The last time Dr. Phillips High School made it to the football state finals was in 2010—and it has felt like eternity for the team.
This week’s Athlete of the Week Emare Hogan is one of guys that gets major cred for getting this group back there.
See Emare Hogan has always been the utility guy at Dr. Phillips—finding all kinds of ways to score—essentially at three different positions.
“When a guy comes and says ‘I’ll get in the end zone you just have to believe it,” Panthers head coach Rodney Wells said of giving Hogan the ball in critical situations.
And that’s what the senior did in the 8A State semifinal contest against Seminole— scoring twice in crucial situations.
“I just like to get the ball and get in the end zone,” Hogan simply stated.
His first six coming at the 8:35 mark in the third quarter when QB Marvin Washington found him deep in the corner to give the Panther’s their first lead of the game.
Then once more in overtime—scoring from the 10—to match the Noles score.
“Coach Wells came up to me and told me he was going to use me for my play capabilities so I just fought for my team and made sure I got in the end zone,” Hogan said of that overtime score.
“Since his sophomore year, when we give him the ball in critical situations through the playoffs he’s been carrying us and he’s doing a much better job as a senior,” Wells said.
Hogan is a part of a very special senior class at DP. The guys are home grown, come up through the Dr. Phillips pop warner together and are all carrying the same grief and heartache of the last three years shortcomings in the playoffs—knowing this shot at the title is the last one.
“We’ve always talked about how we are going to make it to the Citrus Bowl. This long road to states we’ve been on and we are finally here so I think it will be a priceless one,” Hogan said.
Dr. Phillips (12-2) will face Miami Southridge (11-2) Saturday evening in the 8A State Championship game at Camping World Stadium. Spectrum Sports will be broadcasting that game and all the state finals live on HD 1147.