Eagles finally reach 8A semi
Interceptions pace first regional final victory since 2001.
DELRAY BEACH — Look out, Miami Hurricanes. There’s a new turnover chain in South Florida, and it’s getting plenty of work.
Atlantic (11-1), whose chain has an eagle dangling at the bottom, had five interceptions in its 35-22 victory over Davie-Western (10-3) in the Class 8A regional finals Friday night. The Eagles had not advanced past the regional finals since 2001, and lost in this round the past two seasons.
“I don’t want our team to be another Buffalo Bills,” said Atlantic coach T.J. Jackson, referring to the NFL team’s four consecutive Super Bowl losses in the 1990s.
Kenih Lovely, who missed a good portion of the year because of an injury, wore Atlantic’s turnover chain following Friday’s win. He was responsible for two of Atlantic’s interceptions. The first came in the second quarter, and the Eagles couldn’t do anything on the ensuing drive. The second came on the first drive of the second half, and Lovely took it about 15 yards for a touchdown.
Lovely’s score gave the Eagles the momentum again and put them up 21-6.
“It felt good,” Lovely said. “Them boys ... I told them, they got me here so I could play. I told them I’m going to do my part when I get back on the field.”
Christian Brown, Lovely’s teammate in the secondary, matched him with two interceptions and returned one for a 65-yard touchdown.
“Whoever gets the turnover chain, we’ve got to get more than one person to get it,” Lovely said.
Corey Gammage, a 2018 Florida Gators commit at receiver, also had an interception with a long return.
“Overall, the whole defense, the whole team has been playing great,” Jackson said.
Though the defense excelled, a wide receiver gave the Eagles their lead.
Oyeh Lurry-Davis opened the game with a score. After a short kickoff, a teammate pitched the ball back to him, and he carried it 70 yards for a touchdown.
Then, after Gammage’s interception, Lurry-Davis caught a screen pass from quarterback Antoine Williams and ran it into the end zone for a 47-yard score on the Eagles’ second possession.
“I’ve got to do that for my team, in order to get us hyped,” Lurry-Davis said. “That’s what I’ve got to do.”
Running back Kamareon Williams scored on a 14-yard run for Atlantic’s final score of the night.
Western quarterback Harrison Story threw two touchdown passes late in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats were too far out of the game.
The Eagles will host Miami High — which upset Miami-Columbus 28-22 — in Friday’s state semifinals. If Atlantic wins, it will advance to its first state championship game since 1978.
“It’s a wonderful experience,” Lurry-Davis said. “I’ve never been past the third round, or the second round.”