By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Harmony’s flag football season ended Tuesday, but for nearly three quarters of the second round regional at Dr. Phillips, it looked like it would be the defending state champion Panthers who would make an exit.

The Lady Horns (11-1) led, 7-6, and were 14 yards away from adding to that lead, but a turnover at the goal line and a three-touchdown Panthers’ rally over the last 12 minutes led by quarterback Hannah Schable lifted Dr. Phillips to a 25-7 victory.

Schable accounted for all four Panthers touchdowns, running for the first score and throwing for three more. She hit Rachel Lopez from the Horns 5 for the most important TD of the game late in the third quarter, giving the Panthers a 13-7 lead.

“They could feel the pressure in the first half,” Harmony Coach Paul Strauch said of the Panthers, 16-0. “But, they are a team with a lot of great athletes. Hannah is definitely going to play Division I basketball, and they have two or three others who will play in college.”

Harmony quarterback Sage Leffew, who had 147 total rushing and passing yards, hit 6-of-7 passes for 51 yards on the opening drive of the game, capping it with a 3-yard TD pass to Stephanie Baur. Baur also had a 16-yard reception to put HHS in scoring position. Kaylin Woodring caught the PAT pass from Leffew to make it 7-0.

Schable ran 3 yards to pull Dr. Phillips within one on the next series.

Leffew’s 22-yard pass to Julia Ingler along the sideline at the Panthers’ 16 set up another scoring opportunity, but the Horns’ drive ended at the 12 after two incomplete passes. Leffew’s interception at the Dr. Phillips 33 put Harmony in scoring position again, but Dr. Phillips picked off an option pass at the 1.

Strauch said those missed chances were the key.

“We had three opportunities in the first half, and scored once,” he said. “We played well, but it’s those little things that make the difference. We had ‘em on their heels.”

Harmony had one more chance to cushion its lead when Marie Gilbert intercepted Schable on the first possession of the second half, but Harmony punted and Dr. Phillips scored on consecutive possessions to lead 19-7.

Strauch said his team played well.

“For the past eight years, either they have ended our season, or we have ended theirs,” Strauch said. “There aren’t many teams around here who can say that. We don’t have all the great athletes like they have here. We just have a bunch of girls who play their hearts out and make the most out of their ability, and I’ll take that every time.”

Dr. Phillips goes to Tallahassee Friday for the state quarterfinals.

The Lady Longhorns advanced to the second round by blanking University, 19-0, Saturday. Lauren Bishop filled in for Leffew and passed for a pair of touchdowns.

Gilbert had a pair of interceptions and caught a TD pass, and Rachel Davis anchored the defense.

“Lauren did a great job of stepping up on offense,” Strauch said. “Our defense set the tone by not allowing University to get in a groove. All year we talked about being ready to step up and Lauren and Rachel did just that.”