Once again, Dillard pours it on, blanking Blanche Ely 35-0
FORT LAUDERDALE — Playoff-bound Dillard continued its recent dominance in the 52nd annual Soul Bowl with a convincing 35-0 victory over host Blanche Ely on Saturday night.
With its fifth straight victory over its rival, Dillard (9-1) extended its lead in the all-time series to 27-232. The Panthers have won the past three games by whopping 35-0, 38-0 and 60-14 margins.
Dillard coach Tyler Tate, who played for the Panthers from 20042007 and was never able to beat them as a player, now has back-toback victories over the Tigers (1-9).
“This game, the plan was to stay base,” Tate said. “We held some guys out so we can get healthy and our focus is on the playoffs right now. We wanted to come out here and make sure we got the guys to rest for the playoff run.
“Our guys did what they have been doing all year,” he added. “They came out here and took care of business.”
Dillard senior running back Method Bradley ran for two first-half touchdowns and senior DeVaughn Mortimer caught a pass for a TD and returned a punt for another to stake the Panthers to a 28-0 halftime lead.
Bradley scored on a 2-yard run with 10:32 remaining and followed that up with a 21-yard scoring jaunt up the middle with 6:03 left in the second quarter as the Panthers flexed their muscle.
Mortimer opened the scoring as he hauled in a 28-yard scoring pass from junior quarterback Armani Norcius with 3:57 left in the first quarter. Mortimer padded the lead with a 37-yard punt return for a score with 2:55 left before the intermission. Norcius finished the game 10 of 12 for 108 yards and a TD and was named Panthers’ MVP for the game. Blanche Ely’s Kamari Huggins was named Tigers MVP for the game.
“We have been grinding and working since Day 1 and it is paying off,” said Mortimer, who has 17 returns for TDs during his career at the school. “It would mean a lot to win state and go out on top.”
Dillard forced a running clock on a 5-yard run by junior Walter Jacksonwith2:23leftinthethirdquarter.
“Winning MVP is a big deal for me because I take the game of football very seriously,” Norcius said. “It would be great to win state because we haven’t won state in a lot of years and I feel like I am the one that can take us there.”