By Dave Brousseau
DAVIE – Western High senior running back Damian Dickerson completed his high school career is style on Thursday with 71 yards on eight carries and a pair of touchdowns to lead the South to a 31-20 victory over the North over the South in the 28th annual BCAA All-Start football game at Nova High.
His performance earned the 5’8, 185-pound back the Otis Gray Most Valuable Player award.
“This was amazing,” said Dickenson. “I was grateful for my team and the offensive line. Their hard work helped me get the MVP. The whole team made a difference.”
The final 51 points of the game was the most since the North 45-6 victory in 2015. It also tied for the second most points since the South 44-7 win in 2010.
Tied at seven at the half, the South took a 14-7 lead, a lead they would never relinquish with 7:48 left in the third quarter. The go-ahead points were the result of a Ka’Nard Boucard (Miramar) 98-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Dickerson added his second touchdown with 1:10 remaining in the quarter for a 21-7 lead.
“At the end of the day all the boys got the chance to participate,” said South coach Adam Ratkevich (Western). “This was a case for them to showcase their talent. There were a lot of great plays out here tonight. It was an exciting football game.”
Flanagan quarterback Chance Humphrey completed a 68-yard scoring pass to wide-out Dylan Zaldumbide (South Plantation) early in the fourth quarter that increased the South lead to 28-14.
Coconut Creek running back Jakari Gentles of closed the gap with an 8-yard run with 8:25 left in the final quarter.
Christian Martinez (Cooper City) completed the scoring with a 37-yard field with less than a minute to play in regulation capping the score at 31-20.
Running back Ray Zachariah was named the North Offensive Player of the game with 92-yards on 15 carries, while the Defensive Player of the Game for the North was Alex Gammage of Piper.
“This was a great week, while giving the guys a chance to compete,” said Coconut Creek coach Christopher Yeargin (North).”
Boucard had a pair of interceptions and was named the South Defensive Player of the game. Humphrey got the nod for Offense Player of the Game for the South with 135 passing yards and a touchdown and added 29 yards rushing.
The score was tied 7-7 at the conclusion of the opening half.
Dickerson opened the scoring with a 12-yard run with 8:28 left in the first quarter. The North yevened the score when Dillard quarterback Jaden Chico completed a 10-yard pass to the back of the endzone to Ladarious Smith (Blanche Ely) on the ensuing possession.
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.