WELLINGTON – Even though a seemingly endless amount of rain haunted the forecast, Palm Beach Central Broncos quarterback Anarjahe Douriet felt his wide receivers were largely unaffected by it.
“It was wet, so you’d expect dropped balls,” Douriet said. “They didn’t drop too many.”
Douriet, a senior leader on offense for the Broncos, finished the game with over 200 passing yards and three touchdown passes in his team’s 28-14 win over the Palm Beach Gardens Gators. The victory clinched the District 10-8A title tonight for the Broncos (7-2; 4-0 in 10-8A).
“[Douriet] has had his ups and downs, but he’s a senior. He’s a battler, he’s learning a brand new system where he’s finally gotten through the season,” Palm Beach Central head coach Scott Littles said about Douriet. “We hope that the lessons he’s learned throughout the season will carry him into the playoffs and give us a chance to play good ball against whoever we play.”
Douriet’s first touchdown came early in the second quarter, when an interception by Keyshaun Widner set up a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bryan Robinson. Later in the quarter, Douriet connected with Robinson again for a 20-yard touchdown, putting the Broncos up 14-0.
On the drive following Robinson’s second touchdown, Palm Beach Gators quarterback Lynden Moss connected with Jabril Jarrett for a 70-yard touchdown.
That touchdown would be all the Gators would achieve in the first half though, as an interception by Kamron Young returned for a touchdown would put the Broncos up 21-7 going into halftime.
Douriet’s third touchdown came late in the third quarter, when he connected with Cedric Johnson for a 10-yard touchdown. The touchdown would prove to be needed insurance, as an Ernest Blackshear touchdown run threatened to cut the Broncos lead late.
The Gators, however, would be unable to score again, as an interception by DeAngelo Pompey late in the fourth quarter would secure the Broncos victory.
Not only does the win guarantee Palm Beach Central a third consecutive district title, but it also guarantees the Broncos a home game in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs.
“I would be lying to you if I said it wasn’t validating, but it’s more for our kids. I’ve won district titles, I’ve won regional titles. I’m proud of our kids,” Littles said about winning the district title. “More so, I’m proud of our kids because when I showed up, we weren’t supposed to be here. When I showed up, the message was, ‘Central won’t be this, Central won’t be that.’“
Despite the loss, the Gators (6-2; 3-1 in 10-8A) remain very much in 8A playoff contention heading into their season finale at home in Week 11 against undefeated and No. 1-ranked Palm Beach Lakes (7-0).
