Down early, Dillard rips off 48 unanswered points, rolls

Dillard overcame a shaky start and used a pair of touchdown returns late in the second quarter to break open a close game and beat visiting Naples Lely 48-6 on Friday in a 6A regional football quarterfinal in Fort Lauderdale.

After Dillard fell behind 6-0, due in large part to 12 penalties and three firsthalf turnovers, the Panthers blocked a Trojans punt and had first-and-goal from the 2. However, penalties forced the Panthers backward and into a 43-yard field-goal attempt but they were then called for a false start.

Out of field-goal range, Dillard went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 30, and Zamir Jones fired a touchdown pass to Raphael Williams to take a 7-6 lead midway through the second quarter and change the game’s momentum.

Dillard (11-0) pushed the lead to 14-6 with under two minutes to go in the half on an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown by Devaughn Mortimer.

Lely (6-5) decided to pass on its next play and the Panthers defense made it pay as D’mon Brinson picked off the pass and returned it 51 yards for a 21-6 halftime lead.

On the first play of the second half, Patrick Bowen raced 80 yards down the left sideline for a 28-6 Panthers lead.

Jones tossed two more touchdown passes to make it 42-6 as Dillard rolled into the regional semifinals.

Treasure Coast trounces Santaluces in 8A: After completing a memorable regular season and winning the district championship, Santaluces had the opportunity to compete in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

Despite playing in front of their home crowd, the

Chiefs were unable to slow down the the running game of Treasure Coast, which scored on all five possessions in the first half as it cruised to a 40-0 victory in a Class 8A regional quarterfinal in Lantana.

Santaluces (7-3), ranked as the No. 4 seed in the Class 8A playoff bracket, faced a difficult test in the opening round of the playoffs against formidable No. 5 seed Treasure Coast (9-1). The Titans had lost just one game during the regular season, which was a onepoint defeat against unbeaten Vero Beach.

Treasure Coast executed all running plays and took four minutes off the clock during an eight-play, 55-yard opening scoring drive that was capped by a 2-yard touchdown run from senior running back Joey Fleurjuste to make it 6-0.

The Chiefs failed to get a punt off after a three-andout on their opening possession. The Titans took over at the Santaluces 37-yard line and capitalized with the short field. Jonius Watkins rushed for a 16-yard score to extend the lead to 13-0.

The Chiefs moved inside the Titans 40-yard line on their next drive, but Fleurjuste stepped in front of a pass for an interception and returned it to the Chiefs 15-yard line. Fleurjuste rushed for a 3-yard touchdown to push it to 20-0 with 11:33 left in the second quarter.

Despite being backed up inside its own 10-yard line, Treasure Coast continued to pull away with the biggest play of the game as Watkins broke free and went untouched for a score to make it 27-0.

Eden James added a touchdown run near the goal line late in the first half to extend the lead to 33-0 entering halftime.

Watkins fired a 20-yard scoring pass to Clifford

Dominique to increase the lead to 40-0 late in third.

“We went up against a phenomenal team,” Santaluces coach Brian Coe said. “We have not had the chance to be here in years as a school. For our kids to work as hard as they did is a blessing and I am proud of them.”

“It’s been a wonderful experience with the excitement in the community and the pride that has come back for former players and students. We are all proud of these young men and everything they have accomplished.”

Santaluces senior running back Val Carnegie led the Chiefs rushing attack in the loss.

Regional semifinal schedule Saturday

All start times 7:30, unless times subject to change) 8A