PALM BEACH GARDENS – Though many teams didn’t get to play in Week 2 due to the looming threat of Hurricane Dorian, Palm Beach Gardens was able to get its game in.
Currently ranked as our No. 5 team in Palm Beach County, the Gators (2-0) went on the road and completely obliterated the upstart John I. Leonard Lancers in a 50-3 win on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Here’s a refresher of how Gardens got it done:
From the first snap to the final snap of the night, it was all Gators, all the time.
The Gators began the scoring before they even got the ball, after a high snap on a Chris Fervil punt pushed the ball out of bounds for a safety.
On the ensuing drive, quarterback Tyler Kolb connected with wide receiver Myron Levy for the first touchdown of the game.
Following a 40-yard field goal by Fervil, which made the score 9-3, Gardens standout Raphael Vazquez returned the following kickoff for a touchdown.
After a Marcus Joseph (Gardens 2020 defensive back) interception, Kolb scored his second touchdown of the night on a quarterback sneak.
Right before halftime, a Norman Blackshear (Gardens 2020 running back) rushing touchdown put the Gators up 30-3 and in prime position to close out the game.
Immediately following halftime, the Gators kept scoring. A Joseph touchdown on a fourth down-and-6 play put the Gators up 37-3.
In the fourth quarter, a touchdown pass from backup quarterback Lynden Moss to Vazquez and a Deon Lucien run in the red zone finished the Gators scoring.
TOP PERFORMERS: PALM BEACH GARDENS
Kolb: 10-16 passing, 160 yards, 2 touchdowns; 1 rushing touchdown (3 total touchdowns)
Moss: 2-3 passing, 54 yards, 1 touchdown
Vasquez: 3 catches, 55 yards, 1 touchdown; kickoff return for touchdown (2 total touchdowns)
Levy: 2 catches, 50 yards, 1 touchdown
Wide receiver Owen Delhomme: 3 catches, 45 yards
Joseph: 1 reception, 37-yard touchdown catch; 1 interception caught on defense
Wide receiver Jeremiah Williams: 2 catches, 25 yards
HOW GARDENS WON TEAM OF WEEK 2 HONORS
When we invited our Twitter followers to vote on the Best Team of Week 2, they were relatively decisive from the moment we released the poll.
Of the four nominees for Team of Week 2, the closest competitor turned out to be Jupiter (No. 9 in latest Top 10; 2-0; 27-20 win over Lake Worth on Aug. 29).
“We are honored and thankful for the recognition,” Palm Beach Gardens linebackers coach Rayfield Dixon said. “Our guys have worked extremely hard. But we still have a long road ahead of us. Lots of work to do.”
Next game for No. 5 Palm Beach Gardens: Home vs. No. 10 Forest Hill (2-0) in Week 4; Friday, Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m. kickoff
REPORTING: Kevin Fielder and Naji Tobias
PHOTO CREDIT: Keith Forde
