By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Harmony’s flag football team is downright stingy.

The Longhorns gave up just 14 points over nine games following a dominating 33-2 win of Cypress Creek on Tuesday.

Being stingy is a good thing in flag football in this state, as the FHSAA is stingy with its playoff berths.

Only the top four teams qualify for the district tournaments, and only the champion of the District 8 tournament next week at Freedom High will advance to the 24-team  FHSAA playoffs, which begin  April 30.

Harmony upset Dr. Phillips (7-1), then ranked No. 2 in a FlaVarsity.com state poll, last Friday.

Freshman Sage Leffew’s interception return provided all the scoring in a 6-0 win that HHS Coach Paul Strauch was happy to get.

“That was a good win, but we’ve tempered the enthusiasm,” he said. “If we had a choice of beating them once during the season, it would be next week.”

The Panthers were missing several travel ball basketball players.

The Longhorns (9-0) claimed the district’s No. 1 spot with a 32-0 thrashing of St. Cloud (2-6) on Monday. Sage and Payton Leffew combined for four TD catches. Marie Gilbert added a touchdown, and Tori Keelean and Page Starcher had interceptions.

On Tuesday, Kaylee Horn threw four touchdown passes against Cypress Creek, three to Payton Leffew.

“We played pretty well offensively and took advantage of openings they gave us,” Strauch said. “We had a lull at one point where we weren’t playing our best but doing enough to win earlier in the season, but the girls have snapped out of it.”

On Tuesday, Harmony will face No. 4 seed Gateway (5-5), making its first appearance in the district tournament, at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers defeated Liberty, 13-7, on Friday to earn the final spot.

“Our record’s a bit deceiving, we played one of the toughest non-district schedules around,” GHS Coach Steve Robertson said of games against Seabreeze, Cypress Creek (both playoff teams) and Winter Park. “It helped us get ready for next week. Our kids are excited.”

Dr. Phillips will meet Osceola (6-2), No. 3 in the district and runner-up to Harmony in the Orange Belt Conference, at 6 p.m. Tuesday. OHS Coach Brian Lambert said his Kowgirls played all three teams in the tournament tough during the season.

“We played very well against DP (April 8). Brooke Hancock played her best game thus far at quarterback,” he said. “Our girls are looking forward to a very competitive district tournament.”

Tuesday’s winners will meet  Wednesday at 7 p.m. Harmony and Dr. Phillips have met for the last four district championships, with each winning twice. Admission to the district tournament is $5.