For the News-Gazette

Harmony’s Marie Gilbert had a choice Wednesday: attend the regional track meet in Tampa, where she qualified for the 400 relay, or cast that season aside and play for the district championship in flag football, and the third title she’s been a part of this year.

She chose ... wisely.

The senior caught four touchdown passes and intercepted another on defense as the Longhorns moved to 10-0 on the season with a 27-0 win over Gateway in the District 12 championship at Osceola High School.

The win, the Longhorns’ third in six years, sends Harmony into a first-round playoff game today at University, a 14-13 overtime winner in the District 11 championship Wednesday, at 4:30 p.m.

Harmony last won the district title in 2009, Gilbert’s freshman year, before losing to Dr. Phillips in the final the last two years.

“Last time we won feels like longer than two years ago, so this was important to me,” Gilbert, who also was part of Harmony’s championship volleyball and basketball teams this year, said. “We really came together.”

Quarterback Sage Leffew and Gilbert hooked up on a short pass that Gilbert turned into a 25-yard TD play after weaving through the Gateway defense on Harmony’s first offensive play. The two hooked up again on an 18-yarder just before halftime to make it 14-0.

Leffew found Gilbert behind the Panther defense and hit her on a 35-yard pass in the third quarter, and Gilbert intercepted a pass on Gateway’s next drive that set up the final score, a 1-yard catch.

Leffew said the win was a total team effort.

“The defense really set the tone,” she said. “Now the goal is to beat whoever we play next. We want to win state, and we can do it one step at a time.”

The defense allowed the Gateway offense to cross midfield twice and recorded six sacks, five by Kaley Page.

“We just played together and everyone did their job,” Page said. “We’ll do well in the playoffs.”

HHS Coach Paul Strauch said he was impressed with his team’s play in the first of what he hopes to be the first of a string of elimination games.

“This wasn’t an easy game. We just played really well,” he said. “Gateway played an incredible game (Tuesday), Steve’s (Robertson, GHS’ coach) done a great job with them. We just came out focused and it showed on each play.”

Robertson saw his team blank Osceola in the semifinals Tuesday, 27-0, as Tiffany Charneco passed for two scores and ran for two others. Jaleisha Peterman and Christy Folk each caught a TD pass and made an interception.

“(Harmony’s) been there many times before. Their experience showed, and our inexperience showed. Harmony definitely was ready and they played a great game,” Robertson said.

The Longhorns beat Poinciana, 50-0, Tuesday.

If Harmony wins today, it will likely travel to defending state champion Dr. Phillips Tuesday in the second round.