Dwyer Defeats Palm Beach Gardens

     The Dwyer Panthers held on to beat their crosstown rivals the Palm Beach Gardens Gators 33-25 at Mullinax Ford Stadium on Friday night. The Panthers topped the Gators for the ninth consecutive time.
     The first quarter started off slow with a 45-minute weather delay at the 8:01 mark. After play resumed, Dwyer(2-1) punched in a score with 1.6 seconds left as running back Bobby Armes ran over left tackle from one yard away.
     In the second quarter, Palm Beach Gardens(2-1) make it 7-6 with 2:31 remaining. Quarterback Chris Sancilio threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Armani Hayes near the middle of the end zone.
     The Panthers extended their margin early in the third quarter at 9:16. Wide receiver Rudy Antoine caught a pass on the left sideline from quarterback Trevor Omans and rambled in for a 65-yard score.
     The Gators tied the contest 13-13 just over one minute later. Sancilio lobbed a pass to the left side of the end zone and wide receiver Antonie Lane got under it for an 11-yard touchdown play.
     Dwyer responded on their next possession and got near the red zone on a 53-yard reception by wide receiver Derrick Smith to the Gators 21-yard line. Three plays later, Armes went around the left end on a wildcat formation and scored from one yard out with 6:14 to go in the third.
     Both teams combined for 25 points in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. Palm Beach Gardens was in striking distance and had the ball at the Panthers one-yard line. Sancilio scrambled to the left side and was stripped of the ball near the goal line. Defensive back Carl Willis returned it 99 yards for a touchdown and a Dwyer 26-13 lead with 3:05 left.
     Palm Beach Gardens responded on their next possession quickly and wide receiver Deonte Cooley capped the drive with a 32-yard touchdown catch from Sancilio with 2:19 remaining to close the gap 26-19.
     Dwyer moved it back to a 14-point margin with 1:07 to go. Armes busted through with his third touchdown run which was for 77 yards. The Gators did score a touchdown in the final seconds of the game.