PALM BEACH GARDENS – Santino Marucci had one goal in mind this season.
All eyes for him, his teammates, and his coaches were on King’s Academy, a team that spoiled their undefeated season dreams last year and surprised everyone with a run to the Class 3A title game.
For Marucci, it was all about making sure the tables turned in his team’s favor this year.
In just three quarters of play, Palm Beach County’s best overall quarterback played perhaps his best game ever in last week’s 49-14 win over King’s Academy (5-5). The three-star college recruit and junior accounted for six touchdowns, passing for four of them and rushing for the other two.
Three of Marucci’s touchdown passes were to senior two-way standout Daniel McCullon – two 20-yarders and a 60-yarder in the third quarter.
McCullon took the time to comment on those game-changing moments.
“Santino and I have always had that connection,” McCullon said. “Many times we’ve done those same routes and made those same throws, and to put it all together come game time was great. He trusts me to get where I need to be, and I trust him to put it there. When we both play to our potentials and everything’s clicking, those are the game results you’re going to get.”
McCullon didn’t stop there.
“The kid’s very special, and he hasn’t even reached the peak of his play yet,” McCullon said.
In what was quite possibly the best overall quarterback performance of the season in Palm Beach County, Marucci also did not turn the ball over en route to his MVP of Week 10 honor. He is the only player in Palm Beach County to have been a two-winner this season.
“Santino’s special,” McCullon said. “He was laser focused all week coming into the game, even helping out the seniors. He took on the role of leading the team with some of our key players hurt. He always leads by example off the field, but this week he made sure he left everything he had on that field. In all, he had a great game, and there isn’t many weeks where he isn’t in the running for being the MVP of the Week.”
Benjamin head coach Eric Kresser spoke on Marucci’s performance against King’s Academy.
“That’s Santino,” Kresser said. “He’s capable of doing that every week. When everything is clicking and everyone is doing their job, he should have those numbers every week.”
Marucci discussed the importance of he and his teammates needing to perform at such a high level in last Friday night’s (Oct. 26) 35-point win over King’s Academy.
“We have been thinking about this game for 365 days,” Marucci said. “Everyone knows what happened last. We had one goal, and we made it happen.”
NOTE: The next and final regular season game for Marucci and Benjamin (6-3) is tonight at home against Archbishop McCarthy (2-7). The kickoff is set for 7 p.m. kickoff.
Should Benjamin win this game tonight, Marucci and his team will finish with a 7-3 regular season record and end up with a likely berth in the Class 3A playoffs.
PHOTO CREDIT: Maria McCullon
