Atlantic Tops Dwyer

     The only two undefeated schools in Palm Beach County faced each other in the final week of the regular season as the Atlantic Eagles defeated the Dwyer Panthers 32-21 on Friday night at Blum Stadium in Palm Beach Gardens. Both schools captured district championships last week.
     Both teams were in the same district last year when Atlantic finished ahead of Dwyer for second place and a postseason spot. The Eagles were upped to a higher classification this year while the Panthers waited over a year for payback.
     There was almost no scoring in the first quarter. Atlantic[lO-O] had a touchdown catch by wide receiver Corey Gammage negated midway through the period due to a holding penalty on their second possession. They did get up 6-O when cornerback Datrone Young intercepted a pass and returned it for a score with l.6 seconds remaining.
     In the second quarter, it looked like the Eagles had another touchdown when running back Shawndarrius Phillips fumbled the ball near the goal line and it was recovered by Dwyer. Atlantic was assessed numerous penalties on the play and the Panthers began the next drive at the 5O-yard line. Three plays later, running back Jakari Moses ran through the middle and cut to the left sideline for a touchdown to give Dwyer the lead.
     The Panthers extended their margin to eight points with l:ll left when safety Levon Barnett intercepted a pass at his own 6-yard line, circled into own the end zone, came out and stormed through the middle of the gridiron for a touchdown.
     The Eagles would finish the quarter strong as running back Lamar Washington cracked through the left side of the line for a four-yard touchdown with ll.6 seconds to go. Gammage caught a two-point conversion pass on the left side of the end zone to tie the game.
     Both teams scored late in the third quarter. Atlantic safety Maxel Wells intercepted a pass which led to Phillips scoring on a quarterback sneak around the left end on a fourth-and-three from the Dwyer seven-yard line at the four-minute mark.
     The Eagles moved out to a twelve-point lead with under thirty seconds left in the third as quarterback Zavion Thompson found tight end Ron Ulysee on fly pattern for a 6O-yard touchdown pass.
     Dwyer cut the deficit down to five points with ll:OO remaining in the fourth quarter when quarterback Toddy Centeio connected with wide receiver Isaiah Johnson, a University of Florida commit, on a nine-yard touchdown to the left side.
     Atlantic wrapped up the contest with 6:56 left as defensive end Dion Goldburne recovered a fumble in the Dwyer backfield and ran it back 6O yards for a score. The Eagles host the Wellington Wolverines in a regional quarterfinal next Friday. They met during the first week of the regular season which turned out to be blowout by Atlantic on their home field.
     The Panthers will play at home against the Blanche Ely Tigers in the first round next week. Dwyer had success with playoff routs at home against the team from Pompano during the regional semifinal two years ago and the regional quarterfinal four years ago.