Dwyer has talent to make run at a repeat title

Saturday, December 19, 2009
by Jason Lieser

Dwyer's Nick O'Leary can't reach this third-quarter pass from Jacoby Brissett. (Photo by Greg Lovett / The Palm Beach Post)

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After his team closed out a 42-14 win over Niceville in Saturday's Class 4A championship game at the Florida Citrus Bowl, Dwyer quarterback Jacoby Brissett announced where he wants to spend next December.

"Same spot," he said, flashing a grin. "I think we'll be back next year."

Brissett is one of six 2009 starters who will be seniors next season and that group could fill up to nine first-string positions depending on how many play on both sides of the ball.

Dwyer (14-1) might never top what coach Jack Daniels labeled the best team in school history, but the Panthers still have enough returning talent to make a title run in 2010.

"To have a season like that where we blew so many people out, I don't think that's going to happen again, but we do have some pieces coming back," Daniels said. "We've got a lot of work to do, but maybe we'll get the chance."

Tight end Nick O'Leary, pass rusher Curt Maggitt and Brissett already have BCS offers in hand.

Brissett, who also stars on Dwyer's basketball team, will be the area's top returning quarterback next year. In 15 games this season, he completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 2,212 yards and 25 touchdowns against just seven interceptions.

The Brissett-O'Leary connection resulted in five completions for 106 yards against Niceville (13-1), and the duo will be problematic for defenses next year as well.

"He's probably my favorite target," Brissett said of O'Leary.

O'Leary was mostly a complimentary player in 2009, but Dwyer will need him to transition into a starring role next season.

"I know what I've got to do and I'm going to do it," he said.

Maggitt led the Panthers with 13 sacks this season and already is one of the most highly recruited defensive players in the nation. He likely will need surgery on his torn left labrum and could miss spring practices, but expects to make a full recovery by next season.

In addition to the six returning starters, the Panthers also bring back reserve linebacker Leroy Kelson, who was second on the team with 56 tackles in the regular season. Kelson was all-state as a sophomore for Inlet Grove before transferring to Dwyer this year.

The Panthers also will bring back one of the area's best kickers in Bobby Puyol, who nailed a 23-yard field goal Saturday and sends most of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks..

"We need to do a lot of work, but we have the foundation to be really good again," defensive coordinator Bobby Sifrit said.

"We have three or four positions to get covered on defense, but we played so many backup kids this whole year and no one was scoring on those guys, either."

Could this scene be repeated in Orlando next year? (Photo by Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)

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