Atlantic honors fallen football standout Derac

DELRAY BEACH — On an emotional night in Delray Beach, the Atlantic football team honored teammate Marc’Allan Derac, a rising senior who was killed in a dirt-bike accident earlier this month.

During the team’s spring football game versus Miami Northwestern, Derac’s memory was ever-present on the field. Prior to the contest, the team hung his No. 23 jersey underneath a makeshift tent on the home sideline.

After a moment of silence, the Eagles took the field for the first defensive series with just 10 players — leaving Derac’s free safety position empty for a moment. On the sideline, head coach TJ Jackson helped Derac’s mother, Marie, who was fighting back tears, into her son’s green No. 23 jersey.

Along with Jackson and Atlantic principal Tara Delegrotti-Ocampo, Marie lined up in Derac’s free safety position for the first play of the game. After the snap, a Northwestern player lofted the ball toward Derac, with Jackson catching and handing it to her. Standing tall, she then tossed the ball back to the Northwestern players.

[Marc] is so truly missed and honored,” DelegrottiOcampo said. “I’m blessed that I’ve even had an opportunity to have him in my life and to meet him. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family. It’s been a huge loss. We’re going to play for Marc.

“We’re never going to forget him — he’s family. We’re going to do the best to keep his spirit alive.”

Delegrotti-Ocampo said the school plans on retiring Marc’s No. 23 jersey beginning next season.

After a breakout junior season, Derac was poised to be the next Atlantic star. A starter on the team’s state runner-up team, Derac recorded 58 tackles, 15 pass breakups and nine interceptions, earning Sun Sentinel All-County honors. He was a three-star prospect and had already received verbal offers from Syracuse, Iowa State, USF and Western Michigan.

On Apr. 22, Derac was riding a dirt bike when it collided with an SUV in Greenacres. He was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center, but died of his injuries on May 2.

During halftime, the school presented Marie with her son’s state runnerup ring. Joined by the rest of the Eagles’ senior football players, she shared an embrace with Jackson after receiving the ring.

“Marc was a good person to be around,” senior Keonne Bradley said. “The best person to be around — especially around football. He would motivate you and make sure you were doing everything right. He was a good person.”

WELLS DUSENBURY/STAFF Marie Derac stands with Atlantic football players during a halftime ceremony in which they honored her son Marc’Allan, who was killed earlier this month in a dirt bike accident.