Throughout the season, people have criticized Dr. Phillips when several wins seemed a little too close for comfort. The noise only grew louder for the team ranked first in the state in 8A following a narrow 24-21 escape last week in the first round of the playoffs against Bloomingdale.
That doubt seemed to fuel the Panthers early on in their fourth straight postseason showdown with Plant High School. DP held Plant to less than 30 total yards of offense in the first half.
Setting the tone early was crucial as Dr. Phillips (12-0) went on to defeat Plant (10-2) 24-10 and book their ticket to the regional final.
“We don’t worry about people,” said DP head coach Rodney Wells on the doubters. “People have been doubting us forever. If we win a state title, they still are going to doubt us. All we’re worried about is the 70 guys in the locker room and our coaching staff. We believe in us.”
Plant looked like they might get back into things early in the third quarter. They forced two straight three and outs and scored twice to make it a seven point game.
Then the play of the game for Dr. Phillips happened when Daquan Isom returned the following kickoff 98 yards for the score.
“We turned the ball over and then they came back and scored ten points,” said Wells. “It’s a one score game until Isom broke their back with the kickoff return”
Isom finished with 20 carries for 89 yards and three total TDs, but it was that return that he will remember for a long time.
“It just really made me feel into the game, like shutting them down,” said Isom. “It seemed like they just gave up after that really.”
A game that stayed quiet on the offensive side for each team’s first two possessions, opened up with a big Plant turnover. Brooks fumbled the ball at their own nine yard line and two carries later Isom rumbled in for the first score of the game.
Dr. Phillips’ defense played lockdown football after that. They forced back-to-back three and outs that DP capitalized on with a 39 yard Isom TD run and a 32 yard field goal from Ethan Shafer.
Wells thought the defensive performance was one of the best he has seen in his tenure at Dr. Phillips.
“Other than the one we had here against (Plant) two years ago, that’s the best one that we’ve ever had,” said Wells. “Two years ago, the score was similar, it was 24-7 and we did not allow an offensive touchdown.”
If there was point of concern for DP it was their passing game. Senior
Rudy Norwood has had an up and down season and was just 1-7 passing for 15 yards.
As the games get tougher, Isom expects Norwood could be called on to play a bigger role in the offense.
”I think we will probably need a little bit more of a passing game,” said Isom. “A lot of people are going to start keying on me more and our running plays, but I’m going to still go hard.”
Wells is now 46-5 as a head coach and after tonight has the most wins in Dr. Phillips history. He does not focus on individual achievements, but as a DP alum, the success he has achieved at the school in the shadows of Universal Studios has a greater meaning.
“It’s a great thing because it’s my dream to be a head coach here,” “Having grown up right down the street and playing here, Dr. Phillips football has been a part of my life since I was these young kids age. It’s special in that aspect, but that’s not the goal. The goal is a state title.”
Dr. Phillips and Plant have now split their last four playoff meetings, with the home team taking each game. The four time state champions now return to Tampa while DP has dreams for a first state title alive heading into their showdown next week against perennial state power Manatee.
It is a challenge Wells knows will not be any easier than the rest.
“It’s going to be tough,” said Wells. “The name Manatee speaks for itself. When you talk about Manatee, you always talk about great coaching, great players and they have a history of sending players to college and a history of winning. At this point, like I said last week, anyone can win it and I know Manatee is going to be tough.”