DWYER PANTHERS
Head Coach: Jack Daniels
District: 7A-13
2015 Record: 10-2
Offensive Formation: Spread
Defensive Formation: 4-3
RETURNING ATHLETES
• QB Toddy Centeio, 6-1, 205, Sr. (1100 passing yards, 10 passing TDs, 4 interceptions)
• RB Jakairi Moses, 5-10, 185, Sr. (144 carries, 1400 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs, 10 receptions, 136 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD; 2nd team FHSF Class 7A All-State Elite Team)
• LB Corey Dempsey, 5-11, 205, Sr. (70 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 interception return TDs, 1 blocked FG)
• CB Cedrick Dort, 6-1, 170, Sr. (26 tackles, 1 interception)
NEWCOMERS ON THE FIELD
• WR Austin Evans, 6-5, 205, Sr.
• OLB Emmanuel Yisrael, 6-0, 190, Sr. (103 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 fumble recovery TD, transfer from Oxbridge Academy)
• OLB/RB Raven Saunders, 6-1, 220, Sr. (22 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 4 forced fumbles, 36 carries, 101 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, transfer from Oxbridge Academy)
• OT Antawn Lewis, 6-5, 285, Sr. (transfer from Palm Beach Gardens)
2016 SCHEDULE
• Aug. 26 at Boynton Beach, 7
• Sept. 2 BYE WEEK
• Sept. 9 vs. Palm Beach Central, 7
• Sept. 16 vs. Palm Beach Lakes, 7*
• Sept. 23 vs. Palm Beach Gardens, 7
• Sept. 30 at Olympic Heights, 7*
• Oct. 7 vs. Wellington, 7
• Oct. 14 vs. Royal Palm Beach, 7*
• Oct. 21 at West Boca Raton, 7*
• Oct. 28 at Forest Hill, 7*
• Nov. 4 at Atlantic (Delray), 7
STORYLINES TO FOLLOW
Deadly duo: Toddy Centeio and Jakairi Moses combined for over 20 TDs and more than 2,000 yards in the 2015 season – and they are back for another year with the Panthers. The two led Dwyer to an undefeated in district record, averaging 32.2 points per game, on their way to the district title. Royal Palm Beach, the only team that gave the Panthers any trouble last season, lost several key players to graduation, so it appears that Dwyer will be able to win the district outright, once again. With no one standing in their way, look for Centeio, a Temple commit, and Moses to throw and run for more than 1,000 yards, respectively.
Linebacker lovin’: Yielding a district-low 56 points to district opponents last season, defense is a focal point of the Dwyer Panthers’ success. Linebacker Corey Dempsey led the team in tackles and sacks last season and even found the end zone twice on interception returns. Transfers Emmanuel Yisrael and Raven Saunders from Oxbridge Academy will complement Dempsey nicely as parts of the linebacking core for Dwyer this season. Yisrael led his team in tackles last season, eclipsing triple digits with 103 tackles on the year. Saunders, an NC State Wolfpack commit, is a threat on both sides of the ball, playing outside linebacker and running back. The trio of Dempsey, Yisrael and Saunders combined for 195 tackles last season, and will look to surpass that number this season, looking to lead an elite Panthers defense to the 7A playoffs.
Back on top: In 2013, the Dwyer Panthers finished the season 15-0 as the class 7A Champions. 2014 was a down year for the program, winning just seven games, the fewest in recent history. Last season, Dwyer returned to their previous form, winning the district and posting a 10-1 record in the regular season. In the playoffs, the Panthers snuck by the Blanche Ely Tigers with a 16-14 victory, only to be knocked out of the postseason by St. Thomas Aquinas. Coincidentally, the last time that the Raiders did not win the class 7A championship was 2013, the year that Dwyer won out. If the Panthers want to reclaim their position of supremacy atop of Class 7A, they must make it past the Raiders. With the addition of Yisrael and Saunders, Dwyer’s defense should be able to limit the St. Thomas Aquinas offense. If Dwyer gets the rematch they want, look for a high-profile clash between two of the top offenses in their respective classification.
KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME TO WATCH
• Nov. 4 vs. Atlantic (Delray) – Although this game comes at the end of the year, this is a rivalry game between the two schools. With both teams likely already securing playoff spots as this is a Week 11 game, this could be a time that some of the backups get to showcase what they have skills wise for the 2017 season. Overall, don’t count out either one making some kind of statement in the end.
KEY DISTRICT GAME TO WATCH
• Oct. 14 vs. Royal Palm Beach – Considering the district can be competitive for the playoff spots, the game against Royal Palm Beach is never a game the Panthers can take their eyes off. However, if the Panthers play a solid game, there is no doubt they can take control of District 7A-13 with this game.
AUDIBLE FROM THE COACH
“Our strength this season will be returning so many players with experience,” Head coach Jack Daniels said. “Last season, we were a very young team and this year we are coming back with a group of veterans. Spring season went well and our players were able to grasp our scheme and execute it in the spring game. We are looking forward to seeing our hard work in the summer pay off in the fall.”
THE OUTLOOK
After falling in the Regional Semifinals to St. Thomas Aquinas last season, the Dwyer Panthers are out for revenge. Jack Daniels has been to state championships before and has been victorious. He knows what it takes to win.
Returning nine starters on either side of the ball, along with the addition of three key transfers, Daniels has all of the pieces that he needs to put Dwyer back on top. Toddy Centeio and Jakairi Moses will put up their fair share of points for the Panthers. Both quarterback and running back should see their productivity increase based on two key newcomers to the team.
Centeio, who threw for more than 1,000 yards last season, will have 6-5 WR Austin Evans lining up out wide for him. Where Centeio may lack the height to see over the line, standing at just 5-11, Evans will make his job very easy for him, out-reaching most defensive backs in the area. Moses’ rushing yards should increase with the presence of OT Antawn Lewis on the offensive line, blocking for the shifty back.
The linebacking core of the Panthers should be able to rival any in Class 7A. Dempsey and the pair of linebackers from Oxbridge will pose a threat to opposing quarterbacks and running backs every night. And shut-down corner Cedrick Dort will keep the aerial attack contained.
Dwyer will most likely cruise through their regular season schedule, until facing Atlantic on the road in early November. A win against the Eagles would give the Panthers the confidence necessary to go up against any team in Class 7A.
But a win against Atlantic will be hard to come by, as will each and every postseason game in the Class 7A playoffs.
