LANTANA – Remember where you are, so you remember where you were when Santaluces proved the doubters wrong.
For the first time since 2009, the Santaluces Chiefs (6-2, 3-0 11-8A) defeated the Park Vista Cobras (6-4, 2-1 11-8A), as they rode running back Val Carnegie in the second half to a 22-17 victory on Friday (Oct. 25).
The victory secures the District 11-8A title and clinches a playoff spot for the Chiefs.
“Our kids are on cloud nine right now,” Santaluces head coach Brian Coe said. “Not only did we get a chance to play our crosstown rivals that have owned us for the last 10 years, [but] we got a chance to play them for the district championship.”
Early on in the game, it was the defenses that stole the show.
Park Vista began most of its early drives deep inside Santaluces territory, but the Cobras were only able to come away with one touchdown when quarterback Gio Thomas scored on a 2-yard keeper midway through the second quarter, putting the road team up 8-0.
The Chiefs tied the game on their next drive from scrimmage on a 51-yard touchdown run by Eric Wallace. The drive was set up by a 20-yard pass to Wallace from Kobe Lewis on a third-and-long situation.
While the Chiefs and Cobras went into halftime tied, it was running back Val Carnegie who proved to be the difference in the second half for the Chiefs.
After a stop by the Chiefs defense, the offense – led by Carnegie – took the field and scored on a short touchdown run by quarterback Kobe Lewis.
After the Chiefs forced a turnover on downs inside their territory, they took over and promptly relied on Carnegie, who despite battling a minor ankle injury, took the ball down to the goal line, where Thurlynne Benniefield punched it in on a quarterback sneak.
In the fourth quarter, things got a little uncomfortable for the Chiefs.
Following a fumble by Carnegie, Park Vista took over at the Santaluces 5-yard line, where Gio Thomas punched it in again for his team. The score, which put the Cobras down 22-15, was the final touchdown they would score.
For Carnegie, the victory over Park Vista is the conclusion of everything that he and his teammates have worked for.
“It feels great. You know, we lost to [Park Vista] since I’ve been here, like 50-0 every year,” Carnegie said. “It’s a blessing to finally beat them. It’s a blessing to finally be district champs. We get to put a banner in our gym, so that’s a great feeling.”
For Coe, he was excited to see the seniors that stuck with the program through some of the down years get to shine and appreciate a district championship.
“They stayed here with each other, believed in each other and accomplished this. What more can you say for that, that’s just an awesome job,” Coe said. “It’s one of those stories that you just love to hear and tell. We’ll be telling this story for a while.”
OTHER WEEK 10 FINAL SCORES: PALM BEACH COUNTY
No. 1 Palm Beach Lakes 53, Martin County 23
Record now: Palm Beach Lakes (8-0; 4-0 in 12-7A)
No. 2 Delray Beach Atlantic 34, Ely 16
Record now: Atlantic (6-2; 3-0 in 13-7A)
No. 4 Palm Beach Central 28, No. 3 Palm Beach Gardens 14 – Thurs., Oct. 24
Records now: Palm Beach Central (7-2; 4-0 in 10-8A), Palm Beach Gardens (6-2; 3-1 in 10-8A)
No. 9 Cardinal Newman 35, No. 5 Delray American Heritage 21
Records now: Cardinal Newman (6-2), American Heritage (5-4)
No. 6 Boca Raton 42, Spanish River 14
Records now: Boca Raton 6-3; 2-1 in 12-8A), Spanish River (0-9; 0-3 in 12-8A)
No. 10 Forest Hill 28, Jupiter 14
Records now: Forest Hill (6-3; 1-3 in 10-8A), Jupiter (5-4; 1-3 in 10-8A)
Benjamin 49, King’s Academy 14
Records now: Benjamin (6-3), King’s Academy (5-5)
Pahokee 24, Clewiston 14
Record now: Pahokee (3-5)
St. Andrew’s 21, St. John Paul II 2
Records now: St. Andrew’s (7-2), St. John Paul II (4-4)
Royal Palm Beach 36, Pompano Beach 6
Record now: Royal Palm Beach (5-3)
Suncoast 13, Boynton Beach 12
Records now: Suncoast (4-5; 1-2 in 14-5A), Boynton Beach (2-5; 0-3 in 14-5A)
West Boca Raton 43, Olympic Heights 14
Records now: West Boca Raton (1-7; 1-2 in 13-7A), Olympic Heights (2-7; 0-3 in 13-7A)
Seminole Ridge 35, Dwyer 9
Records now: Seminole Ridge (5-3; 3-1 in 12-7A), Dwyer (2-6; 1-3 in 12-7A)
Lake Worth 48, John I. Leonard 20 – Thurs., Oct. 24
Records now: Lake Worth (3-5; 1-2 in 11-8A), John I. Leonard (2-7; 0-3 in 11-8A)
Okeechobee 48, Glades Day 40
– Thurs., Oct. 24
Record now: Glades Day (1-7)
SSAC PLAYOFFS – CONSOLATION
Jupiter Christian 17, Central Florida Christian Academy 6 – Thurs., Oct. 24
Record now: Jupiter Christian (1-8)
SSAC PLAYOFFS – FIRST ROUND
Bradenton Christian 48, Inlet Grove 33
Record now: Inlet Grove (3-7)
FIFC PLAYOFF – SEMIFINALS
Palmer Trinity 23, Boca Raton Christian 19
Record now: Boca Raton Christian (4-5)
WEEK 10 GAMES: TONIGHT (OCT. 26)
SSAC PLAYOFFS – FIRST ROUND
Berean Christian (4-4) vs. Shorecrest Prep (2-6) at Wellington High School – 7 p.m. kickoff
Glades Central (4-4) at Monsignor Pace (3-5) – 7:30 p.m. kickoff
PHOTO CREDIT: Kevin Fielder
