DR. PHILLIPS PANTHERS

2015: 9-4, 8A District 5 Champion

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015, lost to Osceola in Region Final

Head Coach: Rodney Wells, entering 6th season (55-9)

Key Returners: WR Emare Hogan (893 rushing, 4 TDs), QB Marvin Washington (1027 passing, 10 TDs), LB Dylan Meeks (158tkls, 9tfls), DE Robert Porcher IV (92 tkls, 32 tfls, 11 sacks), OLB Nick Smith (91 tkls, 24 tfls, 6 sacks)

The Scoop: After a gut wrenching one point loss to Osceola in the region final Dr. Phillips yet again bowed out before reaching the goal. This year the team returns 11 starters and a senior group that is homegrown, stronger and much wiser. This fall the Panther’s offense will be spearheaded by UCF commit QB Marvin Washington, who has a star studded group of receivers, including USF commit Emare Hogan, around him ready to spread the field.  On defense it’s a three headed monster of Dylan Meeks, Nick Smith (N.C. State) and Robert Porcher IV (Nebraska) leading the pack. Expect the group to come out hungry and ready to prove a point right off the bat.

Quotable: “Now they all are seniors and we’ve got strong leadership—that’s what we’ve been missing for a little while.” –Rodney Wells of his senior group

Over the past three seasons a total of five points have kept Dr. Phillips away from making the elusive state championship game appearance.

“I think we lost one point vs. Tampa Plant three years ago,” Coach Rodney Wells explained.

“The year before that it was Manatee and we lost by a field goal, three points and then last year another one point loss. So it’s just little things and it’s finishing with this group and they’ve all seen all three of those games and been a part of them so I think they get it now.”

That class coach wells is referring to is his seniors—a group he‘s seen so much promise in since day one.

“Now they all are seniors and we’ve got strong leadership—that’s what we’ve been missing for a little while.”

It helps that this group is the first, in a long time that is home grown--with the majority of the 12th graders having played together in the panther program since freshman year or even earlier.

“The guys in my class have been together since we were young, not just a high school thing,” Marvin Washington said.

“We played middle school basketball from pop warner to AAU basketball –same kids play with on my high school team so it’s more of a bond and brotherhood.”

That brotherhood is the foundation to the panther’s success ---and shortcomings---something that will be tested once again this fall.

“Coming through the program all four years we’ve really meshed together. We’ve been molded together, we’ve come together—some people have left, some have come but I feel together we’re a solid group that can make a big run into the playoffs,” CB Sydney Capers said.

Despite the panther’s tight losses throughout the playoffs and last season-- the growing pains certainly have left marks but also helped build up a gritty identity.

“We’re doing something right, we are almost there.  Just trying to figure out what that last push is for us to get far—we know what we have to play through to get to states every year it’s there—we’ve got the team, the defense, offense just got to keep working to get there,” Washington added.

2016 Schedule

Aug. 19 vs. Jones (Kickoff Classic)

Aug. 26 vs. Wekiva

Sept. 2 vs. Lake Mary

Sept. 9 vs. West Orange

Sept. 16 at Apopka

Sept. 23 at Mainland

Sept. 30 vs. Oak Ridge*

Oct. 7 BYE

Oct. 13 vs. Freedom*

Oct. 21 at Olympia*

Oct. 27 at Cypress Creek*

Nov. 4 at Evans