It was yet another rainy night in Boca Raton. The Saint Andrew’s Scots were set to take on the American Heritage (Delray) Stallions in a district matchup.
Despite the rain, the Scots offense was clicking on all cylinders Monday night, but especially running back Jackson Parke in their 42-6 win. Parke had four rushing touchdowns, including a completed pass on a two-point conversion.
“It was a district game, we just needed to come out and play the game we needed to play,” Jackson Parke said. “We got two games this week so we just want to shut out this one and take it game by game… and come out and keep winning.”
Head coach Jimmy Robertson had great things to say about his running back:
“Jackson Parke is one of a kind. He was my water boy when he was in fifth grade… he came through the program… he is a Saint Andrew’s kid. He is a two year captain. I have a special relationship with Jackson and athletically, he is one of the best guys out there. He can catch the football. He can play defense. Obviously you saw him… he can throw a touchdown. He’s just a great kid and a great athlete.”
Since Saint Andrew’s is a private school, it allows Coach Robertson to get to know kids for longer than the traditional four years. That’s why he has such a strong connection with Parke.
“That’s why I love my job… I think I have the best job. I get to build relationships with these kids and their families. And most of the kids that come to Saint Andrew’s, they stay at Saint Andrew’s. And it’s something I am very proud of and it’s a way we build our culture and obviously you can see we are taking the next step and we are winning football games with kids that buy into the program and kids that I knew since middle school.”
The Scots defense also played lights out, giving up only one touchdown the entire game.
Teddy Hoffman had a big interception on the Scots’ first defensive possession, as well as three pass breakups, and five tackles.
Hoffman wasn’t the only star on defense, though. It was Saint Andrew’s LB Oliver Vickers-Murphy, who had four sacks and five tackles for a loss.
On his performance, the Aussie said that “It felt different today. I just felt more comfortable out on the field. It was very different than my other games. In the other games, I was just kicking out my cobwebs. I feel like we had a great full contact practice. I just did my part.”
The stat-line is incredible, but it becomes even more impressive when you find out that Vickers-Murphy is from Australia.
“It’s just a great experience, it’s once in a lifetime, not many kids get to do what I’m doing so I am very grateful to be in this position,” he said. “I am very grateful for Saint Andrew’s, coach Jimmy Robertson, and all of the coaching staff to give me the opportunity. It’s just difficult. I like to be a role model for other international kids, not only Australians, to come over and play.”
The Scots’ special teams unit also got it done. After a muffed snap on a punt, punter Connor Hofbauer scrambled 65 yards for a touchdown. In life, sometimes mistakes turn into rewards. Because of the low snap, Hofbauer was forced to run the ball… and it resulted in a massive touchdown.
“We just got the job done on all three phases of the game,” head coach Jimmy Robertson said. “We’ve been waiting for this game, district game, so I’m excited that we got a win… it was a big win for us.”
Jimmy Roberston, who has been with Saint Andrew’s for eight years, thinks this is one of his best teams ever, if not his best:
“We are just hungry. These guys want recognition and we got a lot of great football players on this team. We are excited. We are a special team. We keep on winning… we are doing the right thing.”
Saint Andrew’s is now 5-1 as the Scots look to continue their momentum.
Vickers-Murphy surely thinks that the 42-6 win will motivate them to do even better, stating that “The motivation that we got from winning this game will carry on. I can already tell we are going to have a great week of training, full pads hopefully again. Full pad training got us right for this game, so I don’t see why not we don’t keep doing it if we keep performing like that.”
Due to the weather, Saint Andrew’s will play another game this week (Friday night) against Oxbridge Academy. The Scots will hope the rain holds up because it is their homecoming game.
When asked about preparing for the ThunderWolves, who are 0-4, Parke said that “we are a good damn team. We are going to come out here, do our best, keep it real at practice, focus every minute, and we’ll come out hopefully with the win.”
Speaking of homecoming, it will be a special treat for Vickers-Murphy, who said postgame “I am still trying to figure out what homecoming is myself.” Surely, he will find out Friday night.
It was an unusual night for American Heritage Delray kicker Jake Weinberg, the FSU commit, who is the No. 1 kicker in the nation. For the first game this season, Weinberg had zero kick attempts, whether it was on a field goal or extra point. Heritage only got into field goal range once, and on that possession, Micheal Manna recorded a receiving touchdown. Weinberg was unable to get the extra point off after a bad snap.
The Stallions are now 3-3. They will have a bye week before facing a district team in Somerset Canyons on the road (in Boynton Beach).
