BOCA RATON – Boca Raton (2-2) and Olympic Heights (1-3) took tough losses at home in Week 4 and will look to get things on track on Thursday night (Sept. 22).
After being on a hot two-game winning streak, the Bobcats were uprooted by the Atlantic Eagles in a 43-7 loss that was their home opener.
The Bobcats are a work in progress with a very young team that is finding their identity. They are very close to doing so.
Seniors Hidalgo and Collin Bender have been a staple in Boca Raton’s offense. They are real bright spots that you cannot ignore, even when the odds are stacked against the Bobcats.
Hidalgo is looking to get his hands on the ball every chance that he gets and always making the first guy miss. Bender’s ability to stretch a defense and go deep will be something to watch Thursday.
Freshman quarterback Chance Routson is figuring things out. But he is not scared to let the ball fly to his playmakers.
Head coach David Angell uses his talent on offense and defense very wisely in being able to pick apart undisciplined teams.
Boca Raton’s defense has not been stellar this year by the amount of points it has allowed, as it has given up 25.5 points per game after four games played. But the proof of a good defense is evident with a few playmakers that are flying under the radar.
Senior linebacker Brock Anderson leads the team in tackles (30) and second in tackles for loss with five.
Junior linebacker Gabriel Birnbaum is a name everyone will need to get used to hearing in the near future. He has tallied 17 tackles with nine tackles for loss, and he is the sack leader for the Bobcats with five total.
Boca Raton’s secondary is lined with senior talent that has tallied four interceptions in four games played. A standout is David Wiliams, who will be an impact player to watch in the secondary, on offense at running back, and on special teams.
Meanwhile, Olympic Heights does not tell the whole story as to how much potential it could truly have.
The Lions care of business in Week 1 against the Suncoast Chargers and got the 14-12 win. But since then, they have lost three in a row with one bad loss (42-6 in Week 3) coming from an undefeated Santaluces squad.
The Lions only lost by a combined eight points in two games that could have gone either way. They could easily be sitting at 3-1 right now had things went their way against John I. Leonard (6-3 loss in Week 2) lost and Lake Worth (12-7 loss in Week 4).
Senior quarterback Shawn Kay has a big arm and he is not afraid to use it. He is a threat to go deep if a defense is sleeping.
Fellow senior Jacob Lassin recorded seven receptions for 176 yards last week against Lake Worth.
The Kay and Lassin Show will need to continue this week for the Lions offense.
Senior Parker Poloskey is a dynamic player for Olympic Heights. At both tight end and defensive end, he makes plays on both sides of the ball – so much so that his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame sticks out like a sore thumb on film.
Lions senior defensive back Bill Charles is very active and versatile, as he can come downhill and lay the wood like a linebacker or be put on an island one-on-one with an opponent’s top wideout. He has been consistent in his play and that will need to continue on Thursday.
It will be interesting to see how Hidalgo will effectively line up across from Charles.
Olympic Heights will be playing for respect and end its three-game losing streak. The Lions will needs to play a complete game to take down the Bobcats.
Boca Raton will be looking to win its first home game of the season. Angell has his team in prime position to go on another two-game winning streak if they take care of business Thursday.
The kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. tonight in Boca Raton.
