OAKLAND PARK – It was a playoff finish to remember, to say the very least.
Palm Beach Gardens dug deep and found a way to prevail in a 35-28 overtime win last night (Nov. 19) over Monarch.
Here is how the third-seeded Gators (9-3) came out on top in the Class 4M-Region 3 semifinal:
•Knotted in a 28-28 tie with the second-seeded Knights (9-3 final record) to end regulation, the Gators received the ball first to start overtime.
On the very first play from the 10-yard line – each team gets four downs to score on each overtime possession – senior quarterback Brand Campbell found junior athlete Christian Lopez in the middle of the end zone and fired off an easy touchdown pass to make it 34-28.
The next play was for an extra point, and senior athlete Malcolm Tucker – also known as Mr. Everything – connected on it through the uprights for a 35-28 lead. Tucker was 5-for-5 on extra points, which proved to be critical in this one.
•With the chance to tie this game or win it in overtime – the Knights were likely thinking about an end zone score and a two-point conversion try – the “home” team had four tries to get it done. After two failed attempts to reach the end zone, junior quarterback AJ Hairston – who did not get sacked at all in this one – was aiming right for the end zone.
On third down, Hairston’s pass was in traffic and somehow, Gators junior athlete Keyon Stephens came up with the ball and intercepted it.
This play sent the Gators into pandemonium mode toward the middle of the field as they celebrated their overtime win over the Knights in style.
And with that, Palm Beach Gardens will advance to the 4M – Region 3 championship game on Black Friday (Nov. 25; 6:30 p.m. kickoff) at top-seeded Palm Beach Central (11-1).
“We knew what was on the line,” Palm Beach Gardens junior defensive back Michael Wright said. “They had two receivers over to the side. They motioned and we checked. I said I got the inside receiver and they both (Stephens and junior defensive back Caleb Chamberlain) were out. He (Stephens) just picked the ball off.”
Wright had more to say about the Palm Beach Gardens win.
“Losing wasn’t an option for us,” Wright said. “It wasn’t an option.”
In the fourth quarter, it seemed as if overtime would not be necessary.
Hanging on to a 21-20 lead at the end of the third frame – the only score in that quarter came off a 12-yard touchdown run by senior Desean Butler with 6:24 left – Palm Beach Gardens made its running game come alive with nice runs for positive yardage by the likes of Butler and senior Aidan Parker.
The Gators eventually reached the Knights 3-yard line – they got there by way of a holding penalty against the defense from the 5-yard line. And on the next play, junior running back Landon Carr powered his way to the end zone in the middle of the field.
With Tucker’s extra point, Palm Beach Gardens extended the lead to 28-20 over Monarch.
But it did not last until the final buzzer because Hairston was not about to go down without a fight.
Hairston marched his offense methodically down the field by taking time off the clock. And with 1:50 left in the fourth quarter, he found a wide open Samari Reed for the touchdown pass.
To tie the game up at 28-28, Hairston threw to Jabari Brady, who then found Walter Parrish in the end zone for a successful two-point conversion.
Palm Beach Gardens got the ball back, but could not get far enough to win it in regulation.
“We prepared all week to play five quarters,” said Chamberlain, who recorded a crucial pass breakup in the second half. “When it came down to it [in overtime], Keyon was in the right position. He did a good job.”
The lines on offense and defense held up when it mattered in this one.
“All we had to do was beat the trenches up,” Gators senior offensive lineman Tyshawn Etienne said. “We had to finish in the trenches. When it came down to the last play, we knew we had to get the quarterback out of the pocket and Keyon made the play. That was ball game.”
This win meant a lot to Tucker, who made plays on offense and defense as well.
“The whole team played for the seniors,” Tucker said. “They didn’t want the seniors to go home. I love these boys.”
Palm Beach Gardens head coach Tyrone Higgins was seen celebrating with his team at the middle of the field right after that last play. This win meant a lot to him as well.
“I beat myself up personally for the first two points scored, and they [the players] got me out of that,” Higgins said. “Amazing group. I’m so emotionally drained right now. It was a great game. Monarch has a great coaching staff, and those kids are good kids. It was a hell of a contest. I’m just happy we came out on the winning end of things. On to the third round.”
