BOCA RATON – Aside from those inside the Boca Raton Bobcats locker room, few expected this team to contend for a spot in the Class 8A playoffs.
This is completely understandable, given the fact that they suffered a rash of player losses in the preseason.
Somehow, those losses turned into big-time opportunities for those who decided to stay.
After an up-and-down start to the season, which featured blowout losses to playoff-bound teams such as Glades Central (44-13 defeat in Week 1), Treasure Coast (33-17 defeat in Week 5), and Deerfield Beach (49-6 defeat in Week 6), the Bobcats (5-3; 1-1 in 12-8A) have engineered an inspiring three-game winning streak that has brought the team closer together.
Led by head coach Brandon Walker, Boca Raton’s most impressive win probably came this past week in a 43-28 home triumph on its Senior Night over Santaluces. He has given Andy Caverly, the team’s starting quarterback and Breakthrough Player of Week 9, an opportunity to blossom, as evidenced by his two touchdown passes and ability to avoid turning the ball over in key moments.
Walker has also been impressed with the play of junior tight end/defensive end Ashton Gillotte, who energized his team with a 60-yard touchdown catch to give Boca Raton a 30-12 halftime lead over Santaluces. Gillotte was our Breakthrough Player of Week 8.
Another player who has been truly impressive is senior athlete Tra’Nell Hollis, who won our Breakthrough Player of Week 4 honor and our MVP of Week 8 honor this season. He started last week’s game with a long kickoff return that got his team into the red zone, which resulted in an early score against Santaluces.
Yet another player who has stepped up big is sophomore wide receiver and Breakthrough Player of Week 7 nominee Matt Smiciklas, who had three catches for 30+ yards and 17-yard touchdown catch against Santaluces.
Other standouts include the likes of sophomore running back Trey Rainey, senior running back/defensive back Stalens Demeus, senior running back/cornerback Halin Elmon, and members of the offensive line (seniors Janai George, Jude Guerrier, and Issa Hamden), among others.
All in all, it’s a true team effort right now at Boca Raton.
Walker spoke on last week’s win over Santaluces.
“On Senior Night, it was a great win for us,” Walker said. “Last year, we went over their place, had a lead in the beginning of the second half and quit playing. We kind of owed them one this year. We knew they were going to be tough. We knew they were going to battle for four quarters. We just talked about answering the bell every time, and that’s what we did to come out with the win.”
With the victory, Boca Raton earned our Team of Week 9 honor and entered into our Top 10 team rankings at No. 6.
Also, if the season ended right now, Boca Raton would be in the Class 8A playoffs as the No. 7 seed in Region 3.
But these gains will mean nothing if Boca Raton doesn’t win its next two games against Spanish River (Week 10 on the road; 6:30 p.m. kickoff tonight) and Dwyer (Week 11 at home; 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Friday, Nov. 1).
“Our approach is going to be us getting ready for Spanish River,” Walker said after last week’s 15-point win over Santaluces.
“We gotta take it one game at a time,” Walker continued. “Hopefully after the Dwyer game, we’re in a position to make the playoffs. It’s definitely easier to get these kids motivated when there’s a playoff opportunity. They’re definitely hungry for the playoffs. If we continue to do what we’ve been doing these last couple of weeks, then we have a good shot at it.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Keith Forde
