It’s no secret that Dr. Phillips’ senior group has played more playoff football games than any other class to come through DP. That experience combined with the will power of this week’s Athlete of the Week Japerri Powell has kept the Panthers in the playoff hunt once again.

Dr. Phillips High School is use to practicing during Thanksgiving week.

“I don’t remember the last time we were home for Thanksgiving,” Head Coach Rodney Wells explained. “It’s a Dr. Phillips tradition that we are here, that we practice.”

Wells’ team has reached the region final for the fifth straight year and is defending its 8A crown from a year ago. 

But to get to this moment it wasn’t easy. The team graduated 31 off that title team and  struggled during the regular season to go .500.

Now, the team is finding its stride and has found a way to stay alive in the playoff hunt-- credit to crystal clear mindset.

“Just to win a ball game-that’s it,” Senior Japerri Powell said. “I want to play hard for my team and not let anyone down.”

These past two weeks he hasn’t. Powell has barely stepped off the field and through his will power and desire to win—he has propelled this team.

“He knows he can, he thinks he can –he works for it and then he just produces on Friday,” Wells added.

Against the top seed in 8A Vero Beach, Powell went off for 150-rushing yards and scored the game clinching touchdown. He also recorded 12 tackles on defense and forced two fumbles.

“It’s my last year, just want to give them my all and have no regrets—want to leave it all out there,” Powell said.And while many discounted this DP team this post season, know that their pedigree has prevailed. And their playoff experience is the x-factor with the 21 seniors have played an extra 16 games in their career.

“We kinda are the underdogs but I mean we always been like that, so it’s nothing we just have to play harder every game. Gotta show everybody that we are meant for this and built for this, a playoff run is different,” Powell explained.

Dr. Phillips fell to Riverview Sarasota in the Region Final this past Friday, 33-7.