On an evening where thunderstorms caused delays across Central Florida, the Dr. Phillips offense took awhile to heat up against Timber Creek. The state’s 3rd ranked team in 8A found their rhythm though at the end of the 1st half and never looked back.
Rudy Norwood hit Mike Macon for a 32 yard strike with seven seconds until halftime to take their first lead since the opening drive and held the Wolves offense scoreless in the final 24 minutes to win 24-13 at DP. Daquan Isom had over 100 yards on the ground and one touchdown to lead the Panthers.
DP head coach Rodney Wells said the way the game played out early on was strange.
“We just woke up,” said Wells. “We just started to play. We started to realize that these guys aren’t going to go away. ”
On their first drive of the second half, the Panthers kept the momentum going. They ran off an 11-play drive to start the third that was capped by a 23 yard run to the endzone for Alvin Bryant
Early on, it looked like Timber Creek might get revenge for last year’s 35-0 shutout at home. They controlled the clock and a Wolves defense that gave up 28 points per game last season, looked much improved.
Timber Creek running back Jacques Patrick was held around the 100 yard mark in this matchup last year, but did eclipse that mark tonight. Still, the Dr. Phillips defense did a good job of limiting big plays from Patrick.
“When you have a guy that’s 6’3” 240 and can run that fast and that elusive you just have to coral him, said Wells. “Our strategy was to gang tackle and not let him get his feet going early. Once he gets downhill, he’s a load. He’s like an NFL running back right now.”
Up next for the Wolves is their home opener against Boone. Dr. Phillips heads down the road to take on Olympia.
Wells says the Panthers will not take the Titans lightly.
“That’s another rival game. They are right up the street. That was our toughest game last year. I’m just looking for a clean game and to fix the mistakes that we made tonight.”