaining within the half on a 23-yard scoring move from senior quarterback Jayden Chico to junior wideout Anthony Jennings.
“It felt nice,” Tillman mentioned. “I used to be within the second, and I did what I needed to do for my staff. I play either side of the ball, so I simply did what I needed to do.
“I used to be good to see him (Bruce) right here,” Tillman added. “It acquired us all overrated.”
Dr. Phillips’ head coach Rodney Wells mentioned Tillman’s interception and return was the turning level and led to extra self-inflicted wounds.
“It was a type of issues the place you simply want a play,” Wells mentioned. “That decide was a 14-point turnaround. We might have scored, they usually ended up scoring. The pick-6 they’d was sort of demoralizing.”
He mentioned the staff could have gotten caught up within the distractions of South Florida.
“It was completely different,” Wells continued. “We spent two days down right here and stayed in a lodge. They went to all completely different locations, so the sport wasn’t the main focus. That was my downside, and I might see it. We talked to the fellows about it. We have been right here to play a soccer sport and never go to Dave and Buster’s and eat dinner earlier than we play a soccer sport.
“We’ve some younger guys who actually didn’t perceive that,” he mentioned. “Clearly, that’s not who we’re, and it’s as much as me to repair it.”
Dillard prolonged the result in 14-0 on a pick-6 by senior Kenneth Brown masking 28 yards with 7:54 remaining within the third quarter. Dillard padded the result in 21-0 on a 64-yard punt return by Tillman.
Senior linebacker Kennedy Davilmar recovered a Dr. Phillips fumble, and Dillard shortly capitalized to push the benefit to 27-0 on a 5-yard toss to senior Anthony Carey with 2:12 left within the third. Dillard acquired two extra scores within the fourth on a 2-yard run by Chico and a 39-yard scoring run by senior Cordell Coffey to drive a working clock.
“We depend on our protection,” mentioned Dillard coach Demitris Mincey. “We’ve eight returning starters again, and we knew that there have been going to be a variety of pregame jitters, and quite a bit was occurring between the ceremony and the delay.”
The sport began at 10 p.m. because of two lengthy climate delays that pushed the kickoff again two hours.
“We instructed them to relax and calm down,’” he added. “As soon as we settled down, we performed our model of soccer. I consider in our protection 100%. We made it final yr to the second spherical and misplaced to (American) Heritage final yr, and our aim is to make it to that second. Our offseason was to concentrate to element. We’re constructing brick by brick, daily.”
It marked the inaugural sport performed on the brand new synthetic turf discipline bearing Bruce’s identify at Otis Grey Jr. Stadium. Bruce, who had his No. 80 jersey retired in a pregame ceremony, additionally donated $10,000 to the Panthers’ athletic program.
The state-of-the-art stadium was made doable due to a $250,000 grant from the Miami Dolphins, the NFL Basis, and the Native Initiatives Help Company.
Dr. Phillips completed final season 12-2, falling within the Class 7A state semifinals. Dillard is coming off a 9-3 season and misplaced to the eventual Class 4 state champion, American Heritage, within the regional semifinals.
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