PALM BEACH COUNTY – McKinley Rolle has led a huge turnaround mission at Dwyer.
In his second year at the helm, Rolle morphed the team from a 3-6 campaign in 2019 to a 5-1 final record in 2020. This included a 4-0 regular season that had an impressive 25-22 win over Pahokee in Week 1, a grind-it-out 28-18 win over Palm Beach County in Week 2, and two blowout wins over 2019 Lou Groza Team of the Year winner Palm Beach Lakes (43-0 in Week 3) and Suncoast (53-0 in Week 4).
The Lou Groza Award voters were quite impressed with Dwyer’s successful season, so much so that they chose the program as Palm Beach County’s Team of the Year.
The year’s top honor was announced virtually by Panthers alum Johnnie Dixon earlier tonight (Jan. 4) at lougrozaaward.com.
Dwyer won the Team of the Year award over fellow finialists Glades Central (5-1 final record), Jupiter (5-1 final record), and Park Vista (3-3 final record).
“It feels amazing,” Rolle said. “I’m happy for our young men. It was such an awesome group. I told them this was my favorite team to coach in all my years of coaching.”
Rolle had more to say about the 2020 Dwyer unit, which was led by senior quarterback and Lou Groza Player of the Year nominee Trevon Taylor.
“They brought great attitudes, were coachable, fought threw adversity and just made me extremely proud to be their coach,” Rolle said. “I’m so proud of them. And we have an excellent group of parents and guardians as well.”
Rolle also gave credit to his school’s superiors, which include Dwyer High School principal Corey Brooks.
“Our school administration showed up to every game,” Rolle said. “It’s great to have a built-in support system.”
NOTES: In six games that counted this season, the Panthers scored 177 points while allowing 81 in the process. It is the third time they have won the Lou Groza Team of the Year honor, with the other two victories coming in 2010 and 2013.
Other winners from the 29th Annual Lou Groza Awards Ceremony:
Coach of the Year – Rashad Jackson (Glades Central head coach)
Player of the Year – Alexis Guenson (Atlantic senior quarterback)
Placekicker of the Year – Jose Garcia (Glades Central senior kicker/punter)
One other thing: Dwyer was the only school to have nominees in all four categories, including Rolle (Coach of the Year), Taylor (Player of the Year), and kicker/punter Chance Gagnon (Placekicker of the Year).
PHOTO CREDIT: Lou Groza Awards and Palm Beach County Sports Commission
