By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
POMPANO BEACH – Dillard football coach Dimitris Mincey has repeatedly made it clear the Panthers goal is to win every game they play.
As of Saturday’s 57th, annual Soul Bowl against Blanche Ely, Mincey to date has been true to his word.
Dillard senior quarterback Jayden Chico threw for 151 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Panthers to a 35-0 victory against the Tigers.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak against Ely and the shutout was the sixth all-time against the Tigers dating back as far as 1953. The shutout was also the fifth of the season as the Panthers (7-0) outscored their opponents 333-23.
Blanche Ely still leads the overall series 29-27-1.
“I was just glad we were able to execute,” said Mincey. “We haven’t won this game in four years and we’re able to get back on the winning side. No matter who we play we want to win the game. That’s our approach.”
Up by 21-0 at the half with a defense stifling that shut down Ely (3-3) senior quarterback Ladarius Smith, who rushed for 208 yards last week in a win over Deerfield Beach. He was held to 28 yards on carries 20 against the Panthers.
On the Panthers first drive of the second half Chico drove his team quickly down the field for a 14-yard scoring pass to Kyle Brown for a 28-0 lead. It was set up on a 53-yard pass to Anthony Carey to Ely’s 19.
Dillard quickly got the ball back following an interception by Kenny Brown. Six players later it was Chico to Christopher Tillman for an 8-yard scoring pass, upping the lead to 35-0 with 6:58 remaining that started the running clock.
“We came out after the half and made the game simple,” said Chico. “We dinked and dunked down the field that opened the passing game. We just do our thing. It’s us against everyone.”
Dillard scored on its opening possession, driving 75 yards on six plays with Chico throwing a 38-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Anthony Jennings with 8:13 left in the first quarter.
Carey added a seven-yard run early in the second quarter for a 14-0 advantage over the Panthers.
Jennings scored the first of his two touchdowns on the afternoon with a 59-yard punt return for a 21-0 lead.
“When I got the ball, I looked down the field and saw the left side open,” said Jennings. “Once I got the ball in my hands I just took off. We hadn’t beaten Ely in a few years, so it felt good to get the trophy back to Dillard.”
Dillard plays at Lake Worth Joaquin Garcia in a District 14-4A game on Friday. The Panthers defeated Garcia 30-0 last season.
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.