FLAG FOOTBALL: Newberry overcomes Florida Deaf & Blind in thrilling District 1A-4 quarterfinal (w/video interviews)

NEWBERRY, Fla. — In a dramatic District 1A-4 quarterfinal showdown, the No. 4 seed Newberry edged out the No. 5 seed Florida Deaf & Blind (St. Augustine) (FSDB) 26-19 with a stunning last-minute touchdown on Monday night at Panther Stadium.

The Panthers’ victory came courtesy of quarterback Brandy Whitfield finding Avery Kinsey for a 59-yard touchdown pass with just 15 seconds remaining, breaking a 19-19 tie that had the crowd anticipating overtime. Whitfield sealed the win moments later with a game-clinching interception on the Dragons’ final desperation drive.

The back-and-forth contest began as a defensive battle, with Newberry’s opening drive stalling at the FSDB three-yard line. Both teams traded possessions until the Dragons struck first when Jocelyn Dagenais connected with Mariska Dize on a 42-yard touchdown pass with just 1:08 left in the first half, taking a 6-0 lead into halftime.

Newberry’s Sarah Beaulieu, who had already recorded an interception earlier in the second quarter, provided the Panthers’ first points when she hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Whitfield early in the third quarter, giving Newberry a slim 7-6 lead after the successful conversion.

The Panthers extended their advantage to 13-6 when Whitfield found Peyton Cremeans for a 39-yard score following Beaulieu’s second interception of the game.

The resilient Dragons responded with a 66-yard drive capped by another Dagenais-to-Dize connection, this time from 15 yards out, tying the game at 13-13 with 6:17 remaining.

Newberry quickly countered when Cremeans nearly scored on a 69-yard reception before being stopped at the one-yard line. Whitfield punched it in on the next play for a 19-13 advantage.

FSDB refused to go quietly, methodically working downfield before Dagenais found Annabelle Abenchucuan for a game-tying one-yard touchdown with just 33 seconds left. The failed conversion attempt left the score knotted at 19-19.

That’s when Whitfield and Kinsey connected on consecutive plays, culminating in the decisive 59-yard touchdown that propelled the Panthers into the District 1A-4 semifinals with a final score of 26-19.

The Panthers now travel to face No. 1 seed Bradford (Starke) in Tuesday night’s semifinal matchup.

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AFTER THE GAME INTERVIEWS

Florida Deaf & Blind Head Coach Chris Lennon

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Newberry Head Coach Ed Johnson