Broward teams go 4-1 in Georgia over the weekend

Four of the five Broward County high school football teams playing in Georgia this weekend came away with victories.

Deerfield Beach won a tilt between two of the top 50 teams nationally, which was separate from the four Broward schools — Cardinal Gibbons, ChaminadeMadonna, American Heritage and Stoneman Douglas — participating in the inaugural Freedom Bowl.

“South Florida was represented well, and it was an honor just to be beside those guys ,” Douglas coach Willis May said. “It was a first-class deal – type of stuff you do in college.”

Coach Jevon Glenn was pleased with the approach his Bucks (2-0) took to the trip, as opposed to Week 2 last season when they lost to St. Joseph Regional in New Jersey. The team was focused on the game and won the key matchup in the trenches at Buford, which entered ranked 46th in the nation by MaxPreps.

“Their O -line, they were good. They just had never seen a D-line like ours,” Glenn said. “We’re big and we’re fast, quick and powerful. They’ve been able to just dominate guys in the past, but our guys are physically dominant, as well. I think that’s where the game was won.”

Within that defensive front, Glenn noted Virginia Tech commit Brandon Dorlus, Javon Denis and Jamarius Landers’ play. Outside linebacker and Oregon commit Ge’mon Eaford had an interception in the end zone.

Junior quarterback Derohn King threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns – two of them to Dashaun Davis and one to Donte Banton.

Chaminade (1-1) edged Muscle Shoals, from Alabama, 28-21 early Saturday as part of the Freedom Bowl hosted by the Peach State’s Milton High. Senior quarterback Daelen Menard went 18 for 23 for 317 yards and three touchdowns, and John Dunmore had eight catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Willie Davis ran for 61 and a touchdown, and Elijah Canion also scored through the air.

The Bucks and Lions attended the Auburn-Washington game in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon and ended up in the same section of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Chaminade coach Dameon Jones said it was the loudest section in the stadium when Chaminade alum Shaun Shivers picked up a first down on a pitch on third-and-5 in his first college game.

“It’s a great experience to see kids travel and get a chance to see something different,” Jones said.

The Lions had the opportunity to interact with Army veterans as part of the Freedom Bowl experience. Jones said the team was inspired listening to one veteran, who also played football, tell his story on how he lost his leg fighting in Iraq and how he doesn’t let it alter the way he lives.

American Heritage had a Saturday afternoon battle with that same St. Joseph team from Jersey that Deerfield lost against last year, and came out on top, 20-17, on a last-second chip-shot field goal.

Stoneman Douglas, after a Week 1 bye, made its season debut against St. Matthew from Ottawa, which coach Willis May described as “a Canadian all-star team,” one that was also used to playing with a 12th man and on wider fields.

Preston Sasser and Alex Rodriguez scored touchdowns for the Eagles in an all-around effort that also saw the offensive line get a strong push and defense dominate.

On Friday night while Deerfield won at Buford, Gibbons dropped a 42-17 decision to Milton, the host school for the Freedom Bowl. Quarterback and Kentucky commit Nik Scalzo played a week after injuring his shoulder, but the Chiefs remained without standout defensive end Khris Bogle.