PALM BEACH GARDENS – It was all about the first half on Monday night (Nov. 14) for Palm Beach Gardens senior quarterback Brand Campbell.
Our MVP of Week 12 had a great performance in the Class 4M-Region 3 quarterfinals against Wellington, as he completed 11 of 15 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He also added three rushes for 18 yards and one touchdown on a quarterback sneak play.
Campbell (6-foot, 185 pounds) had a few plays in particular to remember in the first half for the Gators (8-3), a 30-13 winner at home over the Wolverines (6-5 final record).
Two of them were for touchdown passes directly to senior wide receiver Devin Simmons, with the first one coming at the 8:26 mark of the first quarter.
Palm Beach Gardens took a 7-0 lead right after the Campbell-Simmons touchdown connection, which resulted in an extra point made by senior athlete Malcolm Tucker.
Wellington tied the game up at 7-7 later in the first quarter, courtesy of a 7-yard touchdown run by running back Garrens Catul and an extra point by kicker Andres Amaya.
The game was still knotted at 7-7 until 8:37 left in the second quarter, when Tucker connected on a short field goal. This put Palm Beach Gardens back up 10-7.
The remaining 20 points scored for Palm Beach Gardens happened after it was less than four minutes left in the first half.
A touchdown run by junior athlete Johnnari Rumph extended the Gators lead to 16-7 with 3:48 left.
After the Gators defense stopped any potential progress by the Wolverines offense on at least two crucial late first half drives, Campbell went to work and did his part to put this game out of reach.
With 2:17 left, as a host of Wolverines were closing in on Campbell for a third down sack, the Gators quarterback somehow escaped the pressure and found a contested Simmons right at the end zone on a contested pass.
The game’s best play resulted in a 22-7 lead for Palm Beach Gardens.
And to close the scoring out, Campbell powered himself into the end zone on a quarterback sneak with 26 seconds left.
This play let opponents know that he can make impact plays both in the air and on the ground.
Campbell did get help on the next play.
It was a two-point conversion run by junior running back Landon Carr, who made the score at 30-7 in favor of Palm Beach Gardens.
The only score that took place in the second half was a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Wellington senior quarterback Ryan Anthony to senior wide receiver Vincent Soriero. This play proved to be the game’s final score.
”Brand came in throughout the course of the week with great preparation,” Palm Beach Gardens offensive coordinator OBrian Edwards said. “He came in, took coaching, applied whatever was being taught to him, and just worked hard the whole week. Asked questions and made sure he turned in his assignments…Put in the game plan and executed it well. Kudos to him.”
Edwards had more to say about Campbell.
“Brand is a tough guy,” Edwards said. “He can take a lick, get back up, and keep going again. I call him indestructible. He’ll take a hit and get back up. This is you’re seeing from him.”
Campbell deflected any kind of praise or credit for this Monday night playoff win.
“It’s not about me. It’s about the offense,” Campbell said. “The receivers made a lot of catches for me, especially Devin on that one play. We have all been coming together over the past three games. Without the receivers, there’s no me. Without the o-line, there’s no me. Without the running backs, there’s no me. The offense is coming together as a whole. We’re moving.”
As a result of the home win, No. 3 seed Palm Beach Gardens will advance to the Class 4M-Region 3 semifinal round at No. 2 seed Monarch (9-2). The next Gators game will take place on Saturday (Nov. 19) at 7:30 p.m. in Coconut Creek.
PHOTO CREDITS: Clara Sales
