DELRAY BEACH – Somerset Academy Canyons (4-3) is still fighting for a playoff berth after defeating American Heritage-Delray (2-5).
American Heritage is not a team you can sleep on just because of its record. That much became very real for Somerset as it found itself down 7-0 in the first quarter.
A fumble was recovered for a touchdown by American Heritage’s Ryan Vanscoy. The score was followed by an extra point from kicker Jake Weinberg.
Somerset got off to a very slow start. But things turned around when senior running back David Duong scored on a 9-yard run later in the first quarter.
“Our offensive line was blocking great,” Duong said. “I was reading my holes and I hit the hole right into the end zone.”
Senior quarterback Quincy Rowe turned things up right before halftime with a 7-yard touchdown pass to freshman Denairius Gray that gave the Cougars a 14-7 lead going into halftime.
“We have two of the best wide receivers in Palm Beach County, probably in the country (Waden Charles and Gray),” Rowe said. “It’s easy out there with them. If we have a deep ball, we throw it.”
THE WADEN CHARLES SHOW
Charles owned the second half of this district matchup.
The sophomore went 79 yards straight down the middle of the field on a pass from Rowe to open the second half. This play gave the Cougars the momentum they needed to put the Stallions on their heels.
“We had momentum on defense, but we weren’t sparking on offense,” Charles said. “Coach set up a play for me to make a touchdown, and I knew I had to make it happen. And that’s what I did.”
The Stallions would close the gap some on a field goal from Weinberg that made the game 20-10 with a little over four minutes left in the quarter.
With less than two minutes left in the game, Charles would show up again – this time on a 42-yard rushing touchdown that started with a handoff from Rowe and ended with Charles racing down the Stallions sideline to seal the game.
Somerset head coach Alex Gonzalez spoke on the team’s 27-16 victory over its fellow District 10-2M opponent.
“Our main focus this week was to focus on the moment every day at practice,” Gonzalez said. “Coming into the game, I told the boys we’re just focusing on this game and nothing else. We have a goal at hand, and it’s still alive.”
The Cougars were able to put their two-game losing streak behind them. They will now focus on the road ahead as they look to stay in the playoff race.
NEXT FOR CANYONS: Week 9 on the road at Somerset Academy-Pembroke Pines in a non-district game (Thursday, Oct. 20).
GAME SIDE NOTE: The Stallions fought until the very end – literally. With no time left on the clock, they scored on a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Joshua Ramos to Vanscoy.
NEXT FOR HERITAGE: Bye in Week 9
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