On Thursday, Oct. 17, the Palm Beach Central High School football team hosted Jupiter High School in a district matchup and defeated the Warriors 42-13.
The homecoming victory improved the Broncos’ record to 6-2 (3-0 in the district) and landed them in the district title game against Palm Beach Gardens High School.
The Broncos will bring a two-game win streak into the title match, after a tough loss to Palm Beach Lakes High School in week six.
“We found a way to execute our gameplay,” first year Bronco coach Scottie Littles said. “We did what we needed to do to put ourselves in position for the next step. We’re going to enjoy this one for the next 24 hours, and then we’re going to get ready for the district championship.”
The Broncos wasted little time from the onset. They needed just four plays to log the first score of the game on their opening possession. Running back Jordan Kolnick, a two-way starter, took the ball in on the ground from 6 yards out to lift the Broncos to a 7-0 lead, which they never surrendered.
Palm Beach Central’s defense made it difficult for the Warrior offense to traverse their way out of their own real estate, which basically cut the field in half for the Bronco offense. Quarterback Anarjahe Douriet linked up with standout receiver Bryan Robinson on a 58-yard touchdown pass to extend the Bronco lead to 14-0 in the first quarter.
The Bronco defense recorded three sacks in the first quarter to help pave the way for the offense. Forced to punt again, Jupiter players found themselves battling a Bronco offense firing on all cylinders. Robinson recorded his second score of the game when he ran to the outside for a five-yard touchdown run to lift the Palm Beach Central lead to 21-0 with 6:39 remaining in the first half.
Jupiter caught a break just before halftime. Their special teams blocked a Bronco punt, gaining possession inside the Palm Beach Central 25-yard line. The Warriors eventually punched it in for the score with seconds remaining in the half to close the margin to 21-6. Defensively for the Broncos, Kolnick and Max Martinez combined for four sacks in the first half.
The Bronco defense continued to impress. Cornerback Keyshawn Winder stepped in front of the Jupiter receiver to intercept the rock and darted off 35 yards for the touchdown to elevate Palm Beach Central to 28-6 early in the third quarter. “I just read the play,” Winder said. “I just saw the ball thrown, and when the ball was tipped, I just caught it. It definitely got us pumped up.”
The pick-six marks the second straight in two games for Winder, who has been making big plays for the Bronco defense.
Cedric Johnson also picked off a Jupiter pass, with a sizable return to set up the Palm Beach Central offense on the Warrior 20-yard line. Robinson reeled in his third score of the night, this time a 20-yard touchdown pass in the end zone to give the Broncos a 35-6 lead with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Jupiter reached the end zone one more time, in the fourth quarter, capping a 78-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run to close the gap to 35-13, but Palm Beach Central would answer with a score of their own to secure the victory. A 54-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ahmad Haston to Johnson gave the team a 42-13 lead, which would stand at the final whistle.
“We’ve got a chance to hang a banner,” Littles said. “Palm Beach Gardens is a really good football team, so we’re going to have to have a really good week of practice and a really good week of preparation, and it’s going to be a dog fight between two really good teams.”
