Edden’s TD pass on 92-yard drive rescues Lakes
Lake Worth’s Hicks throws for two TDs, runs for one in loss.
LAKE WORTH — Palm Beach Lakes senior quarterback Armani Edden operated the two-minute drill to perfection Friday night, leading the ninth-ranked Rams to a 24-20 season-opening win against Lake Worth at Bill Harvey Stadium.
E d d e n e n g i n e e r e d a 92-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Gurvan Hall with 31 seconds remaining. Hall snagged the sideline pass from Edden and lunged for the pylon for the winning touchdown.
“We didn’t play real well, but I’ll take it,” Palm Beach Lakes coach Al Shipman said. “We were resilient, but we’ve got some things to work on.”
The Rams started the drive at their 8-yard line after Lake Worth had taken its fifirst lead of the game on a 20-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Marquis Hicks with 1:38 left.
Hicks was a thorn in the side of the Rams’ defense the entire game.
Hicks rushed for 149 yards and passed for 94 yards. He also threw a yard touchdown pass to Marques Spann and 25- yard scoring pass to Brian Henry.
“He’s a heck of a player,” Shipman said of Hicks. “I hope he’s a senior because I don’t want to have to face him again.”
Edden completed 11 of 26 passes for 231 yards, including a yard completion to D.J. Edwards that kept the game-winning drive alive.
He also threw a 16-yard pass to Cliffff Thomas for Palm Beach L akes’ first touchdown and scored on a 2-yard quarterback keeper midway through the third quarter that gave the Rams a 14-6 lead.
A 25-yard field goal by Davidson Marcellus extended Lakes’ lead to 17-6 early in the fourth quarter before Lake Worth rallied behind Hicks.
Lakes appeared in control of the game before Jonathan Garvin sacked Edden and forced a fumble that Lake Worth recovered with 3:10 remaining.
Less than two minutes later, Hicks scrambled for the 20-yard score that gave the Trojans their fifirst lead of the game.
It was then Edden’s turn, and the senior quarterback delivered in the clutch.