Western scores game’s first 13 points

MIRAMAR — Western senior defensive back Websley Etienne intercepted a pass with 1:57 remaining in the game to seal a 13-9 victory over host Miramar on Friday night.

Etienne, a verbal commit to the University of Buffalo, stepped in front of Miramar wide receiver Devin Ordonez and picked off a pass from quarterback Travis Delaney on a 4th-and11 pass from the Western 35-yard line to give the Wildcats (8-2) their sixth straight victory.

Western entered the game averaging 40 points per game but found the going tough against Miramar.

“This was a great test,” said Western coach Adam Ratkevich. “They are a district championship football team. They play great football and it was a big win for us on their home field.

Western struck first when they drove 67 yards in four plays. Western quarterback Collin Hurst opened the drive with a 43-yard completion to Jullian Lewis and three plays later found Tyreik Thorpe for a 19-yard score with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter.

The Wildcats capitalized on Miramar’s first turnover of the game when Delaney was sacked and the ball squirted free and Western’s Jaylin Marshall recovered on the Miramar 44.

After an incompletion, Hurst hit Lewis on consecutive passes covering 23 yards, and three plays later Nelson Walker broke through the middle for a 21-yard score with just 53 seconds remaining.

Miramar got the ball back and following a penalty that put the ball on the Patriots’ 9-yard line, Desmond Reid started around left end and broke three tackles at his own 30 before cutting across the grain and scored on a 91-yard run to pull his team within 13-7 with 12 seconds remaining in the half.

Until that time Miramar could hardly muster any yardage. They had minus 27 total yards. Reid wound up with 14 carries for 108 yards.

Hurst had 161 yards passing in the first half and finished the game 13 of 18 for 197 yards and a score. Walker finished the game with 18 carries for 119 yards and a score. Lewis hauled in six passes for 148 yards.

Miramar coach A.J. Scott said the game gets them ready for the postseason.

They were coming off backto-back 40-point wins by shutout.

“Western is a great team with a great coaching staff and we already knew we had to bring everything we had and we did,” Scott said. “The best team won tonight. They played a great game and we have to get better if we want to go all the way.”

Scott pointed to the opening drive of the second half that swung the momentum back in Western’s favor. The Patriots took the opening kickoff and ran 14 plays, which consumed 8 minutes, 14 seconds, and had nothing to show for it when Delaney’s fourth-down pass from the Wildcats’ 34 missed its target.

“We had the ball for a long time, a long drive and you always want to finish that with a touchdown, and that kind of hurt,” he said. “We did get some more opportunities and we lost. It starts with me as a head coach and I have to do a little bit more to get us to the next level.”

Miramar did cut into the lead in the second half when Walker was tackled in the end zone for a safety with 11:34 left in the game.

After holding Miramar on its next series, Western then drove 14 plays from their own 14 to the Patriots’ 2-yard line. On the next play, Hurst went up the middle and appeared to cross the goal line, however, the officials said he fumbled and Miramar’s Jordan Roye recovered for a touchback with 3:42 remaining in the game.

“At the end of the day, that’s football,” Ratkevich said. “The refs do the best job they can. I am just proud of our defense and how hard they played and how much heart they showed. This is a good win for us going into the state playoffs.”

Delaney hit Tre’ Rigby for a 46-yard gain to the Western 34, however, Miramar could get no closer and after Etienne’s interception, the Wildcats ran out the clock.

Western lost one of its key players — sophomore Izaiah Ortiz — who suffered a leg injury on the opening kickoff and was taken to the hospital.

“It is always devastating when you lose one of your players,” Ratkevich said. “He is an outstanding young man, obviously he is in our thoughts and prayers. Mentally that is a little bit of a shock to you and that affected us.”

Gary Curreri is a Sun Sentinel correspondent.