Story
Boyd Anderson 6, Dwyer 3: One late mistake on defense costs Panthers
Friday, November 23, 2012
by
Steve Dorsey
Dwyer played near-flawless defense for all but one play Friday night, and it cost the Panthers dearly.
Richard Lopez took advantage of blown coverage by Dwyer's secondary and snagged the game-winning touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter and then made a game-ending interception Friday night to preserve Boyd Anderson's 6-3 victory over state power Dwyer in the Class 7A regional semifinals.
The win advances the Cobras (9-2) to a regional finals showdown against St. Thomas Aquinas or Plantation next week.
"One thing we talked about all week was mental toughness," Boyd Anderson coach Wayne Blair said after the Cobras recorded their second consecutive playoff victory against a Palm Beach County team. "I'm so proud of everything they've done."
Dwyer's defense was stellar for most of the game and consistently pressure Boyd Anderson quarterback Greg Hankerson, sacking him or tackling him for a loss nine times. But one mistake cost the Panthers.
Lopez sneaked behind the Dwyer secondary and Hankerson connected with him for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 5:33 remaining to give Boyd Anderson a 6-3 lead.
"Miscommunication," Dwyer defensive coordinator Bobby Sifrit said of the play that effectively ended the Panthers' season. "I really feel for the seniors. We just gave them the ball too many times, too many three-and-outs."
Neither team generated much offense, and Dwyer held Hankerson and the Cobras' offense in check for most of the game, limiting Boyd Anderson to 73 yards of offense. But that one miscue by the Panthers' secondary allowed Hankerson to deliver the game-winning pass.
Dwyer had a chance to tie or win the game when the Panthers got the ball back with 2:56 remaining. But Lopez intercepted a desperation pass by Dwyer sophomore quarterback Daniel Parr on the final play of the game to secure the victory and a berth in the regional finals for Boyd Anderson. It was the fourth interception thrown by Dwyer.
Dwyer's smothering defense completely shut down Hankerson in the first half. Hankerson, who entered with more than 2,200 yards passing and 25 touchdowns this season, completed only one pass for no gain and threw an interception in the first half as Dwyer sacked the Cobras quarterback five times.
Boyd Anderson was held to minus-13 yards total offense in the first half and had only two first downs.
Dwyer's offense also struggled for most of the first half, but a 33-yard pass completion from sophomore quarterback Daniel Parr to junior Ezra Saffold set up a 32-yard field goal by Peyton Shapiro. The only score of the first half was set up by an interception by Dwyer junior Johnnie Dixon on Boyd Anderson's second possession.
Dwyer's Clinton Stephens is tackled by the Boyd Anderson defense during the first half of the Panthers' 6-3 loss on Friday night (Photo by Scott Fisher)
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User Comments:
Send them home!!!!!!! commented on November 24, 2012 at 4:07 a.m.: report abuse
Wow!!!!!!!
"State Powe my a...." commented on November 24, 2012 at 6:38 a.m.: report abuse
Couldn't win their district
Couldn't beat AHS... A Div 3 team
Please stop insulting us with the Dwyer worship
4 interceptions........ Reticle your article. 4 Interceptions
Real Fans commented on November 24, 2012 at 6:55 a.m.: report abuse
Dwyer defense was great last night. Keep your heads up, and don't listen to this non playing idiots on this blog. You're a State Power House.
@ Real Fans commented on November 24, 2012 at 8:40 a.m.: report abuse
WTD is NOT a State Power those teams will meet in Orlando, Fl for the Title in a few weeks!!!!!! Did Dwyer have time out or was the score board wrong?
@ Real Fans & all other WTD fans commented on November 24, 2012 at 8:50 a.m.: report abuse
I have been saying it for almost two decades..... Until WTD wins with their own kids they will never gain the respect from other schools in the county or the state!!!!! Time for the Boyz from the Raw 2 come now. Anytime they have 2 coach it has even a done deal( WTD fans stop me when I'm not telling the truth baby). You can't not playa soft schedule each year and then play at the top level in the playoffs. Look at the schedule of Manatee over the past few years. Not only top state talent; but some of the best teams in the USA. We would like 2 hear your comments:)
Need some commentary commented on November 24, 2012 at 9:52 a.m.: report abuse
I took my kids to the game last night, although I don't know all that much about football. I needed a commentator to explain to me (1) why Dwyer didn't kick field goals when they were in range in the first half; (2) why the clock didn't stop in the last 2 minutes when the receivers seemed to go out of bounds (at least they crashed into the players on the sidelines); and (3) why Dwyer didn't use its last time out to stop the clock at the end and maybe save time for one or two more plays. Not criticizing. I just don't understand.
