In a highly anticipated Week 1 clash, West Boca easily handled American Heritage to move to 1-0 on the season.
Behind a dominant defensive effort and big plays on offense, the Bulls cruised to a 24-7 victory. It was an impressive bounce-back effort against an American Heritage team that, while missing multiple key contributors on offense, still has some of the best talent of any team in the area.
Who made their mark in Week 1? And what are the main takeaways from the game? If you have those questions, you are in the right place to have them answered. It is time to recap all of the game action from West Boca and American Heritage.
The Bulls Dominate on Defense
Coming off of a loss against Carol City, West Boca could have easily had a let-down game against a very talented American Heritage offense. Not only did that not happen, but the Bulls had a dominant overall performance that should open eyes all across Florida.
In the trenches, the Bulls were in the backfield consistently and pushed pockets all night long. Jamir Johnson built upon his Week 0 game with another sack, while Joey Cammarata showed impressive speed and power against the Patriots. Jamar Thompson had multiple run stuffs and caused havoc as a pass rusher on the interior, while Javion Herrington consistently generated pressure off the edge once again. Makarion Owens notched another sack as well, showing off his impressive skill to get after the quarterback
It was not just the trenches that showed out for West Boca, though.
Linebacker Max Reid was everywhere for the Bulls, ranging from sideline to sideline to make plays. He notched an interception as well, reading the eyes of the quarterback to make the play, which he followed up with an impressive return.
In the secondary, Delorean Airall, Larry Morgan, and Damari Jerry played upper-tier games. Jerry made tackles all over the field and stuck to receivers all night long, displaying an impressive level of physicality in the process. Airall provided airtight coverage whenever targeted and had a key interception for West Boca, showing off impressive instincts and ball skills in the process. Morgan did a bit of everything, but was most impressive as a coverage player. American Heritage tried the USF commit multiple times, and he continually answered the bell with great coverage.
At their best, West Boca plays a dominating brand of defense at every level. It was a main reason they won both of their state championships, and it has become a key aspect of their identity.
If this unit can keep up the level of play they showed against American Heritage, the Bulls can be a massive obstacle for any team they will face over the course of the 2026 season.
West Boca’s Big Plays Seal Game
Heading into this game, it was evident that West Boca needed more chunk plays on the offensive side of the ball. The Bulls, in their Week 1 matchup, accomplished that task with flying colors.
Yes, the grit of the Bulls’ offense was still on display. Running backs Terriel “Wally” Harmon and Jacorrion McCrary ran with power, burst, and decisiveness all night long; both players helped keep the offense on schedule.
But when American Heritage started to anticipate the run, West Boca was able to take advantage in the passing game in a big way.
To open the game’s scoring, quarterback Trey Moran hit a perfect pass to Lorontae Davis under pressure for the touchdown. It was one of the more impressive plays I have seen Moran make all year, and for Davis, it was a continuation of him showing off an impressive skill set at wideout.
Moran connected with Billy Clancy III on multiple occasions, including a touchdown pass that gave West Boca a 14-0 lead. Clancy III not only has great speed, but the route-running and hands of an upper-level wideout. Terriel “Wally” Harmon got in on the action as well, making one of the better catches of the game on a deep ball from Moran.
When West Boca gets this type of effort from their offense, along with stellar defensive play, they are very hard to beat. The Bulls will need to strive for consistency this season and build upon the successes they had against the Patriots in Week 1. However, if they can replicate this game on a consistent basis, West Boca will be in the upper echelon of teams in this area once again.
American Heritage Shows Flashes on Both Sides
Even in this type of losing effort for American Heritage, there were some bright spots and flashes on both sides of the ball.
Defensively, Contreas Faison Jr. is the player who stood out the most to me. The defensive back was everywhere for the Patriots, making countless plays and doing his best to stall out the West Boca offense. On a drive that reached the red zone, Faison Jr. made three separate tackles by himself, forcing a fourth down that would not be converted by the Bulls. Faison Jr. has the skill set to be a high-level defensive back for the Patriots, and I am very excited to watch him more this season.
Alongside Faison Jr., Blake Mitchell made multiple plays for the Patriots against the run and in coverage. Osneil Dillon and Micah Price caused havoc in the backfield, while Jaytoin Thomas was a force at linebacker for American Heritage’s defensive unit. Ryan McPhun Jr. came away with a sack after flying off the edge. Jahi White flashed his talent and upside with a pass breakup down the field, and Jaiden Sheard made a few plays in the middle of the Patriots’ defense.
Offensively, the Patriots were in a rough spot. Down three starting offensive linemen and a standout running back in Jonathan Bueno Jr., they did not end up being able to hold West Boca at bay. Despite this, some players were able to flash their skillsets.
RB Tremaine Mullen had the only American Heritage points of the night, and he also chipped in a solid catch and run earlier on the scoring drive. Robert Outler showed flashes of his run-after-the-catch ability, and Kobe Conway chipped in a catch. Wideout Jeffrey O’Neal was the standout of the group; whenever he was targeted, he showed off nice after-the-catch ability, route running, and strong hands.
Over the course of the 2026 season, I would imagine this is the worst that American Heritage will look like.
They will have their players return from injuries. Quarterback Neimann Lawrence will settle into the offense, which will allow players like Michael Stringer and Trae Porctor to thrive. O’Neal and Outler, two of the younger players on the offense, will grow into their bigger roles as well. Defensively, the unit will continue to mesh and refine itself, especially when it comes to the younger players holding key positions.
At the end of the day, a loss is still a loss. West Boca handily defeated American Heritage, and with East St. Louis arriving in Florida next week, things do not get any easier for the Patriots. After that, a battle on the road against Chaminade awaits in Week 3.
Considering the talent level on the roster, it would be unwise to expect similar outings to Friday going forward for the Patriots. However, how they respond in both Week 2 and Week 3 will be crucial for the Patriots in terms of dictating the course of their 2026 season.
What’s Next?
West Boca enters a bye week ahead of their Week 3 clash against Spanish River, while American Heritage is set to square off against the East St. Louis Flyers in the Broward County National High School Football Showcase.
