Courtesy of Alan Williams, Guest Correspondent to BCP
Tough night for the hometown Berkley Prep Buccaneers as they traveled to Delray Beach to take on the American Heritage Stallions to determine the representative out of the South in the 3A State Championship. When all was said and done, it was the undefeated Bucs falling to Heritage 17-9.
The State Semifinal game started off slow as both teams and coaches tried to feel each other out. However all of that changed when the Bucs defense was able to recover a fumble which was the result of a bad snap by the Stallions center. The Bucs offense took over with about 2 minutes left in the opening quarter and was able to put together an impressive scoring drive that was capped off by a 3yd TD run by Schyler Miles with only 26 seconds remaining.
In the second quarter the Bucs were putting together what looked to be another scoring drive. However the Stallion defense was able to make a goal line stand on 4th and goal at the 1yd-line. On the ensuing play, the Berkeley Defense tackled the Stallions running back in the endzone for a safety giving the Bucs a 9-0 lead. Even though heralded Sr. Nelson Agholor was held in check for most of the first half, his night was cut short by a right shoulder injury. The Bucs still managed to shutout Heritage and take a 9-0 lead into the half.
The Buccaneers Defense were able to corral and snuff out the Stallions running game only allowing 50 total rushing yards on 16 carries which included a safety and a fumble. However, the second half saw Stallions RB Greg Bryant put the team on his shoulders and carry them to the state championship game. He exploded out of the gate in the 3rd Quarter rushing for 152 yards on 12 carries and scored the Stallions first touchdown of the night early in the 3rd quarter. Five of Bryant’s eight runs of 10+ yards came in the 3rd Quarter.
By the 4 minute mark, the Stallions had run their way to the lead kicking a 30+ yard field goal into the wind giving to give them a 10-9 lead. While the Stallions were relying on their ground game, the Bucs with their injury to Agholor were turning to the air and QB Destin Nichols along with WR Christian Hardegree. Nichols ended up going only 1 of 5 for 7 yds in the Third Quarter and was 9 of 18 for 164 yards and an INT. Hardegree is credited with 96 of those yards.
As the 4th Quarter began and the Stallions holding on to a 1-point lead they continued to rely on their ground attack handing the ball off to #4 eleven times for 59 yards, which gave him a game high 211 yds on 36 carries and 1TD. With just a little over two minutes left, and only 26 yds for another touchdown, the Stallions turned to running back #22. Who answered the call with 5 carries for 26 yds and a touchdown, giving thd Stallions a 17 – 9 lead.
The following drive saw the Stallions Defense make their second big play of the night when the Stallions defender stepped in front of a pass and intercepted it ending all hope of a Buccaneer come back. Even though the Heritage and local South Florida fans did not get a chance to see the dream battle of Agholor and Bryant grind it out the entire game like they had hoped they were still treated to two teams that clearly belonged as legitimate title contenders get after it play after play with class and sportmanship.