PALM BEACH COUNTY/TREASURE COAST – With Hurricane Ian coming down on South Florida, most games were moved and others were cancelled.
Here is the list of some key matchups with short previews for our area schools playing today (Oct. 3):
CARDINAL NEWMAN VS. JOHN CARROLL
Top-ranked Cardinal Newman (5-0) is just a dominant team that has imposed its will on opponents all year long. I do not believe there is a more complete in Palm Beach County than this one right now.
The Crusaders offense is running like a well oiled machine.
Junior quarterback Luke Warnock is leading the charge with 1,125 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns. Warnock’s top targets include senior Chris Presto (348 receiving yards, five touchdowns) Kevin Levy and Josh Philostin, who will blow past your best defensive back and go for six at the drop of a hat.
On the ground, senior Henry Bennett is a bruiser that has a great combo of speed and strength to carry a pile of defenders. Bennett leads the team with 327 yards and five touchdowns, while fellow running back/sophomore Jaylin Brown cannot be slept on with his 235 yards and three touchdowns.
The defense has been a staple for Crusaders with senior Maverick Gracio, who leads his team with 13 sacks, 26 tackles, and 11 tackles for loss. Vinkevus Pierre, Kristian Strong, Cole Dillion, and Ta’narie Locust are some names to look out for as well.
John Carroll (4-0) – ranked as the Treasure Coast’s No. 2 team at this time – has started the season fast with a great rushing attack by junior Tony Colebrook, who will almost always make the first guy miss or carry two and three defenders on his back into the end zone.
Through the air, senior quarterback Dawson Maehl has a cannon for an arm and his top two targets are seniors Marion Frederick and Freddie Pittman, who will take you deep.
The Golden Rams defense has been taking care of business all year long. They have given up 41 points in four games, 21 of which came in Week 1.
This will be an interesting matchup as both teams are undefeated and are top teams in their respective regions.
The kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
PAHOKEE VS. DWYER
Second-ranked Pahokee (4-1) has been on an absolute mission to destroy any team that gets in their way after a bad 40-12 loss in Week 1 to Cardinal Newman.
Sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons has started to settle into his role more comfortably midway through the season, which has helped Pahokee during its four-game winning streak. He has tallied 960 passing yards and nine touchdowns.
Simmons’ top targets to watch will be sophomore Hardley Gilmore (305 receiving yards) and senior Jashon Benjamin, who would be coming out of the backfield.
On the ground, Benjamin has turned up the heat and running like he is late for the bus. Benjamin leads all Palm Beach County running backs with 607 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
The defense is led by senior Deejay Holmes, who is a sack master with 15 on the season. His wingman Jacorris Foreman has 6.5 sacks on the season.
The Blue Devils defensive backs are not to be tested, as they have tallied 11 total interceptions this season. The secondary is led by senior James Jackson, who has two of them.
Dwyer (3-2) is coming off of a short week and tough victory over Glades Central that had to be played on two separate days due to weather.
The Panthers offense is led by running back Alex St. Julien, who had a two-touchdown performance against Glades Central that sealed his team’s 21-18 victory.
Dwyer’s defense was absolute nails against Glades Central in its last matchup by causing five turnovers, two of which came from Kyle McNeal (fumble recovery, interception return for touchdown).
Kerrington Lee will be a player to watch in the front seven, and defensive back Mikail Lee will have a chance to go against a top receiving core and wideouts. This will be interesting.
Pahokee will be looking to extend its winning streak to five games, while Dwyer will be looking to get an upset by beating two Muck teams in a row.
The kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
GAME OF WEEK 6: BOYNTON BEACH VS. SOMERSET ACADEMY CANYONS
Boynton Beach (3-2) will be looking to make it a three-game win streak at home tonight.
The Smith family has carried the Tigers in recent years and will looking to do the same again for their team’s homecoming showcase.
Senior quarterback Tyrone Smith can make it happen through the air or with his legs, while Bobby Smith Jr. is a top running back in the county who is always hard to bring down.
Meanwhile, Bobby “Phat” Smith is the athlete who can hurt your defense and offense.
Running back Marc Arcelin is a great compliment in the backfield as well. He shoots out of the backfield like a cannon and if he breaks free, it is going for six.
The Tigers offensive line is young. But they are starting to gel and gain confidence, which has helped improve the offense.
Wideouts Chris Morinvil, Ohmari Black, and Ali Moss can be game changers when Boynton Beach puts the ball in the air.
Defensive tackle Jamarous Thomas is the anchor along the Tigers front seven, along with Ridjy Hilaire, Riger Dorsainvil, and Diminsky Jean-Claude.
Defensive back Schneider Joseph will be a player to watch as well.
Meanwhile, Somerset Academy Canyons (3-1) is in great shape right now, as Quincy Rowe has his team rolling. He has been able to silently pass for 559 yards and 11 passing touchdowns, while adding 186 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in four games played.
Rowe’s top targets are sophomore Waden Charles (343 receiving yards, four touchdowns) and freshman Denairius Gray (204 receiving yards, six touchdowns).
The Cougars defense is led by Trajan Johnson with 37 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks. Charles has an impact on defense as well with 27 tackles and two interceptions.
Sebastien Blanc and Marco Saberson will be impact players to watch.
The kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
TREASURE COAST ACTION: MARTIN COUNTY VS. CENTENNIAL
This one has the makings of a potential instant classic that can go down to the wire.
Both teams are in a tough district with top-ranked Vero Beach (5-0; 1-0 in District 12-4S play) and third-ranked Treasure Coast (1-4; 1-0 in District 12-4S). Both teams want to be seen as at least a dark horse contender for the coveted District 12-4S crown.
But only one will get to earn that distinction tonight.
Sixth-ranked Martin County (4-1; 0-1 in District 12-4S) is led by sophomore signal caller Jayden Vega, who has been lighting the field up by passing for 751 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only three interceptions. He has proven to be one of the very best quarterbacks in the Treasure Coast this season.
Vega’s top targets include the likes of sophomore wide receiver Tristin Taylor (seven catches, 217 yards, team-high five touchdowns), senior Ricardo Weaver (198 receiving yards, four touchdowns), and senior Denzel Alexander (five total touchdowns).
The most important part of Martin County’s offense is the line. Let us not forget this group, which is led by the likes of sophomore Gage Wallace, junior Kaleb Ferschke, and junior Tyler Whitfield.
As for the defensive side of the ball, Martin County is led by sophomore athlete Jeron Atwater, who has 39 tackles, four sacks, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. Atwater has reliable assistance from the likes of Taylor and junior linebacker Valentino Poto, to name just two.
Meanwhile, fourth-ranked Centennial (4-1; 1-0 in District 12-4S) has been a solid all-around team in the first half of this season. The Eagles are led by senior quarterback Malik Torres, who has shown to be the most proven quarterback in the Treasure Coast with 1,019 passing yards for seven touchdowns and five interceptions.
Torres loves to spread the love to his receivers, as he has thrown at least one pass to 10 different offensive skill position players in at least one regular season game this all. The top targets are junior Isaiah Roberts (17 catches for 275 yards and three touchdowns) and sophomore Ze’Quan Wright (seven catches, 149 yards, two receiving touchdowns; four total scores).
On the other side of the ball, the Eagles secondary has been getting it done. The leaders include the like of Chandler Perceval (team-high two interceptions), DJ Dunbar, and Ricky Cooper.
As for the line on both sides of the ball?
Count on the likes of Angelo Gornitzky, Joshua Pastrana, and Joe Shimko to be key difference makers for their team.
The kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
