BY GENE NARDI
Royal Palm Beach High School’s varsity football team hosted district rival West Boca Raton High School on Friday, Oct. 28 and routed the Bulls 56-26 behind the rushing of running back Voshon Jackson, who is credited with most of the ground assault.
Jackson tallied 362 yards rushing on the night to help lead the Wildcats to a second-straight win. The previous week, Royal Palm Beach (3-6, 3-2 in district) dominated district foe Olympic Heights High School 40-28.
The Wildcats scored often and at will throughout the night. Receiver Rashad Johnson struck first for Royal Palm Beach when he took the ball 37 yards down the far sideline on the opening drive. Rolan Tyson’s point-after kick gave the Wildcats an early 7-0 lead. On the following drive, quarterback Teja Young took it in from 8 yards out for Royal Palm Beach to cap a 75-yard drive.
Running back Devonte Gillins drove in a two-point conversion to lift the Wildcats to a 15-0 lead in the first quarter. Royal Palm Beach’s defense played solid in the first half, allowing just one score from the Bulls, but it wasn’t until the Wildcats racked up 22 points. The Bulls did attempt a 25-yard field goal before the end of the first quarter but fell short.
Johnson struck again for the Wildcats when he scored from 25 yards out. Tyson’s point after extended the lead to 22-0. With 3:24 left to play in the first half, West Boca managed to close the margin with two big plays that eventually landed them in the end zone with a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 22-7.
On the ensuing possession, Johnson caught a 22-yard pass from Young that stretched the lead to 28-7 to close out the first half.
The second half mirrored the first on the scoreboard, but this time it was Jackson who stole the show, accounting for most of the ground game for the Wildcats.
The West Boca defense could not contain the Royal Palm Beach offense most of the night. Royal Palm Beach would log four more scores in the second half to broaden its lead, but the Bulls fought back, scoring 19 of their own.
It would not be enough to battle a Wildcats offense that was clicking on all cylinders. Royal Palm Beach coasted to the 56-26 win.
The Wildcats have completed district play and finish with a 3-2 district record but will miss the postseason. They wrap up their regular season hosting rival Palm Beach Central High School on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
ABOVE: Royal Palm Beach running back Voshon Jackson avoids a tackle as he finds running room up the middle.
