The Palm Beach Central High School Broncos are heading into their final regular season matchup on a seven-game winning streak.
On Friday, Oct. 18, the Broncos visited the Benjamin School Buccaneers in search of their fifth-straight victory. On an evening with overcast skies and drizzly conditions, it all came down to one play, which required an on-target snap, a perfect hold and a kick with the right foot of Palm Beach Central’s Ethan Dagostino.
With 4.5 seconds left in the game, which was tied 24-24, Dagostino trotted onto the field for the chance to kick a 29-yard field goal to win the game on the final play of regulation. For Dagostino, it was a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream: kick a game-winning field goal on his birthday.
Well, on that night, the dream came true. As soon as Dagostino’s right foot struck the ball, it went sailing through the uprights to give the Broncos the outright victory, 27-24 — a fitting end to Dagostino’s 18th birthday experience. In that game, Dagostino also had a 38-yard field goal and a trio of PAT kicks. Meanwhile, teammate Kamare Williams had two touchdown receptions. The win improved Palm Beach Central’s record to 6-1.
A week later, on Friday, Oct. 25, the Broncos retained the Wellington Cup by thumping crosstown rival Wellington High School, 50-6, in a game played at Palm Beach Central. That victory improved their record to 7-1, while Wellington’s record fell to 4-4. It was the eighth-consecutive Wellington Cup win for Palm Beach Central.
To conclude the regular season on Friday, Nov. 1, the Broncos travel to Palm Beach Gardens to play William T. Dwyer High School. Under the guidance of head coach Kevin Thompson, the Broncos are looking to improve their record to 8-1, which will greatly improve their chances of a high seed in the upcoming Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 7A state playoffs.
Royal Palm Beach — On Friday, Oct. 18, the Wildcats from Royal Palm Beach High School improved their regular season record to 5-2 when they traveled to play the Gators at Palm Beach Gardens High School.
As is often the case in football, games are decided on a handful of key plays at the end of the game. That was definitely the case here. With 14 seconds left in the game and Palm Beach Gardens leading 27-26, RPBHS head coach Chuck Kenyon called upon a young placekicker to kick the ball between the uprights and win the game.
The placekicker was Tony Bauer, a freshman student from Germany. With Nico Botero snapping the ball to holder Treven Tipton, the ball was placed on the 15-yard line for Bauer to kick with his right foot. As fate would have it, the ball cleared the many bodies along the line of scrimmage and split the uprights to give the visiting Wildcats the 29-27 victory. It was Bauer’s first field goal in his high school career, and perhaps the most memorable kick of his life. The Royal Palm Beach sideline erupted into a mass celebration as the officials indicated that the kick was good.
“I don’t know how long it has been since we beat Gardens,” noted Kenyon, now in his third year as the head coach for the Wildcats.
Royal Palm Beach’s statistical leaders in the game were quarterback Max Griner, who completed 9 of 18 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a third touchdown. Wide receiver Demetrius Gibson caught five passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. Fellow receiver Jahari Treasure-Walker caught two passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a touchdown. Defensively, TJ McCall had seven tackles and recovered two fumbles.
On Friday, Oct. 25, Royal Palm Beach played its third road game in a row against winless Seminole Ridge High School (0-8). The Wildcats won 21-14 to improve their record to 6-2. With that victory, Royal Palm Beach retained control of the 6-Mile Showdown Trophy, which is presented to the winner every year of the Royal Palm Beach-Seminole Ridge varsity football game.
The Wildcats pursued their seventh victory of the season when they returned home to play Dr. Joaquín García High School on Thursday, Oct. 31. A victory in that game will set the stage for an all-important regular-season finale on Thursday, Nov. 7 — a Class 6A, District 12 encounter against West Boca Raton High School.
The King’s Academy — On Friday, Oct. 18, the TKA Lions fell from the ranks of the unbeaten when they lost at home to True North Classical Academy, 27-20. That dropped TKA’s regular season record to 7-1. On Thursday, Oct. 24, the Lions traveled to Belle Glade to play against the undefeated Raiders from Glades Central High School (7-0). It was an all-important Class 2A, District 11 game for both teams. The Lions played well, but not well enough, falling short to the Raiders, 17-14. The Lions hope to end their two-game losing streak and return to their winning ways when they host Archbishop McCarthy High School on Friday, Nov. 1.
Wellington — On Friday, Oct. 18, the Wolverines improved their record to 4-3 with a resounding 51-0 victory against Olympic Heights High School. It was Wellington’s third-straight victory. Standout performances in that game for Wellington were turned in by Jonathan Paul, Tyree Pearson, JT Thomas and Trey Allen. Paul threw four touchdown passes, Pearson scored two touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving), Thomas ran for two touchdowns and Allen caught two of Paul’s touchdown passes.
On Friday, Oct. 25, Wellington visited crosstown rival Palm Beach Central to play its annual game for possession of the Wellington Cup. The Wolverines fell to the Broncos by a score of 50-6. As a result of that victory, Palm Beach Central retained control of the cup, and Wellington’s record dropped to 4-4.
The Wolverines will conclude their regular season when they play at Seminole Ridge High School on Friday, Nov. 1 and at Jupiter High School on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Seminole Ridge — It has been a tough, injury-filled season for the winless Hawks of Seminole Ridge High School. Their most recent games were a 21-11 loss to William T. Dwyer on Oct. 18 and a 21-14 loss to Royal Palm Beach High School on Friday, Oct. 25. With a record of 0-9, the Hawks will conclude their regular season when they host Wellington High School on Friday, Nov. 1.
Berean Christian School — On Friday, Oct. 18, the Bulldogs of Berean Christian School traveled to Vero Beach to play St. Edward’s School, falling 41-0. The loss dropped Berean’s record to 2-7. Berean concluded its regular season on Friday, Oct. 25, when the Bulldogs played at Boca Raton Christian School. Boca Raton won, 41-6. Berean concluded its regular season with a 2-8 record.
