Palm Beach, FL.- This is November!
Tonight (November 22), the Palm Beach Central Broncos hosted the Vero Beach Fighting Indians for the FHSAA 7A Region 3 Semifinals.
Tonight’s 772 v 561 contest was an absolutely electric defensive battle between two of the top programs in the quad county area. Blows were traded, three and outs ensued, defenses bent but never broke, especially early in the contest.
Through almost two quarters of play, we were at a stalemate 0-0. That was until Vero was faced with a 4th and long in plus territory, just under 45 seconds remaining in the half. Freshman QB Champ Monds sprung into play action, opened out his drop, and hit a wide open Jamarion Hillsman in stride, who ran it in for a 45 yard score.
Vero would enter the intermission leading Central 7-0.
Central sprung right back to open the second half, as Nedrick Boldin would take a squibbed kickoff an extra 30 yards for a big Bronco gain. PBC would continue marching down the field, before Chance Routson found Matis Gibson for a 25 yard TD pass, cutting the Vero lead to 7-6. The Fighting Indians’ special teams unit handled business on the PAT, blocking the kick before it got started, keeping the lead.
Midway through the 4th, Central would take their first lead of the night. Routson connected with Kamare Williams for a hook and ladder turned 90 yard YAC TD score, taking a 13-7 Bronco lead. The lead was short lived, as Champ Monds led Vero back down the field on a drive that ended with him calling his own number for a 2 yard QB keeper.
In the final minute and a half of the game, all hell broke loose. Central would regain the lead again, as Routson found a wide open Nedrick Boldin for a 42 yard score. The Broncos would elect to kick the extra point, rather than going for two, making things a 20-14 ball game.
On the VERY NEXT kickoff, freshman returner Latravious Woods would take the kick 97 yards to the house for another Vero Beach score. With time winding down, Palm Beach Central could not capitalize and move down field to get into FG range, ending the game.
Vero Beach defeats Palm Beach Central 21-20 to advance to the 7A Region 3 Finals, where they will travel to Orlando, FL. to face off against Dr. Philips on Friday, November 29.
