Dillard Remains Undefeated, Edges Columbus 21-20

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Posted on October 19, 2019 by Marcus Benjamin
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Fort Lauderdale — The scoreboard at Otis Gray Stadium displayed 16 seconds remaining as Columbus (Miami) lined up for an extra point that would tie the game with Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) and potentially send the game into overtime.  

The kick would sail wide right.

The 6A Dillard Panthers remain undefeated with a 21-20 victory over the 2018 8A state runner-ups in Columbus and continue to change the narrative surrounding the program.  

“This is huge for us because we’ve been down for a long time,” said an emotional Dillard Head Coach Eddie Frasier.  “We showed that we can win in various ways and this is the type of football we are going to need to play to win a state championship.”

After a scoreless first half, this was a back and forth affair with each team matching each other until the final moments.  Dillard would get on the board first with a two-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Zamir Jones to senior receiver Raphael Williams.  Jones extended plays with his legs and protected the football for most of the contest. On the ensuing possession, the Explorers would march right down the field and match the Panthers with a 10-yard touchdown catch by four-star receiver and defensive back Xzavier Henderson. Junior quarterback Craig Ros, in for injured starter Brandon McDuffey, found Henderson over the middle and the senior would reach the ball over the goal line to get his team on the board. The teams were tied at seven going into the fourth quarter.  

The play of the game went to senior running back Patrick Bowen in the fourth.  The Tennessee-Martin commit caught a short pass in the flat, tip-toed down the sideline, and cut it back across the field for an unofficial 54-yard touchdown.  


“In the past, once we get punched we might have laid down,” said Frasier.  “But these guys are different from what we’ve had in the past and I wouldn’t rather be with nobody but the group of guys over there.”

The 5’9” 170 pound 2020 running back (featured image), also has offers from UNLV and Utah but would like to stay closer to home for college ball.  

“I would like to stay close to home so my family can travel to see me play,” said Bowen.

Columbus would counter once again with another long drive that would conclude with Henderson’s second touchdown catch of the game, this one from 24 yards. 


After the Explorer’s score, the Panthers would make the home crowd roar once again with the first play from scrimmage.  Junior running back Leonard Shoultz (5’11” 180 pounds) broke through the line, broke a tackle and got to the end zone with his speed.  The extra point would give Dillard a 21-14 lead with 7:42 left.

“We’re that one-two punch,” said Bowen of his running mate.  “We always talk about it. We both run hard. He’s the bigger back but he’s got speed too.  I’m that scat back.”

After a 35-yard field goal was missed by Dillard with 3:57 left, the Explorers had one last chance to match the Panthers and would have to do it with their third-string quarterback.  Ros was knocked out of the game on the drive with a possible concussion and sophomore Fernando Mendoza was left with the responsibility to lead the Explorers on one final conquest. Mendoza would deliver making throws to his receivers and extending plays with his legs. A sixteen-yard touchdown toss to Pittsburgh commit Henry Parrish Jr. at the sixteen-second mark brought Columbus within one point.  


Columbus elected to tie with the extra point.  The Panthers contained Parrish for most of the night.

“Columbus has one of the best running backs in the nation,” said Frasier.  “That kid Parrish, it’s hard to contain him for a long time. Our guys did a great job in making plays when they needed to.”

Dillard (9-0) goes into the bye week before going to Blanche Ely (Pompano) for their last game of the regular season.  Columbus (4-4) will look to end their two-game losing streak against Coral Gables at Tropical Park.  

“We are at a much-needed bye week.  We’ve had nine games straight. We’ll get ready for our rival Ely.  That’s what we needed to do. Get to the bye undefeated and healthy. They gave me everything they had.  I’m so proud of them.”

About Marcus Benjamin

Marcus Benjamin works as the senior writer and editor for FootballHotbed.com. He attended Florida A&M and Florida Memorial University completing a bachelors degree in communications in 2010. He's covered high school football in the South Florida area since 2010 for the Miami Herald, Miami Sports Tribune and ShawSports.net. He is married and lives in Fort, Lauderdale, FL.
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