Dr. Phillips rises to 12th entering region finals

No other team in the area has experienced the full spectrum of a high school football season in the same manner as the Class 8A defending state champs.

Despite entering the postseason with a 5-5 record, Dr. Phillips is on the move in the Sentinel Super 16 rankings after defeating previously-unbeaten Vero Beach, the top seed in Region 2, in the second round last week.

The Panthers, one of three ranked teams from the area to advance to region final games on Friday, are up two spots to No. 12. Wekiva remains at No. 1 after beating Apopka 28-7. Edgewater climbed from No. 4 to No. 2 on the heels of a 35-14 win at Tallahassee Lincoln.

Jones dropped one spot to No. 3 and Winter Park fell four spots to No. 7 following region semifinal losses.

It’s been the path of the Panthers that’s perhaps most unusual of all compared to the rest of the field.

DP’s regular season wins came against teams with a combined 16-34 record. Among those was a 35-18 win over Oak Ridge (6-4), the only opponent from that group to finish with a winning season.

Aside from a 31-28 setback to West Orange, the Panthers were blown out by Wekiva, Apopka, Daytona Beach Mainland and Georgia’s Lee County. Those five teams are a combined 45-13. Two are still playing in the postseason.

The Super 16 consists of teams in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and southwest Volusia counties. Team record and upcoming opponents are included with last week’s ranking, if different, noted in parenthesis.

Two small-school teams still playing, The First Academy (9-1) and Foundation Academy (9-2), are on the road Friday night. TFA plays at King’s Academy in West Palm Beach. Foundation plays at Victory Christian of Lakeland.

QB Larry Preston accounted for 4 TDs and Brandon Hill, Renardo Green and Jamari Jones intercepted passes in 28-7 win vs. No. 5 Apopka (8-4). Friday vs. Jacksonville Mandarin (8-4).

R.J. Harvey rushed for three touchdowns as Eagles scored 35 unanswered points in 35-14 win at Tallahassee Lincoln (7-5).

Friday at Jacksonville Lee (10-1).

Avarius Sparrow rushed for touchdowns of 78 and 59 yards in the first quarter in a 30-27 loss at Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (10-2). Season complete.

Eric Wright caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Darlington in the fourth quarter of 28-7 loss at No. 1 Wekiva (11-1). Season complete.

Lost in Class 8A region quarterfinal at No. 1 Wekiva (11-1). Season complete.

Lost in Class 8A region quarterfinal vs. Bradenton Manatee (7-5). Season complete.

Wildcats turned ball over four times on interceptions and yielded 403 yards of offense in 41-8 loss to Jacksonville Mandarin (8-4). Season complete.

Lost in Class 8A region quarterfinal at Jacksonville Mandarin (8-4). Season complete. Lost in Class 8A region quarterfinal to No. 5 Apopka (8-4). Season complete.

Seminoles did not qualify for Class 8A playoffs. Season complete.

Lost in Class 5A region quarterfinal at No. 3 Jones (10-2). Season complete.

Bryan Bell-Anderson finished with 12 tackles and an interception and Cameron Williams forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and tallied 11 tackles in 19-7 win at Vero Beach (11-1). Friday at Sarasota Riverview (9-3).

Lost in Class 7A region quarterfinal to Lakeland Kathleen (6-6). Season complete.

Chargers did not qualify for Class 7A playoffs. Season complete.

Rams did not qualify Class 8A playoffs. Season complete.

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Lost in Class 7A region quarterfinals to Jacksonville Lee (10-1). Season complete.