Defense key in Eagles’ victory
Atlantic faces DavieWestern on Friday in 8A regional finals.
DELRAY BEACH — With his teammates struggling on offense, Atlantic senior kick returner Oyeh Lurry-Davis knew he had to step up when the ball came his way.
“If we don’t score on offense, we’ve got to score some way,” Lurry-Davis said after several big kick returns — including one nearly returned for a touchdown — in Atlantic’s 14-7 win over Park Vista.
Atlantic will play Davie-Western on Friday in the Class 8A regional finals.
Atlantic and Park Vista traded punts for most of the first quarter before Lurry-Davis — who had several big returns against Plantation last week — took the ball back to the Cobras’ 1. Quarterback Antoine Williams II, rebounding from an interception on the previous drive, dove into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
“I lost my grip, I lost my balance,” Lurry-Davis said of the kick return that saw him trip inches shy of the goal line. “I tried to speed up, lost my balance, and I ended up falling.”
Atlantic doubled its lead midway through the second quarter, scoring again when running back Shelly Singletary took a handoff 14 yards into the end zone.
While Park Vista held the ball for the third quarter’s first five minutes, the Cobras were forced to punt in Atlantic territory.
Park Vista finally scored later in the quarter, taking advantage of several Eagles penalties and hitting pay dirt on a Tyler Thomas touchdown pass to Atorian Perry.
Park Vista drove to Atlantic’s red zone in the final minutes but turned the ball over with less than a minute left on a poor snap.
“It was an exciting game for us,” Atlantic coach T.J. Jackson said. “Just playing great football, great defense ... I think overall, the kids did a great job.”
Pahokee 42, Frostproof 28: Leroy Love returned a kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, giving Pahokee some breathing room in a Class 1A regional final Friday night at Anquan Boldin Stadium.
The Bulldogs (7-5) had just converted an interception into a short touchdown drive to close to 28-21 when Love fielded the kickoff, cut upfield and ran untouched for the score. “When I saw the hole, I made one cut and I was gone,” Love said.
The Blue Devils (8-2) advance to play top-ranked Madison County in the state semifinals Friday night.
With top running back Jateri Washington still sidelined with an ankle injury, Pahokee used a running back by committee system to rush for 230 yards. LaVonski Williams led the way with 77 yards and two touchdowns. DeVuntrae Hampton added 69 yards and a TD, and TaMichael Boldin gained 43 yards.
“I’ve got to give Frostproof credit,” Pahokee coach Orson Walkes said. “But I’ve got to give us credit, too, for overcoming all our mistakes.”