Palm Beach Central defense keeps Gardens down

WELLINGTON — Palm Beach Central running back CJ Stewart scored two touchdowns and the host Broncos had a dominant defensive performance as they defeated Palm Beach Gardens 14-0 in a District 9-8A contest.

Palm Beach Central (6-2, 4-0), which won the district title after a victory against Jupiter last week, has won five consecutive games and completed an undefeated run in district play.

“We have fought so hard these past two seasons,” Broncos coach Tino Ierulli said. “These kids are hungry and tired of being disrespected. I am very proud of them.”

The Broncos’ defense created three turnovers and made another statement with their second straight shutout. The Broncos have allowed just three points over their past three games.

The two teams were locked in a defensive struggle before the Broncos pulled away in the second half.

On fourth down and in Gators territory, quarterback Nick Atkins connected with Stewart down the left sideline for a 22-yard touchdown to give the Broncos a 14-0 lead with 2:24 left in the third quarter.

Palm Beach Central jumped out to the early lead on its opening drive. Stewart raced for a 25-yard touchdown run to give the Broncos a 7-0 lead with 9:19 left in the first quarter.

Palm Beach Gardens (3-5, 1-3) had several missed opportunities throughout the first half and failed to take advantage of its strong field position.

Palm Beach Gardens dropped its fourth game in a row and was eliminated from playoff contention.

AMERICAN HERITAGE 44, HALLANDALE 0: Senior quarterback Cameron Smith accounted for three first-half scores as the host Patriots clinched the District 16-5A championship with a victory over the Chargers.

American Heritage (8-0, 5-0), jumped out to a 16-0 first quarter lead on a safety and two scores by Smith, one on a 46-yard touchdown pass to senior Anthony Schwartz on the Patriots’ first play from scrimmage, and the second on 1-yard plunge on a quarterback sneak en route to building a 37-0 halftime cushion.

“We did what we were supposed to do,” said Patriots coach Patrick Surtain, whose defending state champion team won for the 22nd consecutive time dating back to 2015. “We knew they had some talented players, but they were struggling and we took care of business.”

Defending state champion American Heritage ranked third nationally in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rankings, and the top-ranked Class 5A team in the state added three more scores in the second quarter.

The first came on a 40-yard scoring run by senior Miles Jones, and then a 15-yard interception return by senior Tyson Campbell and finally Smith’s 4-yard run with 1:46 left in the first half. Senior Jordan Johnson scored on a 3-yard run in the third to give the Patriots its final score of the night.

Hallandale (2-7, 0-4) lost its sixth straight game. They are two seasons removed from a 10-3 season that saw them fall 51-46 in the Class 5A regional final to the eventual state champion, Bishop Moore.

DILLARD 21, BOYNTON BEACH 5: Moise Francois threw for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while the Panthers defense forced six turnovers, including four firsthalf fumbles, as Dillard captured the District 15-6A championship with a win over the Tigers in Fort Lauderdale. “People said at the beginning of the year, when we had a little downfall, losing our first three games, that this team probably wouldn’t win one game or two games but we proved everybody wrong,” Dillard (5-3) coach Rick Hemingway said.

Midway through the first quarter, Francois connected with Bryce Oliver on a 15-yard touchdown pass to give the Panthers a 6-0 lead.

Late in the second quarter, after Boynton Beach (2-7) fumbled inside its own 5-yard line for the third time in the first half, Francois and Oliver connected again for a 2-yard touchdown pass. Keyondre White converted the two-point conversion for the 14-0 lead.

Boynton Beach‘s Santiago Serrano kicked a 23-yard field goal just before halftime to cut the deficit to 14-3.

DWYER 3, WEST BOCA 0: It took a first-time experience from junior kicker Jeffrey Martini to give the Panthers a district title in Palm Beach Gardens.

After nearly 47 minutes of scoreless action between the Panthers (7-2) and the West Boca Raton Bulls (3-5), Martini kicked a 20-yard field with 1:12 to go in the game to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead. The Panthers held on for the win, but just barely. It was the first gamewinning kick of Martini’s career.

“I was just trying to get ready on the sidelines,” Martini said. “I was treating it like an extra point.”

The kick capped off a nine-play, 92-yard drive by the Panthers, which started at their own 5-yard line with 3:55 left in the game. The key plays in the drive were a pair of passes from quarterback Trevor Omans to teammate Jamari Gaines – one for 38 yards and another for 10 yards. The drive stalled at the Bulls’ 3-yard line. Martini’s kick concluded the scoring drive.