Dwyer 53, Hollywood Hills 0: Matt Elam scores 4 TDs to lead Panthers' rout
Friday, November 20, 2009
by Andrew Abramson
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The Panthers' Matt Elam scored on a 63-yard run on the game's second play and Dwyer never looked back, crushing Hollywood Hills 53-0 in the Class 4A regional quarterfinals Friday night.
"I said, 'They're in trouble' when they decided to kick to us," Elam said. "I knew the first time I touched the ball I was going to score."
Elam finished with a career-high 234 yards on just 11 carries to go with four touchdowns. He spent the pre-game with his teammates watching video of last year's state semifinal loss to Tampa-Plant, and said the entire team was fired up from the start.
Elam, who has made an oral commitment to the University of Florida but is still weighing other options, was taken out of the game early in the third quarter after he scored his fourth touchdown to put Dwyer up 41-0.
What would have happened if he stayed in the game?
"I probably would have broken some records," Elam said.
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But it was Elam who set the tone, busting out for scoring runs of 63, 59 and 30 yards. And this is just Elam's first season at running back after playing receiver and quarterback in previous years.
"He's strong, fast and tough," Dwyer coach Jack Daniels said. "We thought he'd be good at running back, but not this good."
He might just be good enough to lead the Panthers to their first state championship. Next up is a road game against Fort Lauderdale-Stranahan.
"We're together and we want it," Elam said. "We know how it feels to lose, and I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen again."
. I don't know if we have a true SS ine the past few classes. OJ is one, maybe Wood, but he could be either... Elam IS, and to take him from UF? Wow. We have had some GREAT DB classes lately, this one should be on par, but could also be the best in the last few years.