Please commented on November 24, 2012 at 9:57 a.m.: report abuse
Man Parr threw 4 interceptions he worse than I thought
That team Dwyer played last night was the worse team they played all year and Parr looked that bad SMH
Field Goals Win Games commented on November 24, 2012 at 10:53 a.m.: report abuse
Dwyer had a State Defense it just didn't have a State Offense. Plain and simple
Disappointed Dwyer fan commented on November 24, 2012 at 11:32 a.m.: report abuse
Wrong QB, Bad Coaching, and terrible decision making. 4 interceptions.... Come on now. All those times the team was in FG range and you just kept going for it... That has not worked all season for this team.
On a positive note, you boys have a big future ahead of you and it's only the beginning. Congrats to a great season!
Dwyer fan commented on November 24, 2012 at 11:46 a.m.: report abuse
The refs didn't help good luck to the 30 seniors that Dwyer lodt
Old jock commented on November 24, 2012 at 12:48 p.m.: report abuse
The ball on the 25 is at least a 42 yrd FG. Takes a strong leg. WTD needed to take advantage of BA quick pursuit with more screens,underneath routs,rollouts,etc.. When it was third and short at the end and clock still running, can coach get a measurement or call time? Clock needed to be stopped. WTD was better team. Tough loss. Easy to call from the stands.
Dwhy ER Review commented on November 24, 2012 at 1:46 p.m.: report abuse
The Defense is and has been state champ caliber. Last 4 weeks each team had strong offense against most any other team. But all 4 of those teams offense was smothered by swarming, tough hitting Dwyer D. Offense problems start on the sideline. Poor decisions, slow signal scaling, and lack of "team" direction from coaching staff has doomed O all year regardless who was under center. O line is undersized but plays tuff. Backs and receivers have better than average speed and skill and several are back next year. QB issue is resolved. Nittolo and family will move on to another school they can manipulate. Parr will mature as a junior and improve his accuracy to his JV performance level (his only 2 varsity starts were intense playoff games) but... coaches must change their play calling and move O to play as a unit.
Dwhy ER commented on November 24, 2012 at 1:51 p.m.: report abuse
Typo: slow signal calling
Dwhy ER commented on November 24, 2012 at 2:05 p.m.: report abuse
One final comment: let's please remember these are high school BOYS ages 15-19. If Nittolo tosses his helmet in frustration excuse him. He wants to play like any other kid his age. If Parr throws 4 interceptions he is learning and will learn from his mistakes. I guarantee those 2 boys and their teammates are kicking themselves today and feel like they let each other down. They wanted to be able to pay again next week. We can criticize the adults but should support the BOYS.
True Dwyer Fan commented on November 24, 2012 at 4:41 p.m.: report abuse
Much LOVE to Dwyer players! Keep yor heads up!
True Dwyer Fan commented on November 24, 2012 at 4:46 p.m.: report abuse
Much LOVE to Dwyer players! Keep your heads up!
@Dwhy ER commented on November 24, 2012 at 5:07 p.m.: report abuse
What I don't excuse is a player yelling and cursing at his teammates on the sidelines because he didn't get to play as much as he thought he should or crying on the sidelines when the other kid playing the same posiiton does something good on the field. That behaviour is not team supportive and should have been removed from the sidelines.
ok ok commented on November 24, 2012 at 7:28 p.m.: report abuse
Ok you must not know Dwyer there have been fist fights between players and players and Coaches this year Yea talk about behavior you have no clue
did you here the crowd yelling put Nittolo in? AGAIN!
Transfers commented on November 24, 2012 at 11:56 p.m.: report abuse
When kids leave one school to go to another, watch out! There is a reason and its usually not a good one. Jack should have kicked field goals you think he would of learned from the Heritage game if he had kicked them then they would have won. C.O.Y. my vote is NO
Doonie commented on November 25, 2012 at 2:19 a.m.: report abuse
Im so glad someone else saw that the coaching was horrible friday nite. How can everyone in the stands see that Dwyer had 1 timeout left but no "smart" coach on the sideline saw that??? Smh. Thats ridiculous. Those boys played their hearts out for a stupid simple mistake by not prepared coaches. And #13 will be even better next year after spring with the varsity team. #11 can kick rocks. Rude Nation
Stat keeper (Game facts) commented on November 25, 2012 at 4 p.m.: report abuse
(1)Dwyer did not have a timeout left they used their last one on 4th down to make Boyd Anderson punt with the clock stopped. (2) The ref has to think the ball is close enough to the first down to stop the clock and measure which clearly he did not. (3) The official blew the whistle stoping the ball in the field of play marking forward progress before the runner was going out of bounds causing the clock to continue running. (4) Dwyer never punted the ball once they pass their opponets 40 yard line. (5) Boyd Anderson average starting position was on their 39 yard line. (6) Boyd Anderon was penalized 40 more yards than Dwyer.
