Florida 8A North Semifinal Dr. Phillips at Wekiva

[DarterBlue]

In the regular season Wekiva shut down DP's defense on the way to a 14-0 victory. Where it mattered, DP used its more seasoned playoff experience to win in convincing fashion 28-7. It probably was not that close. 

On DP's first play on offense the running back took the ball straight up the middle for a 73 yard touchdown run. With 20 seconds off the clock DP was up 7-0. Wekiva's first drive stalled at DP's 29 yard line after it had been kept alive by a fake punt conversion and a 15 yard DP pass interference penalty. DP took the ball and marched down to the Wekiva 1. However, on 4 and goal, they elected to kick a field goad which sailed wide right. 

Both teams traded punts from there. However, on DP's fifth drive, with the ball on their own 29, the QB faked the hand off and kept the ball racing up the middle for a 71 yard score. At halftime, it was  DP 14- 0 over Wekiva.

Wekiva's first two offensive series in the second half ended in disaster as the QB was picked off twice, one for 6 and the other was taken back to their 30 yard line from which DP quickly converted on a fade route. So halfway through the third it was DP 28-0 over Wekiva. In the fourth quarter, Wekiva got their consolation score when DP fumbled the ball away at their own 30. Five plays later, Cavian Holmes, a former Blue Darter, took the ball in from ten yards out for the score.

Wekiva was to threaten again late in the fourth. However, the QB threw his fourth pick of the night deep in DP territory. DP too the pick close to mid field and proceeded to drive deep in to Wekiva territory but took a knee to run out the clock. 

This game was a complete turnaround from the first time the two met. Credit the DP coaches for coming up with a plan to move the ball effectively against a Wekiva defense that had been stingy in most of the games they had played.

DP will now be making its third trip to the state title game since 2010. They have yet to win one, but have a great chance as their likely opponent Atlantic (was leading Miami High late in the 4th), is good but not elite.