BOCA RATON – First impressions mean a lot.
Making a lasting one means so much more when it happens in the first half of a season opener.
Inlet Grove did just that against West Boca Raton in its 49-8 season opener last night (Aug. 26) at Boca Raton High School, powered mainly by four total touchdowns in the first half from senior wide receiver Silas Hinson and five touchdown passes from senior athlete Tyler Kelly.
The Hurricanes (1-0) never trailed in this one, as they took a 7-0 lead off a touchdown connection from Kelly to Hinson and an extra point at the 6:13 mark.
“It meant a lot,” Hinson said.
A safety from the Bulls (0-1) cut the lead to 7-2 at the 4:30 mark, but it was the closest they would get.
If there was any hopes for a West Boca rally, it ended at the 1:35 mark of the first quarter, when Kelly connected with Hinson for a 75-yard heave that found its way to the end zone. Another extra point made it 14-2 in favor of Inlet Grove.
After West Boca’s 70-yard kickoff return for a score cut Inlet Grove’s lead to 14-8, Hinson effectively put an exclamation point on this game with his electrifying 75-yard kickoff return for a score. An extra point extended Inlet Grove’s score to 21-8.
The second quarter was more of the same, as the Kelly-Hinson touchdown connection reached its climax point at the 5:47 mark. It was a 30-yarder that saw Hinson tumble into the end zone and seal his night with four total touchdowns and 200 all-purpose yards.
“It was for fun,” Hinson said. “I wanted five [touchdowns], but I got four. It was okay.”
Kelly’s two-point conversion run made it 29-8 in favor of Inlet Grove. The score would stand going into halftime.
And then in the second half, other players stepped up for Inlet Grove.
With 2:43 left in the third quarter, Kelly threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver TJ Lott.
An extra point extended the Inlet Grove lead to 36-8.
To close out the third frame, Kelly’s touchdown pass to Kian Johnson made the Inlet Grove lead grow to 42-8 at the 6.9 second mark.
The game’s final score came at the 4:17 mark of the fourth quarter, when freshman quarterback Legend Felican threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior athlete TJ Mann. The extra point sealed Inlet Grove’s 41-point victory.
“I have some of the best receivers in Palm Beach County,” Kelly said. “I could put the ball in their hands and trust them to get in the end zone. They can do anything with the ball.”
Hinson spoke on what was perhaps his best high school football performance to date.
“I just put it all on the field and trusted my quarterback,” Hinson said.
Inlet Grove head coach Alphonso Smith spoke on last night’s win over West Boca Raton.
“It’s good to see our kids that we’re counting on to score touchdowns,” Smith said. “We have a bunch of kids who made a lot of plays…I’m glad that we had a ton of kids who touched the paint. It’s a good win overall.”
Next game for Inlet Grove: Week 3 vs. Forest Hill (Friday, Sept. 10; 7 p.m. kickoff)
Next game for West Boca Raton: Week 2 at Spanish River (Friday, Sept. 3; 6 p.m. kickoff)
OTHER THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
Park Vista 41, Suncoast 6: Naazir Allen and Ohmari Black combined for the Cobras two interceptions, helping the team dominate their season opener from start to finish.
Senior quarterback Brock Hansel threw a touchdown pas to wide receiver Josh Waggenmann with 3:45 left in the second quarter. This offensive score put the Cobras (1-0) up 21-0 over the Chargers (0-1).
Running back Jordan Clemons added a score of his own on offense. He finished with 70 rushing yards.
And Black’s interception later in the game was a 95-yarder that reached the end zone for a defensive score.
Kicker Steven Shore was 3-for-3 on his extra point attempts and 1-for-1 on kickoff touchback.
Next game for Park Vista: Week 2 vs. Jupiter (Friday, Sept. 3; 6:30 p.m. kickoff)
Next game for Suncoast: Week 2 at Royal Palm Beach (Thursday, Sept. 2; 6:30 p.m. kickoff)
PHOTO CREDITS: Keith Forde
