By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – To earn a District 14-4A title the Dillard football team was required to play and win a pair of games in four days.
Led by a stellar defensive effort and a pair of interceptions by senior defensive back Javier Frazier, the Panthers were dominant in a 30-0 victory over Joaquin Garcia at home on Thursday.
With the win, the Panthers earned a No. 5 seed and will head to Fort Pierce to play one-time Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas standout Mickey Groody and No. 4 John Carroll (10-0) on Friday night.
“I told the teams we had a lot of guys out and needed to step up,” said Dillard coach Demitris Mincey. “That’s the name of the game. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. We had to protect home field advantage.
Got to win at home and execute. If we do that would come out on top.”
The Panthers (8-2, 4-0 in district) successfully did what was needed to complete regular season play.
Last time the Panthers ended the regular season with back-to-back shutouts was the 2018 season defeating Boynton Beach 41-0 and Blanche Ely 77-0.
Already up 7-0 following a Frazier 40-yard interception return in the first quarter, Dillard began dominating the trenches that helped gain momentum with the run game.
“Coach made a statement before the game, it’s win or go home,” said Frazier. “As a senior this wasn’t going to be the last game for me.”
The Panthers ran eight consecutive plays after a Bulldogs (7-3) punt on a drive the began at the Dillard 35 with 7:27 left in the second quarter. The ninth play from scrimmage resulted in a six-yard scoring pass from junior Andrew Stickney to Pierce Kinch-Young for a 14-0 lead with
After forcing the Bulldogs to punt, Dillard ate up the remaining 1:58 again using the run game. Eight plays later MJ Mincey 1-yard push into the endzone as the half concluded giving Dillard a comfortable 21-0 at the half.
The Panthers sealed the eventual victory when Stickney tossed a pitch and ran 76-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Anthony Jennings on the second play of the second half. Despite the missed extra point, Dillard led 27-0.
Kyle Aller added a 26-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for the Panthers.
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