BELLE GLADE – By now, it is crystal clear that Glades Central is the best team in Palm Beach County.
The first two games have illuminated the Raiders level of separation between themselves and everyone else, as they blew out Palm Beach Central in Week 1 (41-0 win; Oct. 30) and Royal Palm Beach (46-6 win; Nov. 17) in the process.
The Muck’s premier program is getting it done with the stellar leadership of Rashad Jackson, who is their first-year head coach. They are getting it done with the full buy-in from their key players, such as senior defensive back Jacob Camacho (MVP of Week 1) and junior quarterback Zo’Marion Harper (Breakthrough Player of Week 1).
They also have a plethora of talent that we are getting to know right now.
The fusion of youth and veteran leadership from the Raiders players flows evidently from the moment they step on the field. It permeates in their pre-game warmups as well.
This formula is what helps to make a complete team right before our eyes.
“Our guys came out and played very hard,” Jackson said of his team over the past two games. “So that’s what I’m really proud of. We made a couple of mistakes, but the kids played hard and got their nose to the ball. As long as we play hard, we have a chance to win every game we play in.”
After two games played, Harper has six touchdown passes, three each against Royal Palm Beach and Palm Beach Central. The 6-foot, 203-pound junior quarterback also had a rushing touchdown in Week 2 against Royal Palm Beach.
It is evident that Harper is getting comfortable in his role as the team’s starting quarterback.
“Each week, this kid is just getting better and better,” Jackson said. “He’s learning the game from a mental standpoint. He’s always had the arm, but now he’s taking coaching. He’s listening to what I’m telling him, going through his progressions. First progression, second progression, third progression, just opening up his hips, looking off, and coming to the back side. The kid is developing right in front of my eyes.”
As for Camacho, he has been the overall team leader. There is a look about him that commands respect from his teammates and the opposition alike.
In two games, the senior safety has three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns – one each against Palm Beach Central (Week 1) and Royal Palm Beach (Week 2).
Camacho’s pick-six last week against Royal Palm Beach helped to set the tone for Glades Central’s 34-0 halftime lead.
“This kid could go to Marshall or any Conference USA, any MAC school and be a starter,” Jackson said. “He’s that kind of a ball-hawk, a playmaker. He can make tackles. He can makes plays on the ball any time you put it in the air.”
With that said, Glades Central (2-0; No. 1-ranked team in Palm Beach County) will go into Week 3 as a clear favorite (25-point favorite, according to the Joe Pinkos Forecast) to beat Pahokee (1-1; No. 4 in Palm Beach Central) in this year’s Muck Bowl. It will be played tonight (Nov. 14; 7 p.m. kickoff) at Wellington High School.
This will be the first time in memory that the Muck Bowl is not played in either Belle Glade or Pahokee. It is primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are in now.
“When it’s time to play, it’s game on,” Jackson said. “It’s kind of different now. But we’ll take the Muck Bowl any way we can get it. This is the best high school football rivalry in America. Anytime we can play the Blue Devils, we’re ready for them.”
