BY GENE NARDI
Senior high school football players from around the area competed last Saturday night in the third annual Florida vs. Georgia all-star game at Boynton Beach High School.
Florida led the series 2-0, and fell in the team’s third meeting to Team Georgia 26-14 before a capacity crowd.
Georgia drew first blood just two minutes into the second quarter with a 1-yard quarterback sneak, capping a 65-yard drive. Their point-after kick was good, which gave Georgia an early 7-0 lead. Georgia then extended its lead 10-0 over Florida with a 27-yard field goal.
Florida running back Shamar Jackson (Royal Palm Beach) was an integral part of the Florida offense, cutting into the Georgia lead. Jackson had several carries for big yardage, to keep the chains moving.
Quarterback Warren Robinson (American Heritage Delray) took a keeper to the outside and ran 40 yards for the score. Devin Wallace (Royal Palm Beach) kicked the point-after to chip into the Georgia lead 10-7.
Georgia responded on the ensuing kickoff and covered 80 yards in three plays for a 17-7 lead to end the first half.
Florida started the second half with Robinson connecting with J’Quan Napier (Palm Beach Gardens) on a 91-yard touchdown pass. Wallace’s kick cut into the Georgia lead to 17-14. However, Georgia managed a fourth-quarter field goal and a touchdown at the final whistle to close out a victory over Florida 26-14.
Even though Florida fell short on the scoreboard, it was a victory of sorts for the senior class of 2015. Ten players from Royal Palm Beach, Palm Beach Central and Wellington high schools contributed in representing Team Florida.
With national signing day less than one month away, all-star games serve as an opportunity for high school senior athletes to showcase their talent one last time on the gridiron in hopes to draw attention from college coaches for a chance at a scholarship to play at the next level.
From Royal Palm Beach High School came Demarcus Holloway, Shamar Jackson, Cody Taylor and Devin Wallace. Palm Beach Central was represented by Luis Peguero, Devin Raiford and Jamie Saah. Shannon Patrick, Jean Rene and Alex Ng represented Wellington High School. These athletes are some of the top football players in Palm Beach County.
Wellington’s Patrick recently was honored as Palm Beach County’s large school player of the year, and Alex Ng recently received the Lou Groza Award for high school place kicker of the year.
ABOVE: Linebacker Demarcus Holloway (Royal Palm Beach) hits the ball carrier head-on.
