![Newberry overcame a valiant effort from Florida Deaf & Blind (St. Augustine) in the District 1A-4 quarterfinals on Mon. April 14, 2025 [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Newberry-overcomes-FSDB-in-1A-4-Quartefinal-Featured.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
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.
![Three generations of Garcia's pose for a photo from Hillsborough (Tampa) on Sunday, July 12 at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Fla. From left to right is Hillsborough Head Coach Earl Garcia Jr., Earl "EJ" Garcia IV, and Earl Garcia III. [FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-High-School-Football-Media-Day-Day-2-Photo-Gallery.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![The Durant Cougars (Plant City) hold up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Flag during the photo session of the 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers High School Football Media Day on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Fla. [FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-High-School-Football-Media-Day-Day-1-Photo-Gallery.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![Florida Deaf & Blind came up just short in a close effort in their District 1A-4 quarterfinal against Newberry on Mon. April 14, 2025 [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mondays-District-Tournament-Scores.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![Bradford (Starke) and Ed White (Jacksonville) are among the teams projected to win district tournament games on Tue. April 15, 2025 [Joshua WIlson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FPRI-Forecast-District-Tournaments-Tue.-April-15-2025.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
