Palm Beach week 2 favors small schools
Small schools rule the roost this week as Glades Central remains at the top of the rankings and Crusaders coach Jack Daniels has Cardinal Newman at No. 2 following a 55-0 win over King’s Academy.
Palm Beach Central, Dwyer and Palm Beach Gardens are on the move after impressive wins, while Benjamin also cracks this week’s Top 10, following its 48-12 victory over St. Andrew’s.
All games start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday unless noted. Last week’s rankings are in parentheses.
1. (1) Glades Central (1-0):
With the possibility of coach Rashad Jackson and senior transfer quarterback Garrison Kepley being suspended by the FHSAA, both have been sidelined for the kickoff classic and the team’s first game against Palm Beach Lakes.
A decision on possible sanctions is expected later this week. Kepley, a senior transfer from Oceanside College Academy in Mount Pleasant, S.C., replaced last year’s starter Zo’Marion Harper, who transferred to Clewiston. Glades Central self-reported the QB possibly “accepted an impermissible benefit” — which would sideline him for the season.
The Raiders topped Palm Beach Lakes, 14-7, last week behind quarterback Henry Boyd, who threw for 211 yards and one score.
Next: vs. Palm Beach Gardens
2. (3) Cardinal Newman (1-0):
Veteran coach Jack Daniels showed no rust from a two-year hiatus as the Crusaders rolled to a 55-0 win over King’s Academy behind freshman QB Davi Belfort (244 yards, 3 TDs passing, and 2 rushing TDs) and sophomore running back Tovani Mizell (105 combined yards, TD).
It doesn’t get easier for Daniels and his squad as they take on defending Class 4A state champion Cardinal Gibbons.
Next: at Cardinal Gibbons, 7 p.m.
3. (4) Palm Beach Central (1-0):
Junior quarterback Ahmad Haston led the Broncos to an easy win over Forest Hill, 47-19, as he threw for 298 yards and 5 TDs. Palm Beach Central faces a tough matchup at
home this week as they tackle Dwyer.
Next: vs. Dwyer
4. (5) Dwyer (1-0): Senior DB Evan Jones had 10 tackles on defense, while senior wide receiver Terel Harris had a TD reception to lift the Panthers to an 8-7 win over Jupiter. Dwyer will have its hands full this week with Palm Beach Central, which also moved up one spot in this week’s rankings.
Next: at Palm Beach Central
5. (7) Palm Beach Gardens (1-0): The Gators rallied from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to topple Atlantic, 20-17, at home. Vince Dubose, a senior RB/LB ran for 70 yards and three TDs on offense and added five tackles in the win. Palm Beach Gardens will try to unseat the county’s top-ranked team in the Sun Sentinel rankings.
Next: at Glades Central
6. (2) Atlantic (0-1): The Eagles stumbled out of the gate, failing to hold on to a 13-point lead in the final quarter against host Palm Beach Gardens. Atlantic will try and get back on track this week as it takes on Lake Worth in its season opener.
Next: at Lake Worth, 6 p.m.
7. (6) Boca Raton (1-0): Junior quarterback Jacob Cashion (196 yards passing, TD, and 94 yards rushing, 3 TDs) and senior RB Trey Rainey (44 yards rushing) provided most of the Bobcats’ offensive firepower in a 34-9 victory
over Boynton Beach. Senior wideout Jerome Plunkett and junior receiver Collin Bender also starred.
Next: Bye week
8. (9) Seminole Ridge (1-0):
The Hawks rolled to a 51-12 win over Santaluces as junior tailback Sebastian Christian ran for 189 yards and a TD. He also had a 2-point conversion. Sophomore defensive back Roberto Vereno had two interceptions.
Next: at Forest Thursday
Hill,
9. (NR) Benjamin (1-0): Youthful Benjamin rolled to a 48-12 win over St. Andrew’s behind junior RB Shomari Pettigrew (102 yards, 2 TDs) and junior WR Micah Mays (70 yards receiving, TD). The Buccaneers are much improved over last year’s 2-4 team and should be able to get past Pine Crest this week.
Next: vs. Pine Crest, 7 p.m.
10. (8) Jupiter (0-1):
The Warriors dropped a hard-fought 8-7 decision to cross-town rival Dwyer last week and will take on a resurgent Cobras team with new coach Leonard Weaver at the helm. Park Vista is coming off a 41-6 win over Suncoast.
Next: at Park Vista
On the bubble: Park Vista (1-0), Pahokee (1-0), John I. Leonard (1-0), Inlet Grove (1-0), American Heritage-Delray (0-1), Palm Beach Lakes (0-1).