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 in the county this season.
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.
Oxbridge Academy’s Herman McCray stretches for a touchdown against Hollywood-Chaminade Madonna in the Class 3A state title game last month. The Lions won the game 31-28 on a late field goal. (Photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack)
You can vote for Palm Beach County’s best player at each position here.
Today we’re asking which game was the county’s best this season. All six were memorable.
Here they are (plus a few honorable mention selections):
1. Oxbridge Academy vs. Hollywood-Chaminade Madonna, Dec. 9: The ThunderWolves faced the favored Lions in the Class 3A state championship game in Orlando, and nearly pulled off a stunning come-from-behind win. Oxbridge trailed Chaminade-Madonna by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but rallied to tie the score on a pair of touchdown passes by Gio Richardson. But the Lions got the ball back for one final drive, and converted a 19-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to pull of a 31-28 win.
2. Park Vista vs. Miramar, Nov. 10: The Cobras pulled off one of the postseason’s biggest upsets, knocking off the top-seeded Patriots 28-20 – on the road – in a Class 8A regional quarterfinal. Park Vista, seeded eighth, needed help getting into the playoffs under the FHSAA’s new points system. But the Cobras jumped out early against Miramar, and held off the Patriots down the stretch to earn the win – its eighth of the season.
3. Seminole Ridge vs. Palm Beach Gardens, Oct. 2: This key district matchup between the Hawks and Gators was decided on the game’s final play, in overtime. The teams were knotted 15-15 at the end of regulation, and Palm Beach Gardens then kicked a 21-yard field goal on its first overtime possession to take an 18-15 lead. Three plays later, Kaimyn Castilla connected with Justin Allie on a 25-yard touchdown pass, lifting Seminole Ridge to the 21-18 win.
4. Miami High vs. Atlantic, Dec. 1: This state semifinal game featured wild momentum swings, as Miami took a 13-7 lead and nearly scored again at the end of the first half. But Corey Gammage picked off a pass in his own end zone and returned it more than 100 yards to tie the game before halftime. Shelley Singletary scored in the second half’s opening kickoff to give the Eagles a 20-13 lead, but Miami jumped back ahead with a score and a two-point conversion. Atlantic squandered its first chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but got the ball back with 3:20 left. Sophomore Henry Bryant III punched in a short touchdown with 52 seconds on the clock, sending the Eagles to their first state title game since 1978.
5. Pahokee vs. Glades Central, Nov. 4: annual regular season finalebragging rights for the year.The had a little more meaning this year. With no districts in Classes 1A-4A, each game mattered for playoff consideration. Both the Blue Devils and Raiders were looking to make the postseason, and a win would go a long way towards assuring them spots. Neither team could get the edge over the other until Glades Central made a disastrous mistake. The Raiders scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run by quarterback Davius Richards, putting them up 27-24 before the extra points. Glades Central went for two and failed, allowing Pahokee seventh grader Kevin Hernandez hit a 40-yard field goal with less than a minute left, sending the game to overtime. Blue Devils running back Jatarie Washington, who rushed for more than 200 yards, scored the game-winning touchdown in extra time, giving Pahokee
6. Forest Hill vs. Olympic Heights, Oct. 19: key district gameBry’yon “B.J.” JonesThis had no business being close. The Falcons went up 21-0 by halftime and looked like they’d cruise to an easy win, thanks to huge games from running backs Chaz Eaton and (who tallied a combined 361 yards and five scores in this game). But the Lions never gave up. James Micioni hit Michael Ippolito for a 70-yard, third-quarter score, and Reis Clark ran in a 10-yard touchdown to make it a game again. But Eaton came right back with an 86-yard touchdown. Micioni matched it with a 4-yard touchdown, but Jones looked like he iced the game with a 64-yard rushing touchdown. Micioni found Ippolito again for a 39-yard touchdown, making it 34-28 with nearly six minutes left. Heights got the ball back with 3:27 left in the fourth quarter and drove down the field, needing a touchdown to send it to overtime and the extra point to win. The Lions got down to the Falcons’ 4-yard line, where their final pass fell incomplete, giving Forest Hill their sixth win of the season.
Take Our Poll