WEST PALM BEACH – Previous No. 1 Benjamin and No. 2 King’s Academy may have played the game of year in a fourth quarter thriller.
The Buccaneers were the favorite going into last night’s matchup as they were given a 69 percent chance to defeat the Lions.
The pressure to win this type of game is unimaginable as it is a rivalry game and has some implications on playoff seeding the following week.
Both squads started slow, but the first half would be all Benjamin as they seemed to just be playing at a different speed and clicking on all cylinders.
Midway through the first quarter Benjamin scored on a run by Jo-Jo Labovick to make it 7-0.
The King’s Academy defense would be an anchor for the majority of the first half until right before halftime, when Benjamin scored on a quarterback sneak by Santino Marucci with 11.3 seconds left before halftime to make it 14-0.
Things would begin to look grim for King’s Academy with seven minutes left in the third quarter as Benjamin took a 21-0 lead. This happened after the Bucs forced a three-and-out to start the second half and then drove the ball 80 yards. The drive was capped off with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Marucci to Under Armour All-American Ka’iir Elam.
The Lions would get moving after a 38-yard scramble by quarterback Justin Wake. But the drive would be stalled after a 14-yard sack by Labovick, who also plays at linebacker for Benjamin.
At this point in the game some fans began to leave due to it looking as if things would get out of hand, with the home team losing on senior night.
Wake would put the Lions on the board late in the third quarter on a 31-yard run to make it 21-7.
The Lions defense would anchor down to begin the fourth quarter and come up with a huge interception by Issac Scroggins, which later set up a 19-yard touchdown pass from Wake to Drew Leuchey with 10:57 left in the game to make it 21-14.
It would be a back-and-forth battle as both squads began to realize this game would go down to the wire. Kings Academy had 70 yards to go if it wanted to score with 1:42 left in the game.
The Bucs defense seemed to have a beat on the Lions until the final seconds, when Wake and Luchey would hook up on a perfectly placed pass in the right corner of the end zone on the last play of the game to make it 21-20.
King’s originally was set up to kick an extra point, which went through. Everyone at the game thought this one would go into overtime, but an offsides penalty by Benjamin would prove to be a huge difference maker for both teams.
King’s Academy head coach Keith Allen had full faith in Wake to make the call, as the Lions lined up for a two-point conversion and scored on a quarterback draw by Wake.
This epic play ended the game to complete their 22-21 comeback win on Senior Night. This was a wild ending as you could truly feel the pressure of such a paramount game.
King’s Academy captured its third conference title in a row with the win.
Offensive MVP of the game: King’s Academy quarterback Justin Wake (two passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and game-winning two-point conversion score)
Defensive MVP of the game: Kings Academy Stiles Higgins (sack, three tackles for loss, three quarterback pressures, and forced fumble)
“We didn’t want to go to overtime,” Allen said. “We wanted to take it to them. I’m so proud of this football team. We were down 14-0 and Benjamin was having their way up and down the field, and it wasn’t looking good. At halftime we challenged them as a coaching staff to play Lion football in the second half. Our kids stepped up and did it. I’m so proud of these guys.”
This was the conclusion of the regular season for both teams, as King’s Academy and Benjamin finish with identical 9-1 records.
Next game for King’s Academy: Class 3A playoffs in November; opponent to be determined at a later date.
Next game for Benjamin: Class 3A playoffs in November; opponent to be determined at a later date.
