This year’s battle for gridiron supremacy and possession of the Wellington Cup between Wellington High School and Palm Beach Central High School on Friday, Oct. 29 came down to one play. With Palm Beach Central clinging to a 17-14 lead and Wellington facing a fourth-and-one at the Bronco five-yard line with just 1:45 left in the game, Wellington head coach Daniel Mendoza had a big decision to make. So, he called a timeout to ponder his options.
Mendoza had two choices. He could send in placekicker Chandler Austin to kick what would have been a game-tying field goal from 22 yards, which would have most likely sent the game to overtime, or go for the first down, hoping to give his offense four more chances of scoring the go-ahead and likely winning touchdown late in the game.
Mendoza’s decision was to leave his reliable placekicker on the sidelines. “I’ll always put the ball in the hands of my best player to win the game,” said Mendoza after the contest.
Mendoza told quarterback Ryan Anthony to take the snap and crash over the left side of the offensive line and pick up at least one yard. Anthony did as he was told, or it seemed like he did. When Anthony’s forward momentum came to a stop, it appeared that he had gained the necessary yardage to secure the first down, which would have kept Wellington’s drive alive, thereby giving the Wolverines a great chance to score the game-winning touchdown on an ensuing play.
Both head coaches in the game — Mendoza and Palm Beach Central’s Scottie Littles — felt that Anthony had earned the first down. So did the entire Wellington offense. But when the game officials cleared the pile of bodies, spotted the ball and measured it, Wellington was inches short of getting the first down. The Bronco players, coaches and fans erupted in joy. Wellington’s players, coaches and fans were stunned and shocked.
The turnover on downs gave the ball back to Palm Beach Central, which proceeded to run out the clock and secure the victory. The Broncos remained unbeaten on the season at 8-0, while Wellington’s five-game winning streak was snapped. The Wolverines fell to 6-3 on the season.
Both head coaches were proud of the effort by their respective teams on the night.
“At the end of the day, our defense did a great job in the game,” Littles said. “We practice those short yardage situations every day.”
“I am so proud of my team as we played well on offense, defense and special teams,” Mendoza said.
This was a game where the defenses from both teams came up with a series of big plays throughout the game to keep the final result in doubt.
In the game, Wellington’s defense generated two turnovers on downs, grabbed two interceptions, fell on a fumble and forced a punt by the Broncos. Wellington’s only breakdown was a missed first-quarter tackle, which led to a 37-yard catch-and-run touchdown reception by Palm Beach Central’s Markel King, with just over two minutes left in the first quarter. Wellington’s Reece Larson immediately countered by returning the next kickoff 89 yards to tie the game.
The Broncos’ defense was equally stingy, as it held the Wolverines to less than 149 yards of total offense in the game.
Wellington’s only offensive scoring drive was its last possession of the first half. With 1:18 left in the second quarter, the Wolverines had an eight-play, 70-yard touchdown drive which gave them a 14-7 halftime lead. The drive was capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Anthony to Bryant Walker with 3.8 seconds left in the half. Wellington’s only other scoring opportunity took place early in the second quarter when Austin pulled his 36-yard field goal attempt just left of the goal posts.
At halftime, Wellington looked like the undefeated team, especially based on the play of its defense. Unfortunately, Wellington would never score again in the game.
Wellington led until Palm Beach Central quarterback Ahmad Haston threw an eight-yard, third-quarter touchdown pass to teammate Aidan Whitehall. Juan Dominguez’s kick tied the score 14-14. The key play in the drive was a pass interference penalty against Wellington, which kept the drive alive for the visiting Broncos.
After the game-tying touchdown, the Broncos forced a Wellington punt, and they launched their final scoring drive, starting from their own 37-yard line with less than a minute to play in the third quarter. Eleven plays later, Palm Beach Central had driven the ball down to the Wellington five-yard line. On fourth down, Littles sent Dominguez out to kick the go-ahead field goal. With 6:58 left in the game, Dominguez’s 22-yard kick split the uprights, which gave the Broncos a three-point cushion, which they would never relinquish, despite Anthony’s late-game heroics to keep his team’s hopes alive.
After the game, Palm Beach Central Principal Darren Edgecomb was presented with the Wellington Cup, which he then presented to Littles and his triumphant team.
For the Broncos, running backs Tyler Young and Markel King ran for 44 yards and 42 yards, respectively. Haston was 11 for 21 for 178 yards and one interception.
For Wellington, Anthony was his team’s leading rusher with 25 yards. He also completed 8 of 15 passes for 86 yards.
At the end of halftime, as a way of showing their recognition for Wellington’s equestrian roots, the marching bands from both schools gave a joint playing of the song Love Horse. It was an impressive performance by both bands.
Palm Beach Central came into the game after taking its seventh straight victory on Friday, Oct. 22 against Palm Beach Gardens High School. While the Broncos took the early lead and led 11-0 after the first quarter, the Gators responded with 21 second-quarter points and took a 21-18 lead into halftime. The only score in the second half was a third-quarter touchdown by Palm Beach Central, followed by a two-point conversion. That gave the Broncos a 26-21 lead, which proved to be the final score.
Palm Beach Central’s next game is at home against the Santaluces High School Chiefs on Friday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
On Friday, Oct. 22, Wellington visited Palm Beach Lakes High School, defeating the Rams 21-13. Wellington’s next game is another western communities rivalry game when the Hawks from Seminole Ridge High School visit Wellington on Friday, Nov. 5 for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
