Quick start helps Dillard football outlast Miramar in mistake-filled contest

Unintentionally the Dillard football team tried to erase a seven-point lead, while Miramar wasted all its opportunities to tie or take a lead.

In the end, Patriots quarterback Kael Alexander came up short on a fourth down play when he stepped out of bounds at the Panthers 21, while attempting to run for a first down with 48 seconds left in regulation.

Despite 197 yards in penalties and two turnovers, Dillard survived with a 14-7 victory over the Patriots Saturday night in a non-district game at Dillard High.

The victory kept the Panthers (2-2) from a third straight loss, something they hadn’t endured since 2017.

“We had lost the last two games and we got back in the winner’s circle tonight,” Dillard coach Demitris Mincey said. “It was a hard-fought game, but we have a lot of things to clean up.”

Miramar (2-2) had numerous opportunities to alter the momentum but squandered each. Alexander threw four interceptions, two by Javier Frazier.

Both of his picks came in the end zone that stopped potential Miramar touchdowns. Samuel Brown and Datron Rhodes also had drive stopping interceptions.

Dillard took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of lengthy drives.

The first went 83 yards on 13 plays with junior Hammond Richemond running in from three yards for the touchdown with 6:31 left in the opening quarter.

After forcing Miramar to punt, the Panthers went on another long drive, this time 68-yards on eight plays, with junior quarterback Nylan Maine finding Edward Louis in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown.

The Miramar defense hadn’t allowed a touchdown in nine straight quarters prior to the two in the opening quarter.

The Patriots had outscored their opponents 110-0 during that span. However, the last two teams they played have a combined record of 0-7-1.

In only the eighth meeting vs. Dillard since 2005, the Patriots lost three straight to the Panthers prior to Saturday night, including 35-7 last season.

Finally, the Patriots pulled themselves together with a quality kickoff return and a Dillard 15-yard penalty that started the drive at the Panthers 14.

One play later Alexander tossed a perfect pass on a timing rout to senior wide receiver Eric Nelson for the touchdown, cutting the deficit in half at 14-7.

Overall, the opening half was sloppy on both sides, taking nearly two hours to play.

Dillard committed 15 penalties for 132 yards. Both quarterbacks combined for 41 pass attempts, 18 completions and three interceptions.

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