Top-ranked Dr. Phillips defeated No. 6 Freedom, 27-14, to win the Class 8A, District 5 championship in a game televised by Bright House Sports Network.

It was the Panthers' seventh-straight win over the Patriots, and 47 of 48 overall in the regular season.

Running back Eric Herrell was the BHSN Player of the Game for the Panthers (10-0, 3-0), scoring twice and gaining 105 yards on the ground.

Freedom was able to contain the high-powered Dr. P offense to 14 points in the first half, but the Patriots (7-2, 2-1) couldn't muster any points of their own and were down 14-0 at the break.

The Patriots got on the board in the third quarter when quarterback Jimmy Kealy connected with USF commit Jeff Badet for a score that cut the Panthers' lead to 14-7, but Herrell responded with his second touchdown of the game to make it 20-7.

Deionte Gaines added a 45-yard punt return for a touchdown to put the Panthers comfortably ahead for good, snapping Freedom's seven-game win streak.

The Panthers will head into the playoffs with momentum and will host games in the first three rounds, if they advance that far. Dr. P's first game will be on November 16 against Wharton. Freedom, as district runner-up, will face 8A-6 champion Plant in south Tampa in the opening round of the playoffs.

Click the link on the right for highlights and a recap of this game.