Boca Raton, FL.- A statement was made last night.
Last night (August 22), The King’s Academy Lions and the St Andrews Scots faced off in their annual week one matchup. Historically speaking, this game always finishes as one for the ages. No matter how down or how up these programs may be compared to the other, this game is always a great way to kick off the new season. The 2025 edition of Lions v Scotties once again proved my claim that this is one of the best young budding rivalries in South Florida football.
We’ve seen legends be forged from this contest. Teddy Hoffmann, Javian Jones, Jackson Parke, Joe Dailey all names to stand out amongst the rest from this Battle Between Boca and Belvedere. This year’s superstar, the newest Floridian, Wesley Winn. Winn, a 5 foot 10 3-Star slot receiver from San Francisco just recently made the transition from Cali to South Florida. In the Scot’s pre season opener vs Boca Raton, Wesley shined with a 165 yard, 3 TOTD first half performance. Last night, similar results happened.
On the opening play of the contest, Scots’ QB Jack Williams (’27) launched a deep strike to Winn to immediately apply pressure and flip field. After a rush from Williams put the St Andrews inside the five, 2026 Power-Back Remi De’Orsey pounded the rock for a 3 yard opening touchdown.
Later in the quarter, TKA began piecing together quite an offensive drive, led by the arm of QB DJ Beneby (’28). Just under two and a half minutes remaining in the quarter, the Sophomore SouthPaw took a shot and let it fly as he hit WR Tyce Porcher (’26) for a 27 yard score. The Lions did not convert the PAT, anchor cut the deficit to 7-6.
Two plays later, the Scots had the ball and they were looking for it all. Williams drops back, targets TE Quinn Conners (’26) over the middle, but the pass was broken up and tipped by TKA’s star LB Levi Champion (’27), only for his teammate James Powell to lunge forward and pick the ball just before it hit the floor. As time wound down in the first, the score was still gridlocked at 7-6 Scots.
Early in the second quarter, TKA would take their first lead of the evening as K Kingston DeLoach nailed a 37 yard FG to bring things to a 9-7 score.
St Andrews would convert chunk play after chunk play, as Williams and Winn connect once again for another 20+ yard reception. Shortly there after, De’orsey would punch his second rushing score of the evening, this time from 1 yard out, and regaining a 14-9 lead as we head into halftime.
As the second half began, so did the fireworks show.
TKA received the second half kick and immediately applied pressure, as Beneby connected with Porcher once again for a long 45 yard score. Porcher flew down the Scottie sideline completely unscathed without a man in red nearby.
Please ignore the terrible video on my end- I was making sure TKA’s Strength Coach, Jeremy Evans, wasn’t going to run into me in celebration. That probably would’ve hurt. Anyways, we have yet another lead change as TKA now holds a 17-14 score on St Andrews.
It seemed like once a quarter we got a Williams/Winn connection and the 4th was no different. Jack Williams unleashed a firework to the speedy Wesley Winn, who flew down the right side of the field in route to a 37 yard score. Winn carried his top speed through the end zone as he made a beeline to his supporters section, high five-ing the entire Scots Student Section.
The madness continues as the Lions return on offense and prepare to march. Suddenly, TKA is faced with a crucial 4th down. Beneby drops back, gets pressured, climbs the pocket and throws a dime to Jack Miller who moves the chains for the Lions. On the following down, Beneby hits TE Hudson Champion (’26) on a TE wheel to take a 24-21 lead.
Moments later, De’Orsey secured the Scot win with his third rushing TD of the evening, cementing things 28-24.
Legends are solidified when you make plays as the lights get the brightest. After a somewhat quiet campaign earlier in the evening from St Andrews’ star WR Dylan Faison, he knew it was time to make his mark on the game. Jack Williams dropped back, had a clean pocket and set off a rocket to Faison who dragged the toes as he slid inside the five.
Following the games completion, I caught up with St Andrews HC Jimmy Robertson, who had nothing but praise for his opponent following the tough victory:
“They {TKA} play the game the right way, same with us here at St Andrews.” Coach Robertson said “I love this game, we came out on top this week, but it’s a great start Week 1 of South Florida football…. We try to put our guys in tough situations, our guys have a chip on their shoulder, I’m glad that we were challenged, and I’m glad we found a way to win.”
The St Andrews Scots advance to 1-0 on the year, and prepare to take on the St John Paul II Eagles next Friday night, August 29.
