Atlantic continues winning streak against top teams
PAHOKEE — Palm Beach County’s hottest team added to its impressive early season resume Friday night as visiting Atlantic defeated Pahokee 35-21 to remain unbeaten.
Atlantic (3-0) was coming off a pair of statement wins against Palm Beach Central and Dwyer.
The Eagles’ first possession of the game ended when the Blue Devils’ DeAnte Nelson picked off Kalani Ilimaleota just two yards from the end zone. After Pahokee quarterback Jason Campbell was nearly corralled in the end zone for a safety, Campbell floated a pass along the sideline that Nelson caught, outrunning defenders for a 99-yard score.
Pahokee seemed poised to apply additional pressure, but a fumble on a punt return by Leroy Love, who appeared to have called for a fair catch, set up the Eagles in good field position, which they converted into their first points of the game to cut the Blue Devils’ lead to 8-7.
At the start of the second quarter, Ilimaleota and Tyrese Blue connected on a 45-yard strike to give the Eagles their first lead of the game.
A second fumbled punt return for Pahokee, this time by Markevious Brown, set up a five-play scoring drive for the Eagles that ended with an 11-yard pass from Ilimaleota to Javone Jackson.
The Blue Devils registered a timely touchdown to stay in the game late in the first half as Love turned on the jets and pulled away from defenders for a 73-yard touchdown reception.
Atlantic regained momentum when Blue caught his second touchdown pass with three seconds to play in the half, a 4-yard catch that gave the Eagles a 28-15 lead.
Following halftime, Pahokee’s Nelson turned his second interception into points, hauling in a 38-yard touchdown reception to cut Atlantic’s lead to 28-21.
Pahokee threatened to tie the game after Nelson intercepted Ilimaleota a third time.
“His effort was tremendous and technically he was the one who kept us in the football game,” Pahokee coach Orson Walkes said. “The three picks, the two touchdowns, without his effort we’re probably not even in the game.”
Despite getting the ball to midfield after Nelson’s third interception, the Blue Devils stalled, and a botched snap on an attempted punt helped set up the game-sealing drive for Atlantic.
That was one of several self-inflicted errors made by Pahokee.
“Too many mental mistakes on our end,” Walkes said. “Mental mistakes, special teams, mistakes offensively and defensively. You just can’t win that way.”
It didn’t help the Blue Devils that the Eagles’ defense was suffocating against the run, not allowing a talented Pahokee backfield to get in rhythm.
The Eagles were susceptible to the big play through the air, but coach T.J. Jackson believes his team can learn from the mistakes.
“Just some mental break- downs on the back end in the secondary with kids not communicating, but it’s a great learning experience for them,” he said.
Atlantic now heads into a bye week before another tough road test at Park Vista.
For Pahokee, Friday night’s loss doesn’t change the high expectations. The Blue Devils will host Cardinal Newman next week.
“We shouldn’t lose any more games,” Nelson said. “We lost, but we proved that we’re ready.”