Durant leans on passing attack in playoff win over Palm Harbor
PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA- Heading into Friday night’s Class 4M, Region 2 quarterfinal between Durant and Palm Harbor University, Michael Ryan has shown himself to be a solid player for the Cougars.
Ryan became the overall difference in the playoff matchup as it was evident Durant was going to lean on its passing attack throughout the evening.
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound junior quarterback had himself a night, completing 14-of-17 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns, leading Durant to a 33-0 win over Palm Harbor University.
Ryan seemingly was hitting a long pass on every other possession as the signal caller started to find a groove. Ryan put Durant (9-2) on the board first when he found sophomore wide receiver Treon Williams on a 46-yard touchdown pass in the opening quarter.
For a long stretch during the second quarter, both team's defenses dug their heels in and forced punt after punt. Though Durant and Palm Harbor University were getting first downs, drives would stall and created somewhat of a stalemate.
That scoreless period would last until just before intermission when Ryan would connect on another long scoring strike again. The Durant signal caller would find junior running back Emmanuel Lee out of the backfield on a wheel route and scored on a 41-yard touchdown.
Armed with a 12-0 lead at halftime, Durant then began to lean on that very big play passing game to build on the advantage.
Durant ended up building its lead to 19-0 when Ryan found the 6-foot-4 Chris Lankford on a 10-yard fade route for a touchdown with 2:02 left in the third period. The Cougars would never look back as they stifled a Hurricanes’ offense minus Gunner Fodor.
Palm Harbor University (8-3) had only a couple possessions where they seriously threatened to score and one last gasp midway through the fourth proved to be its best. On a fourth and goal from the 2-yard line, the Hurricanes were stuffed on a dive play going left, turning it over on downs.
The last offensive touchdown of the night came on a nifty 48-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to wide receiver Jayden Cornelius, who made a juggling catch before finding the endzone.
Turnovers also bit Palm Harbor as quarterback Will Seibert was picked off twice, one of them being a pick six by Durant defensive back Quentin Pope.
Defensive dominance was the theme of the night for a Cougars club that pitched their second overall shutout of the season with the other coming on Sep. 1, a 31-0 win over Middleton.
Now Durant will turn its attention to a rematch from the regular season against Sumner, a 33-28 winner over Riverview.
FHSAA 2023 CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 4M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 4S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 3M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl
