DELRAY BEACH – Fully rested and with the home field on their side, the American Heritage Stallions hoped to end their three-game losing streak with a win against the Tampa Catholic Crusaders in the Class 4A-Region 3 semifinals.
That, however, would not be the case on this night. As a host of mistakes and the dominating play of Tampa Catholic running back Antoine Hill would lead Tampa Catholic to a 33-16 win over the Stallions.
Hill, a freshman who entered the game with 778 yards on just 80 carries, showed his shiftiness and ability to break tackles throughout the game. He scored two touchdowns, including the clinching touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
“He’s outstanding. He’s going to be one of the greats, I think, of [Tampa Catholic],” Tampa Catholic head coach Jeris McIntyre said about Hill. “Real shifty, powerful, low to the ground, has some speed to him. Reminds me a lot of [current New York Jets running back] Le’Veon Bell with his patience and whatnot.”
Although the Stallions started with the ball, an errant snap on the first play of the game and a dropped snap on the punt led to a safety for Tampa Catholic, putting the Crusaders up by two just minutes into the game.
On the drive following the safety, Hill gashed the Stallions’ defense for a 32-yard run, which set up a 1-yard touchdown run from quarterback Dylan McCain.
The following drive turned the game from bad to worse for the Stallions, as Tampa Catholic’s Mikey Gonzales jumped on another bad snap, giving the road team an early 16-0 lead.
“When I saw that, I was thinking that this would be our night,” McIntyre said. “It was a good, hard-fought ball game. [American Heritage] is a good football team.”
The Stallions would not go down without a fight as quarterback Zachary Bohannon, who was finally healthy after a shoulder injury, connected with junior receiver Matt Hall for a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Just before the end of the first quarter, the Crusaders would tack on a short field goal. That was not without its fair share of controversy, as the clock appeared to run out before the play was run.
In the third quarter, a 44-yard run by Tyler Willis set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Bohannon, putting the Stallions within five points of the Crusaders.
The Stallions, however, would fail to take a lead as McCain connected with Hill for a 20-yard touchdown pass to give Tampa Catholic a 26-14 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Following an interception by Gaetan Louissaint, Hill would ice the game with a 1-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
No. 10/No. 2 seed American Heritage-Delray ends the season on a four-game losing streak.
Final record: American Heritage (5-6)
OTHER REGIONAL SEMIFINAL GAMES: FINAL SCORES
CLASS 3A – REGION 3
No. 2 seed Bishop Verot 28, No. 8/No. 6 seed Benjamin 7
Final record: Benjamin (8-4)
CLASS 8A – REGION 3
No. 3 seed Deerfield Beach 44, No. 3/No. 2 seed Palm Beach Central 6
Final record: Palm Beach Central (9-3)
CLASS 7A – REGION 3
No. 5 seed Venice 62, No. 1/No. 1 seed Palm Beach Lakes 35
Final record: Palm Beach Lakes (10-1)
CLASS 7A – REGION 4
No. 2/No. 3 seed Atlantic-Delray 13, No. 2 seed McArthur 7
Record now: Atlantic (8-3)
CLASS 1A – REGION 4
No. 2 seed Pahokee 28, No. 3 seed Hawthorne 14
Record now: Pahokee (5-5)
REGIONAL FINALS SLATE
Note: All games are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 22 with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff
7A – REGION 4 FINAL: No. 2/No. 3 seed Atlantic (8-3) at No. 1 seed St. Thomas Aquinas (11-0)
1A – REGION 4 FINAL: No. 2 seed Pahokee (5-5) vs. No. 5 seed Chiefland (8-4)
