Deerfield Beach @ Dillard
WEEK 11 | 2024 SEASON
November 4, 2024
by Josh Zedner
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | “Panthers Maul Bucks”
Florida Man Sports is back with Week 11 coverage of the South Florida high school football season. The playoffs are almost here. These are the final tune-ups before we really get to the nitty gritty. Big time action is near. Tonight we had a showdown between the Deerfield Beach Bucks and the Dillard Panthers. Since winning a week 3 blowout against Stoneman Douglas, Deerfield has really struggled. They have lost 5 in a row, all in blowout fashion, but they were playing against incredible competition. Dillard has had a very nice season. They came into the game at 5-2, with losses only against Blanche Ely and Plantation, and were riding momentum from a shutout road victory against Boynton Beach.
Right away, 2025 QB and Navy commit Jaxson Jewell was under constant pressure for the Bucks. 2027 DB Tedrick Oatman had a PBU that forced a quick 3-and-out. Then 2026 DB Devin Simmons blocked the punt and the ball was recovered by 2026 DB Amari Brutus. The Panthers got the rushing attack going right away, with a reverse given to 2027 WR Anthony Jennings, followed by a first-down carry by 2026 ATH Christopher Tillman. 2026 RB Anthony Carey Jr. punched the ball into the endzone to finish off the drive.
More defense followed for Dillard, with highlights by 2026 LB Demitris Mincey Jr. (2 TFLs) and 2025 DTs Keanu Gray and Elijah Buck each getting sacks. Things just kept getting worse for the Bucks, looking like deer in the headlights against Tillman, and then a catch-and-run touchdown connection between 2026 QB Andrew Stickney and Jennings. After a couple of stalls by each team, the Panthers ran through more Deerfield defenders. Stickney and 2026 ATH Hammond Richemond each had first-down runs. Stickney then earned first downs with completions to Tillman and 2025 WR Andreus Madison. Tillman then finished off the drive with a touchdown run in which he juked out multiple defenders and got into the endzone untouched. At 21-0, this game was looking just about over for Deerfield.
After 2026 LB Quyis Daley forced a Bucks punt, the Panthers looked to extend their commanding lead. But 2025 OL/DL Daniel Roberson made a huge play, popping the ball out of the Dillard running back’s hands with a fumble recovery by 2026 WR/DB Ryan Reckley Jr. After a roughing the passer penalty, the Bucks were on the goal line, and Jewell delivered a strike across the middle to 2028 WR Damien Darling to cut the lead down to 14 in the blink of an eye. But just as Deerfield looked to be back in the game, Tillman had a huge return that put the Panthers in Bucks territory. Carey and Tillman then ran for first downs again, and after a pass interference call, Stickney had a touchdown toss to Madison, which was a nice play by both parties involved. 28-7 Dillard at the half.
The second half was pretty uneventful with Dillard in control of the game. Daley was making plays on defense. 2028 K/P Kyle Aller drilled a field goal. And in the 4th quarter, Carey found a seam, busted through gaps and galloped to the endzone in which he dodged a multitude of Bucks defenders. Jewell found Darling for another touchdown as a consolation at the end of the game to make the final score 39-13.
The Dillard Panthers move to 6-2 on the season. They were impressive in all three facets of the game tonight. So impressive that there were JV guys getting some varsity time by the end of the game. Stickney was competent as a signal caller, and he accomplished all that was needed with his arm and legs. That running back duo of Carey and Tillman is absolutely electric. Definitely one of the most underrated in the entire state. Madison and Jennings are quality weapons that are dangerous with the ball in their hands. That Panther defense was hungry tonight, with Buck, Mincey, and Daley all showing out on various occasions. Dillard will finish the regular season with a road game against Suncoast on Monday evening.
Deerfield Beach falls once again, now at 1-7. They were given a very tough schedule this season, but a loss is a loss. It was another tough showing on both ends of the field. Jewell was having a tough time getting anything going. The run game was almost non-existent. The defense was having trouble tackling all night. If there is any consolation, they may have a future star at receiver in Darling, as the kid is only a freshman and will likely only get better with years of experience. Deerfield will finish the regular season with another tough challenge against a good Cardinal Gibbons team on Thursday.
FINAL SCORE:
Dillard beats Deerfield Beach 39-13
About Josh Zedner:
Joshua Zedner is a beat writer covering high school football for Florida Man Sports. A native of Miami Beach, he attended Florida International University before finishing his undergraduate Business Administration degree at the University of Florida. Josh is an avid Miami sports fan, and he also writes a music review blog as a passion project under the @AlbumAnalysisWithZ handle on Instagram.
