Benjamin runs for 151 yards in victory

PALM BEACH GARDENS — Pahokee senior running back Jashon Benjamin rushed for 151 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the visiting Blue Devils past Palm Beach Gardens 38-30 on Friday night.

Pahokee (4-1) jumped out to a 12-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter and led 32-14 at halftime before a lightning delay.

Palm Beach Gardens senior quarterback Brand C a mp b e l l sparked a fourth-quarter rally as he rushed for two scores to help the Gators (3-2) cut the deficit to 38-30 with 5:24 left in the fourth.

The Blue Devils marched downfield on their next drive. Sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons had a touchdown run called back after a holding penalty. The Blue Devils failed to convert on fourth down after an incomplete pass was 2:55 left.

Campbell led the Gators to the Blue Devils 37-yard line with 29 seconds left before a holding penalty and turnover on downs with four seconds remaining.

“We w e r e pretty composed in the first half,” Pahokee Coach Emmanuel Hendrix said. “In the second half, we had penalties affect us and we kind of unraveled a little bit. I am disappointed from the standpoint of the composure after the penalties. We will work on that for next week. Every win we get is a good win.”

Benjamin, a Rutgers commit, bounced out and raced down the left sideline for a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage with 11:33 left in the first quarter.

“It set the tone for the whole team,” Benjamin said. “We were fired up the whole week to go on their home field and show them we are the best in the county.”

The Gators drive stalled on their first possession as they failed to convert on fourth-and-5 at the Blue Devils 30-yard line.

Pahokee junior Jenorris Wilcher had a 55-yard picksix negated after a roughing the passer penalty. Sophomore linebacker Zion Booth stepped in front of a pass and went untouched down the left sideline for an interception return for a touchdown to extend the lead to 12-0.

The Gators offense answered back on the ensuing possession. Junior running back Aidan Parker rushed for a 6-yard score to make it 12-7 early in the second quarter.

Wilcher raced down the right sideline for a 77-yard touchdown run and senior running back Torian Henley added a two-point conversion run to extend the lead to 20-7 with 10:23 left in the second.

The Blue Devils lost a fumble after receiving a punt as the Gators offense took over outside the red zone. The Blue Devils defense had a 90-yard interception return for a score negated due to a pass interference penalty.

The Gators capitalized as Parker powered his way for a 6-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 20-14 with 5:11 left in the first half.

The Blue Devils offense responded back with another quick score as Simmons connected on a deep pass to Benjamin for a 76-yard touchdown to push the lead to 26-14 with 4:39 left in the second quarter.

“[Austin] made a couple of big plays that we needed,” Hendrix said. “I was happy with him keeping the offense composed.”

Pahokee made another big play on their next series as Simmons fired a 60-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Hardley Gilmore to the Gators 5-yard line. Wilcher rushed up the middle for a 3-yard score to increase the lead to 32-14 with 1:55 left in the first half.

In the third quarter, the Gators mishandled the snap to the punter in their own territory as the Blue Devils took over at the 15-yard line. Simmons rushed for a 1-yard score to make it 38-14.

The Gators rallied back as Campbell had a quarterback sneak for a 1-yard score and junior running back Landon Carr had a two-point conversion run.

The Gators defense had an interception return for a score called back on a penalty in the fourth. The Gators offense stepped up on their next drive as Campbell rushed for a 2-yard score and added a two-point conversion run in the fourth.

Pahokee avenged a home loss to Palm Beach Gardens from last season after the Gators had rallied in the second half from a doubledigit deficit. Pahokee has won four straight games since falling in the season opener against Cardinal Newman.