Dwyer Takes Second State Title

     The Dwyer Panthers finished an undefeated season with a 55-39 victory over the Niceville Eagles in the Class 7A championship game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Friday night. The Panthers captured their second state title after they won a previous championship in Class 4A back in 2009.
     Niceville(13-2) struck early in their first possession of the first quarter as quarterback Ashton Hooker finished the six-play, 60-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown through the middle at 9:53 for a 7-0 lead.
     Dwyer(15-0) responded quickly as they completed an 11-play, 65-yard drive for a score at 4:57. Quarterback Daniel Parr threw a screen pass toward the right side to wide receiver Ezra Saffold and he cut across the field to the left sideline for a 27-yard touchdown reception.
     The Eagles regained the lead 14-7 at 2:29 of the first. Running back Tayjon Culley rolled up the middle from one yard away for a score to close a nine-play, 65-yard drive.
     The Panthers clawed their way back on their next possession on a ten-play, 67-yard drive. Running back Alonso Smith, who had 219 rushing yards on 29 carries in the game, powered around the left end and reached the end zone from five yards out at 9:28 of the second quarter. Dwyer kicker Peyton Shapiro missed the extra point and they were down 14-13.
     Niceville continued to roll as they scored on their third straight possession to start the game. Culley scored on a 22-yard touchdown run as he broke through a several tackles after the line of scrimmage and rumbled down the left hash marks for an Eagles 21-13 lead with 7:43 to go in the second. It ended a seven-play, 63-yard drive for them.
     Once again Dwyer matched their opponent with their third consecutive drive for a touchdown. Saffold caught a 28-yard TD reception down the right sideline with 4:28 left in the second half. Parr failed to convert on a two-point conversion run toward the right side and the Panthers were still behind 21-19.
     During the first half, Parr had completed his first 12 passes of the game. Dwyer had a 310-195 edge in offensive yards and a 17-11 advantage in first downs at halftime.
     Panthers cornerback Shawun Lurry intercepted a Hooker pass and returned it 61 yards for a touchdown to give Dwyer their first lead of the game at 26-21 with 8:30 left in the third quarter.
     The lead changed moments later when Hooker threw a pass to the right side where wide receiver Aaron Willis took it 55 yards into the end zone at 7:45. The Tyre McCants two-point converstion run feel short, but Niceville had the lead 27-26.
     Dwyer wide receiver Johnnie Dixon finally made an impact in the game as he caught a 13-yard touchdown reception from Parr at 4:42 of the third to finish an eight-play, 72-yard drive. Saffold scooped up the ball in the front of the end zone on a two-point conversion pass to give the Panthers a seven-point lead at 34-27.
    Panthers inside linebacker Trace Batten made an interception on a screen pass to the left side at the Niceville 26-yard line and returned it 14 yards. Five plays later, fullback Gerald Hearns barely got the ball over the goal line from one yard out when he launched himself over the lineman with 1:02 left in the third quarter for a Dwyer 41-27 margin.
    On the first play of the fourth quarter, Hooker fired a pass down the left sideline and McCants sailed down the left sideline by safety Shawn Boone for a 69-yard touchdown. Zack Bailey missed the extra point as it hit off the left upright and Niceville trailed 41-33 with 11:48 remaining.
    Smith helped Dwyer with a 25-yard pickup to the Eagles eight-yard line on the ensuing drive. Parr capped the nine-play, 66-yard possession at 8:42 as he dashed around the left side for a four-yard score and extended the Panthers lead to 48-33.
    On the first play of the Panthers next possession, Smith staggered around the right end and through the middle of the field for a 53-yard touchdown run and increased their gap to 55-33 with 7:29 left in the fourth.
    The Eagles were deflated when safety Clint Stephens made an interception at the Panthers five-yard line and returned it 45 yards to midfield at the six-minute mark. Niceville finished the game on a positive note with 37 seconds to go as Culley jammed into the end zone on a one-yard run.