Coaching Coach commented on November 25, 2012 at 4:17 p.m.: report abuse
Dwyer will continue to beat local teams but the State Power House days are over. They will make the playoffs again next year but it will be hell to get pass the second round for the next few years. Jack has to develop "his" kids now. He has coached at the Dwyer for 16 years they have only been "good" for maybe 6 years. The first 10 years he was decent at best. Benjamin, Jupiter Christian, Palm Beach Lakes, Jupiter, and Cardinal Newman don't have any more kids to pick from those school are drained of talent. And all of the Gardens players are staying at their home school. And because Dwyer is no longer getting out of state national televise games nobody out of state is moving here to play. Welcome to the wide world of even playing field. Now go back to school on monday and start getting the juniors at your school ready for the off season training!
Coaching Coach commented on November 25, 2012 at 4:23 p.m.: report abuse
I will say this you do get who ever plays for you in school so you are great at that. And I hope you do a great job with that again this year because #24/7, #3, #89, #22, and #23 are going to need it because either they're undersized at their position or didn't get enough playing time to make film worth sending. #9/99, and #15 will not be hard to sell.
@Coaching Coach commented on November 25, 2012 at 4:50 p.m.: report abuse
#3 is a junior and has an offer from FSU. Pretty sure he will be just fine. #89 is not a scholarship player. Div III player at best. #22 is a Div II player and #23 is a Div II player maybe. #24/7 is good enough to be a MAC Conference player or Sunbelt Conference player but will probably have to go JUCO route due to grades.
The truth commented on November 25, 2012 at 6:21 p.m.: report abuse
Jack played who he wanted to get recognized.
@ok ok commented on November 25, 2012 at 7:20 p.m.: report abuse
Put him in the game????? After that behavior, they should have requested his pads and shown the way to the stands for the rest of the game.
Dwyer fan commented on November 25, 2012 at 11:14 p.m.: report abuse
Dwyer had one of the best backs in the county this year.....
running for another team.
Shows how much coaches @ the Ridge untilizes him
Either the coaching staff a Dwyer had bad blood with
Him or Daniels jest wanted to play favorites.
Courtney lawrey, Alonzo smith, couldnt tie that
Kids cleats.
Dblock commented on November 25, 2012 at 11:16 p.m.: report abuse
If dwyer had a running game they may have
Won.
The truth commented on November 26, 2012 at 8:24 a.m.: report abuse
Its over. Get over it n move on!!! You cant undo what happen u just have to move forward. That game made all the seniors look bad!
misunderstood commented on November 26, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.: report abuse
Wow.....there is alot of talk and controversy about #23.You talking what you don't know. #23 has worked hard and put in time and still no respec. It's so sad he got a lot of haters for whatever reason. Been onvarsity since freshn year. I guess he was sold a lie took while for playing time I see. One thing for sure when you good people always got something to say. #23 is a good RB.
jayf8ch48 commented on November 26, 2012 at 12:58 p.m.: report abuse
Congratulations to the coaches and players of William T. Dwyer HS. It was a good season! Thank You, I enjoy watching your games win or lose! I will return next Fall and look forward to watching next year's team. Good Luck, to the graduating seniors of the 2013 Class as they move on in their life!
To the "Haters" out there who enjoy criticizing coaches and players annonymously you need to get a life! The trash you write is unfounded! I read so much negativity about high school sports but specifically so against Dwyer HS This goes on every season. There is always such delight when they lose. High School athletes in Palm Beach County have great freedom to move from school to school. I personally do not agree with this much freedom because it is often manipulated by parents, but it is the set of rules everyone is expected to play by. If you do not like the rules of the FHSAA and local school districts do something about them! If you have a evidence any school has operated outside the rules come out of the darkness into the light and state your case to the proper officials. Opinions are like azzholes everybody has one. Constipation in the form of jealousy can be treated! Please, see a doctor and get some help! Its easy to hide in the shadows (without identity) and take shots!
@misunderstood commented on November 26, 2012 at 10:18 p.m.: report abuse
#23 has been on dwyers varsity since fr. Year and still had not an 1000 yard season
.... That's sad. Even more disappointing, an under classman took the RB
SPOT and had more yards.... An less carries ps. Can't hate on someone who hasn't done nada.
whatever commented on November 27, 2012 at 1:14 p.m.: report abuse
@The person talking about an underclassman taking spot.
I guess you didn't take note of the gentleman's last comment at the end. Good to know you keep up with the stats then you should know he missed a few
games due to illness and why you attacking that player personally. Stop the madness that's defamation of character.
to the one who came @ misunderstood commented on November 27, 2012 at 3:59 p.m.: report abuse
#23 is going to be alright either way no matter how much yardage he made, Don't worry about #23.
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