With the 2017 football season in the rear-view mirror and the Palm Beach Post All-Area teams published, we thought it would be a good idea to let Palm Beach County football fans decide who they think were the best players, coaches and teams in the county this season.
Atlantic finished 12-2 this season and advanced to the Class 8A state championship game (Photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Each day, we’ll narrow the selections to who we think were five of the top players at each position this past season, and from there, you choose who you believe was the best.
You can vote for Palm Beach County’s best player at each position here.
Today we’re asking which team was the county’s best this season. All made the playoffs in 2017, and two advanced to the state championship game.
Here are the seven:
1. Oxbridge Academy: The ThunderWolves advanced to the Class 3A state title game for the first time this season, and nearly pulled off a come-from-behind win against favored Hollywood-Chaminade Madonna Dec. 9. Oxbridge erased a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit before falling 31-28 on a field goal with four seconds remaining. The ThunderWolves finished 10-2, with their two losses coming by a combined four points.
2. Atlantic: The Eagles were the second of two Palm Beach County teams to play for a state championship in 2017, advancing to the Class 8A title game Dec. 9 following a strong run through a tough postseason bracket. Atlantic’s defense was punishing this year, and helped carry the Eagles to 12 straight wins before that streak was snapped in the title game by Orlando-Dr. Phillips. With that 17-7 decision, Atlantic finished 12-2.
3. Palm Beach Central: Coach Tino Ierulli and the Broncos engineered a huge turnaround from 2016, going from 3-7 and out of the playoffs to 8-3 and a district championship. Palm Beach Central was dominant defensively this year, recording four straight shutouts late in the season and allowing an average of 6.1 points over its final eight games. The Broncos advanced to the Class 8A regional semifinals.
4. Forest Hill: The Falcons were a big surprise in 2017, earning their first playoff berth in 21 seasons and dropping just one regular-season game. Paced by athletic quarterback Darius McClendon and a tough running game, the Falcons averaged 28.3 points this season, and came within a touchdown of advancing to the Class 7A regional semifinals. Forest Hill finished 8-2, and will return many of its starters next season.
5. Pahokee: The Blue Devils made it two regional championships in a row this season, defeating Frostproof 42-28 to advance to the Class 1A state semifinals. But Pahokee got no further, falling to unbeaten and eventual state champion Madison County on the road. The Blue Devils finished 9-3, and return plenty of talent next season.
6. Dwyer: The Panthers won their third straight district championship this year, clinching the crown over Forest Hill based on head-to-head competition (both finished with identical 4-1 district records.) The Panthers won their first-round playoff contest before falling to Doral Academy 6-5 in the Class 7A regional semifinals. Dwyer finished 8-3.
7. Park Vista: The Cobras pulled off the surprise of the postseason, knocking off No. 1 seed and heavily favored Miramar in a Class 8A regional quarterfinal. The Cobras, seeded eighth, went on to fall to state finalist Atlantic the following week. Park Vista finished 8-3, dropping all three of their games by a touchdown.
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