WEST PALM BEACH – It has only been two games so far, but it’s looking like it will be a season to remember for Palm Beach Lakes.
Our current No. 3 team is at 2-0, with both wins coming by way of routs. The most meaningful of the two, however, came on Monday night (Sept. 9) against Glades Central in a 44-13 triumph on the road.
It was a close game throughout the first half, as the Lakes lead was at 16-7. But the tide really turned for the Rams when senior wide receiver Markell Lee, our Breakthrough Player of Week 3, caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tre’Von Taylor (four touchdown passes) midway through the third quarter.
After a two-point conversion extended the Rams lead to 24-7 over the Raiders, the rout was on.
And the rankings positions changes as a result. Coincidentally, Palm Beach Lakes and Glades Central swapped spots this week (Lakes: up three slots from No. 6 to No. 3; Glades Central: down three slots from No. 3 to No. 6).
“Feels great,” Taylor said. “I knew we were going to that (beat Glades Central). We put too much work in everyday.”
Other standouts from the game included the likes of running backs Micah Butler (17-yard touchdown run in the first quarter; 10-7 Lakes lead) and Antonio Outler (14 carries, 178 yards), defensive back Anthony Bradley (two interceptions, including one for a score), and wide receiver Christopher Johnson (touchdown catch).
This was a monster win for one of Palm Beach County’s most talented teams across the board, to say the very least. This was a win that has changed the perception of Palm Beach Lakes – for at least one week, anyway.
Palm Beach Lakes offensive coordinator Obrian Edwards commented on his team’s Week 3 road win.
“Glades (Central) has great tradition and is nationally known for their football, so playing in their stadium gives our guys a platform to display their talents,” Edwards said. “It was great to see our guys take advantage of the opportunity because many of those guys are being overlooked. Additionally, it speaks to the identity of the offense where defenses have to account for everybody. We can attack from every position. Our guys work so hard at their craft.”
The next two games for Palm Beach Lakes will tell us a lot about this team.
The Rams will go on the road this evening to face a resurgent Royal Palm Beach team that’s also 2-0 right now. The winner of this game (6:30 p.m. kickoff) will start at 1-0 in District 12-7A, while the loser will face an uphill district battle moving forward.
After Royal Palm Beach in Week 4 is a home game against No. 10 Pahokee (0-2) in Week 5. It’s rare that a team from the “coast” of Palm Beach County could beat both Muck public school programs, but if any team can do it, it’s this Palm Beach Lakes collective in particular.
Congratulations to our Team of Week 3: Palm Beach Lakes.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jeffrey Wimbrow
