Coconut Creek, the No. 15 ranked team in the state of Florida (per MaxPreps), has won the district championship for the second time in the last three years.
West Boca provided a scare early on in the first quarter. Four-star running back Javian Mallory quickly cashed in on two touchdowns to give the Bulls a 12-0 lead. It was a stunning start to the game but the excitement might have gotten to the Bulls too fast.
Coconut Creek didn’t back down as running back Jamarie Hostzclaw showed off his speed, swerving through the Bulls defense to score the Cougars’ first touchdown of the night (18 yard touchdown).
Coconut Creek did not stop there. Quarterback James Hayes threw a beautiful 60-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eirik Simmons as Creek came back to take a 14-12 lead at the end of the first half. Simmons had just enough separation to make the catch over safety Maddox Haase, who was named to ESPN’s Top 63 list.
In the second half, the Cougars dominated even more. Hostzclaw scored his second touchdown of the game to make it 21-12.
Next, Hayes threw his second touchdown of the game to wide receiver Godson Sinelien to extend Creek’s lead to 28-12. It was a basic pass that should have been just 10 yards, but it resulted in a massive 43-yard touchdown after cornerback Jesse Richardson missed a huge tackle. Sinelien caused two more defenders to miss (Jaydin Broadnax and Maxwell Reid), ultimately walking into the end-zone.
This was the story of the game for the Bulls, who were already short-handed on defense after starting cornerback Shamauri O’brien was ejected on West Boca’s first defensive play of the game.
The Cougars extended their lead even more (36-12) after Hayes connected with Simmons again, this time for a 30-yard touchdown. Simmons beat Haase again on a deep route. Creek’s size and speed became too much for the Bulls defense to control or even limit.
It was too little, too late. The Bulls had no chance of coming back with little time left, especially against a Coconut Creek team that capitalizes on every missed opportunity.
Javian Mallory didn’t care, though, as he scored his third touchdown of the game on an 80-yard screen pass from his cousin, quarterback Mason Mallory. The future NFL running back finished the game with 260 total yards (200 receiving), three touchdowns, and two two-point conversions (a run and a pass).
Running back Jordan Thompson scored Coconut Creek’s final touchdown of the game. The Cougars won 42-28 on senior night, capturing the district championship.
There are no moral victories, but West Boca put up 28 points against a team that only lost by eight points to Chaminade Madonna (the second best team in Florida per MaxPreps). But at the end of the day, West Boca lost. Had the game ended after one quarter, West Boca would have won. But that’s not how high school football works. Simply, West Boca dropped a crucial district game.
Hayes, a senior standing at 6-4, 215 pounds, threw three touchdowns with no interceptions and rushed for over 100 yards in just three quarters.
West Boca’s defense struggled to contain Hayes all night long. From missing tackles to recording many penalties, the Bulls allowed a ton of yards. Simply put, West Boca had no answers for Coconut Creek in the second half.
Jaydin Broadnax was West Boca’s lone star on defense. The cornerback, who has an offer from FAU, recorded his first interception of the season (in the red-zone). He also provided shut-down coverage when the ball was thrown his way. Simply put, Broadnax is extremely impressive physically, as he stands at 6-foot-3 with arms that stretch down to his knees.
Coconut Creek is now 6-2 while West Boca falls to 5-2.
The Cougars will travel to Hollywood next Friday night to take on the McArthur Mustangs. Creek has officially clinched a spot in the FHSAA playoffs, but winning their final two games will affect seeding and secure a home playoff game for the Cougars.
West Boca, meanwhile, travels to Oakland Park to take on a struggling Northeast Hurricanes team that sits at 1-6. West Boca needs to win out in order to make the playoffs. In two weeks, the Bulls’ chances of making the playoffs will all fall on their matchup with district rival Blanche Ely. West Boca last made the playoffs in 2012 – they lost to Blanche Ely in the first round.
COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Top Shot Files
