Strong Dwyer defense smothers Park Vista Atlantic makes big first half stand up against P.B. Central

PALM BEACH GARDENS — Dwyer got two interception touchdowns on Saturday evening as the Panthers annihilated the Park Vista Cobras 40-0 in the season opener for both teams.

The Dwyer defense led the way by limiting the Cobras to 74 yards rushing.

Colby Dempsey and DaQuan Wilson snagged the pick-sixes, one in the second quarter and the latter on the first Park Vista play of the second half.

“Our defense was really prepared tonight,” said Dwyer coach Jack Daniels. “Our defense has a chance to be special this year.”

On offense, Dwyer was led by Ernest Blackshear, who ran for 110 yards and a touchdown. On the first play of the Panthers’ second possession, Blackshear took the handoff and ran untouched up the sideline for an 83-yard score.

Quarterbacks Gio Richardson and James Dailey also combined for three touchdown passes in the game for the Panthers. Richardson had TD strikes of 25 yards to Jamari Gaines in the second period and 6 yards to James Meeks in the third. Dailey’s scoring pass was a 72-yard catch-and-run reception by Andrea Dougles in the fourth quarter.

Gaines was denied a second touchdown early in the third quarter as his 60-yard TD reception from Richardson was called back because of an illegal shift against the Panthers.

For the visiting Cobras, their top player was running back Nick King, who had 45 yards rushing on eleven carries in the game.

DELRAY BEACH — Senior running back Antonio Gonzalez scored twice as host Atlantic jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead and held off Palm Beach Central on Saturday night.

Atlantic, the Class 8A state runner-up last season, relied on a staunch defensive effort that limited the Broncos to just 93 total yards and three turnovers.

“We just got to continue to get better,” said Eagles coach TJ Jackson. “I am proud of them for continuing to play hard and giving a great effort and improve each day. We still have a long way to go.”

The first score was set up on a fumble recovery by freshman Marquis Lymon, who picked up the loose ball after Broncos’ quarterback Anarjahe Douriet fumbled after a 17-yard run giving the Eagles the ball on the Palm Beach Central 35. It took just four plays for Gonzalez to cap the drive with a

2-yard plunge. Atlantic forced a short punt on the ensuing series and the Eagles took over on the Broncos’ 35 again. This time it took just three plays to set up Gonzalez for his second scoring run of the second quarter to give Atlantic a 14-0 cushion with

4:19 remaining in the first half. The big play in the drive was a screen pass from Kalani Ilimaleota to Kamereon Williams for 32 yards to the Broncos’ 3-yard line.

Palm Beach Central coach Tino Ierulli said his team missed several chances.

“They just came out more hungry than we did, and it showed,” Ierulli said. “We started out pretty good. We had a couple of opportunities for picks for touchdowns that we could have had that we dropped and a couple of dropped passes. They came out and beat us tonight…we’ll be alright. The boys didn’t quit, and they fought to the end.”