Payne ignites Wekiva in run to state semis
returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown and
passed for 147 yards and three TDs as the undefeated Wekiva Mustangs sealed a girls flag football state tournament berth with an 18-7 victory over visiting Dr. Phillips in Monday night’s Class 2A, Region 1 final.
Payne took a lateral and sped down the DP sideline on her punt-return score on the last play of the first half to spark a Wekiva comeback after the Panthers built a 7-0 lead.
caught eight passes for 77 yards and two TDs for the Mustangs (15-0), who play Tampa Alonso, a 20-0 winner over Valrico Bloomingdale, in a state semifinal Saturday afternoon at Boca Raton High School. The championship game will be later that day. Dr. Phillips finished 13-2. Wekiva earned its first final four trip in the sport by keeping DP’s offense off the field in the second half. Wekiva had an 18-11 edge in plays in the second half.
Boles completed 19 of 29 passes for 147 yards and two TDs. The Mustangs attacked Dr. Phillips’ deep defense by hitting underneath passes and slipping past defenders. That eventually set up long passes. She also completed passes to five different receivers.
“We had to focus,” Boles said. “Most of us came into the game nervous. We had to overcome obstacles.”
completed 7 of 18 passes for 63 yards and ran for 42 yards and a TD for the Panthers. But Wekiva also intercepted her twice.
outdueled a DP receiver for a pick that set up the Mustangs’ final score.
Three local programs are at the doorstep of the state softball final four in their class as they enter region final games tonight.
Mount Dora Christian Academy needs a win over visiting Vero Beach Master’s Academy at 7 p.m. to return to the Class 2A state tournament for the third straight year.
Cornerstone Charter (18-10) is playing in a Class 3A region final for the third time in five seasons after avenging playoff exits each of the past two years against Lakeland Christian.
The Ducks prevailed 7-2 over the Vikings last week.
CCAplayed against larger-class schools in all 18 of its non-district games this season.
Montverde Academy is chasing a return to the state tournament for the first time since finishing runners-up in Class 4A in 2016.
a former All-American softball pitcher for both Port Orange Spruce Creek and Alabama, and longtime Central Florida contest official
are in the eight-member FHSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2018 to be inducted in the fall.
Dunne, now the head coach for Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, set high school state records for strikeouts in a game with 38 in 17 innings vs. Lake Mary and in a season (later broken) with 461. She pitched 20 career nohitters for Spruce Creek and led the Hawks to a 2006 state title.
Cannady is a basketball and football referee who has worked 2,600-plus contests over five decades, including six basketball state championship games.