In the first round of the FHSAA Playoffs on Thursday night, Davi Belfort and the Western Wildcats defeated the Cypress Bay Lightning 51-0.
The Wildcats are now advancing to the second round in 4M Region 4.
On the opening kickoff, junior Martin Rhyne forced a fumble for Western, putting the Wildcats in great field position to start the game.
Western converted the turnover into points immediately when senior Brendan Leal scored a three yard rushing touchdown to put the Wildcats up 7-0 with 9:43 left in the first.
Western extended their lead to 14-0 with 9:57 left in the second quarter. Three-star wide receiver Koby Howard took a punt return to the house for a touchdown. Howard has 31 offers, including Georgia, Florida, Miami, and FSU, among others.
Western wide receiver Koby Howard (‘25) scores a punt return touchdown to extend the Wildcats lead to 14-0. Howard has offers to Florida, Miami, FSU, and Georgia, among others. @KobyHoward3 pic.twitter.com/unwPrYvFS9
— Isaac Edelman (@IsaacEdelman) November 10, 2023
Cypress Bay punted again on their next drive. Western’s rush was strong, forcing the punter to bobble the ball. In what was ultimately a smart move, the punter kicked the ball into the back of their own endzone for a safety, making it 16-0. The safety prevented Western from jumping on the ball for a touchdown.
Leal scored his second touchdown of the game with 4:11 left in the second quarter, extending Western’s lead to 23-0.
Western wasn’t done harassing Cypress Bay. Defensive back Nathan Jean recorded an interception on a tipped ball with 3:25 left in the first half. Jean has offers to UMass and Bethune Cookman.
“The preparation for the game comes during the beginning of the week,” Jean said postgame. “At the beginning of the week, I’m telling my teammates that I’m gonna catch a pick, we are going to do our jobs, we are going to execute, and we are going to come out full speed. That’s what happened on that play. My safety was up… it was actually a trick play. So I had to use my effort and speed and my ability to make that play. I saw the ball, I saw the quarterback I saw the receiver… my safety went for the pick and ended up not catching it, so I had to execute it and make the pick.”
Of course, the Wildcats turned the turnover into points.
Western extended their lead to 30-0 as Davi Belfort, the Virginia Tech quarterback commit, threw his first touchdown of the game to senior wide receiver Decedric Stokes with 1:17 left in the first half. Stokes has offers to Appalachian State, Western Kentucky, and Penn.
Belfort threw his second touchdown of the game to start the third quarter, connecting with Howard. It was now 37-0, starting a running clock for Western, and making it more unlikely for Cypress Bay to not just win, but score a single point.
With 6:05 left in the third quarter, Sinorice Moss Jr. scored a rushing touchdown for Western, extending the Wildcats lead to 44-0.
GAME UPDATE:
— Isaac Edelman (@IsaacEdelman) November 10, 2023
Western leads Cypress Bay 44-0 in the third quarter. The Wildcats will likely play Miami Palmetto next week. pic.twitter.com/dNo0xXfNIv
“It was a great touchdown… it felt good,” Moss Jr. said about his touchdown. “We’ve been working hard for it all week and preparing ourself to play this team and move onto the next.”
Moss Jr. is the son of former Miami Hurricanes star Sinorice Moss.
“I’m so proud of this guy,” Davi Belfort said postgame when speaking about Moss Jr. “He stepped in, had to play a position he’s never played before… I’m beyond proud of him. He’s the definition of a team player. This is the guy right here. Hopefully a future Hokie. It’s going to be hard to convince. I know he got a lot of Miami bloodline but I’m just so proud of this guy.”
With two minutes remaining in the game, Western backup quarterback Stone Strokin scored a rushing touchdown, making it 51-0, the final score.
We saw nothing but domination from the Wildcats, who actually shutout Cypress Bay 56-0 a few weeks ago (October 13th).
It isn’t easy to shutout a team twice in a season, let alone scoring 50+ points in a playoff game.
Western kicker Nicholas McCarthy was extremely effective Thursday night, converting on 7-of-7 extra points.
The Wildcats will face Palmetto (Miami) next Friday night at Tropical Park. Palmetto just beat Doral Academy 21-7.
