BY GENE NARDI
The Wellington High School varsity football squad traveled to Palm Beach Gardens High School on Thursday, Oct. 22 to play in the District 9-8A title game and fell to the Gators 14-9.
A repeat crown was not in the cards for the visiting Wolverines. Both teams entered the contest unbeaten in district play, and the Wolverines clinched a playoff berth with their 54-28 victory over Jupiter the week before. Wellington did secure the runner-up spot and probably travel in the first round of the playoffs. The two teams could face off a second time, provided they each win their first playoff game.
Wellington (5-4, 3-1) entered play averaging nearly 40 points a game but had difficulty working around the Gators’ defensive cover scheme. The Wolverines did manage to grab a 25-yard Logan Robinson field goal in the second quarter, which was all they needed to take a halftime lead. The Wolverine defense completely shut down the Palm Beach Gardens offense, sacking the Gator quarterback three times in the first half.
Special teams and turnovers plagued the Wolverines in the second half, giving the Gators an opportunity to jump back into the game. A blocked Wellington punt for a touchdown gave the Gators the lead early in the second half. On the ensuing kick, Palm Beach Gardens kicked a line drive that appeared to be an attempt at an onside kick. The kick appeared to surprise the Wellington return team, and the Gators recovered on the Wellington 30-yard line, eventually driving in for another score to take a 14-3 lead.
The Wolverines moved the ball more efficiently in the second half, but quarterback Blake Dever threw two interceptions, nullifying any chance of closing the gap early in the half. Dever finally led his squad on a drive to the Gators’ 5-yard line. There Dever connected with receiver Austin Gilman for a touchdown. The two-point after attempt was no good, but Wellington cut the margin to 14-9.
The Wolverine defense was able to stifle the Gator offense the rest of the way, to give the offensive unit another chance to retake the lead. Wellington drove to midfield, and on a fourth-and-long, Dever threw a deep ball to Chris Atkinson at the Gators’ 7-yard line. Atkinson battled for the ball, but it fell for an incomplete pass.
The Gators were able to run out the clock, sealing the win and the district crown. With the loss, the Wolverines earned the district runner-up spot. “The turnovers killed us,” Wellington coach Tom Abel said. “They were the better football team tonight.”
Wellington has a bye week to recover and will travel to Boca Raton High School to take on the Bobcats Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. to complete the regular season before heading into the playoffs.
ABOVE: Wellington receiver Kevin Wright tries to reel in a one-handed catch deep in Gardens territory.
