Lane's interception return sparks Dwyer
PALM BEACH GARDENS — On their fifirst play, Dwyer High’s defenders made it clear they would bully around the Palm Beach Gardens offense Friday night.
Antavious Lane jumped a route and intercepted a pass near the line of scrimmage, returning it 27 yards for a touchdown, and the Panthers (4-1) rode that momentum to a 42-7 rout of the visiting Gators (3-2).
Lane, a Post Super 11 pick and Florida Atlantic commit, was part of a Dwyer blitz effort led by defensive ends Daniel Foster and Ishmael Goulbourne.
Friday was Foster’s fifirst start at defensive end. Usually a linebacker, Foster credited his teammates on the defensive line for helping him transition. In the third quarter, he helped thwart one of the Gators’ only promising drives with a 12-yard sack of quarterback David Studstill.
“We’re really physical and I like physicality at linebacker already, so at D-line it’s physicality every play and I love it,” Foster said.
Dwyer defenders consistently chased Studstill out of the pocket. He fifinished 3-for-16 for 50 yards, with three interceptions.
The pass rushing helped give Dwyer’s defensive backs chances to make plays. In addition to Lane’s game-opening interception, Colbein Clayton added a pick-six of his own and another interception that ended the fifirst half.
Dwyer coach Jack Daniels said his secondary has impressed all season.
“We have a very talented secondary and they understand the schemes that we’re putting together,” Daniels said.
Daniels said the Panthers have a number of defenders capable of making plays. It helped on a night when Daniels said his offense largely struggled, despite contributing three touchdowns.
He singled out struggles with penalties and the running game. Dwyer fifinished with nine penalties for 97 yards and managed only 79 rushing yards.
Quarter back Gio Richardson, another Super 11 pick and FAU commit, was a bright spot for the Dwyer offense. Richardson ran for a 1-yard touchdown on the Panthers’ fifirst drive and finished the game 14-for-22 for 138 yards. His 41-yard pass to Myron Levy set up the Panthers’ second offensive touchdown, a 5-yard carry by running back Bobby Armes offff a direct snap.
“We never seemed like we really got in rhythm,” Daniels said. “We had, I think, a good initial drive and got points and then we just kind of sputtered around and got some holding calls and never really established the running game.”
The Gators managed their only touchdown when Antonio Outler took a pitch from Stud still andjuk ed past defenders for a 10-yard run in the third quarter.
But the Panthers quickly answered when Tanner Franklin returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.