By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Despite throwing three interceptions, Harmony was still a player in the District 8 flag football championship game against Dr. Phillips.

The Longhorns trailed just 13-6 and had the ball at midfield with a chance to tie the game or take the lead.

But, the defending champion Panthers picked off two more passes, leading to two late touchdowns, in a 25-6 win that denied the Longhorns a place in the FHSAA State Finals.

It was the fifth year in a row that Dr. Phillips (11-1) and Harmony (10-1), the three-time Orange Belt Conference champion, had met in the district final.

Panthers quarterback Hannah Schaible was a tactician, tossing four touchdown passes and rushing for 40 yards to keep other drives alive. The Longhorns trailed 13-0 in the first quarter before showing any life of their own on offense.

“We just got off to a bad start,” HHS Coach Paul Strauch said. “Hannah makes little mistakes look big with what she can do back there.

In the second quarter, after stopping Dr. Phillips at the one-yard line, Harmony got over half of its yards on one play. Quarterback Kaylee Horn hit Sage Leffew on a short pass, and the freshman made two defenders miss, then weaved 78 yards top the 1-yard line. Leffew scored three plays later.

Harmony’s defense forced Schaible into six straight incomplete passes to start the second half, but the Longhorns couldn’t string enough good plays together to tie it.

Strauch said his team’s effort didn’t match the final score.

“The girls played their butts off. I just didn’t call a very good game, and the girls didn’t make some of the plays they’ve made in other big games,” he said. “Some of our routes weren’t very good. It all came together.

“It’s too bad that two teams don’t advance, because I think we could go a long way in the playoffs, even against other district champs.”

Strauch will have to replace some important pieces to win a fourth OBC title. Horn, receiver/linebacker Tori Keelean and Payton Leffew and rusher Liane Montalvo are all seniors.