By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
POMPANO BEACH – Dillard football coach Dimitris Mincey has repeatedly made it clear the Panthers goal is to win every game they play.
As of Saturday’s 57th, annual Soul Bowl against Blanche Ely, Mincey to date has been true to his word.
Dillard senior quarterback Jayden Chico threw for 151 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Panthers to a 35-0 victory against the Tigers.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak against Ely and the shutout was the sixth all-time against the Tigers dating back as far as 1953. The shutout was also the fifth of the season as the Panthers (7-0) outscored their opponents 333-23.
Blanche Ely still leads the overall series 29-27-1.
“I was just glad we were able to execute,” said Mincey. “We haven’t won this game in four years and we’re able to get back on the winning side. No matter who we play we want to win the game. That’s our approach.”
Up by 21-0 at the half with a defense stifling that shut down Ely (3-3) senior quarterback Ladarius Smith, who rushed for 208 yards last week in a win over Deerfield Beach. He was held to 28 yards on carries 20 against the Panthers.
On the Panthers first drive of the second half Chico drove his team quickly down the field for a 14-yard scoring pass to Kyle Brown for a 28-0 lead. It was set up on a 53-yard pass to Anthony Carey to Ely’s 19.
Dillard quickly got the ball back following an interception by Kenny Brown. Six players later it was Chico to Christopher Tillman for an 8-yard scoring pass, upping the lead to 35-0 with 6:58 remaining that started the running clock.
“We came out after the half and made the game simple,” said Chico. “We dinked and dunked down the field that opened the passing game. We just do our thing. It’s us against everyone.”
Dillard scored on its opening possession, driving 75 yards on six plays with Chico throwing a 38-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Anthony Jennings with 8:13 left in the first quarter.
Carey added a seven-yard run early in the second quarter for a 14-0 advantage over the Panthers.
Jennings scored the first of his two touchdowns on the afternoon with a 59-yard punt return for a 21-0 lead.
“When I got the ball, I looked down the field and saw the left side open,” said Jennings. “Once I got the ball in my hands I just took off. We hadn’t beaten Ely in a few years, so it felt good to get the trophy back to Dillard.”
Dillard plays at Lake Worth Joaquin Garcia in a District 14-4A game on Friday. The Panthers defeated Garcia 30-0 last season.
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
HOLLYWOOD – When the Chaminade-Madonna football team hosted Monarch on Friday it had the makings for a marquee match-up.
The Lions offered a quick reminder of their ability to showcase a big play at any time.
That was clearly the difference in a weather-shortened 28-7 non-district victory on Friday.
All three of Chaminade’s offense scores in the first half came long running plays.
The first came after stopping Monarch on a fourth-down play at the Lions five-yard line. With rain beginning to fall, senior running back Derrek Cooper broke straight through the middle on Knights defensive line for a 95-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
Cooper finished with 127 yards on seven carries.
“The O-line did a tremendous job tonight,” said Chaminade-Madonna coach Dameon Jones. “They dominated up-front, and they opened some big holes. I have some athletic, fast guys back there and all they need is a crease.”
Junior Arwin Jackson was the beneficiary of a pair of scoring runs in the opening half. The first was 38 yards with 3:54 left in the first quarter for a 14-7 lead.
He answered that with 55.7 seconds left in the half with an 83-yard run for a touchdown. Cooper and Jackson combined for 252 yards running.
Monarch (3-3) tied the score at 7-7, on a six-yard run by sophomore back Keshawn Pascall just before the end of the first quarter.
The Lions (5-1) completed the scoring in the pouring rain with an interception return for a touchdown by senior defensing back Deveon Black with 10:34 left in the third quarter.
The game was called shortly thereafter due to lightning.
The Lions will host Blanche Ely this Friday, while Monarch will host Coral Springs.
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
POMPANO BEACH – In a snapshot of the past 10 seasons, the dominance of the St. Thomas Aquinas girls’ volleyball over team its BCAA opponents is staggering.
Not only did the Raiders cruise past Chaminade-Madonna 25-8, 25-20 in the championship match of the BCAA Big 8 Tournament on Tuesday at Pompano Beach High, they proved how unbeatable they nearly are.
Not only did Aquinas improve to 18-4 this season against mostly stiff competition, its 10-year run against all BCAA opponents improved to 107-1. Their victory over the Lions was the Raiders 27th BCAA Big 8 title.
“This never gets old,” said St. Thomas Aquinas coach Lisa Zielinski. “I love to coach, and I love volleyball and love my team. They practice hard and work hard and it’s great to see them perform and be successful.”
Once against the Raiders were led by Notre Dame committed Isabella Sangha with eight kills and three blocks. Her front court teammate senior outside hitter Emmi Merhi added four kills and five digs.
The Raiders reeled off 11 consecutive points in the first set for a 21-5 lead mostly powered by their strength at the net.
“I think the biggest thing is our ability an offense that we can spread out and allow us to execute to separate us from other teams,” said Sangha. “This is a big factor for us on how aggressive we are. We don’t think anyone can beat us.”
The two-time defending Class 6A state champion struggled early in the second set due to serving issues. Midway through the set the Raiders settled down with seven consecutive points that built a 16-10 lead.
The Lions (10-11) never got closer than four points of the Aquinas lead.
“This part of us preparing for the postseason,” said Zielinski. “You can see the confidence and be consistent. We have higher expectations at this part of the season.”
Senior outside hitter Isabella Cabrera added four kills and four digs.
The Raiders will begin their defense of their 6A title during district play the week of Oct. 13.
Chaminade qualified for its first BCAA Big 8 tournament one week prior to the event.
“It was great to be part of the Big 8,” said Chaminade-Madonna coach Jason Johnson. “St. Thomas is a great team with a great tradition. I just wanted us to compete and I think we did a much better job in the second set.”
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – For the second consecutive year offense defined the outcome of the high school football game between Pembroke Pines West Broward and Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.
But there was single play that shifted the outcome in favor of the Bobcats that led them to a 49-38 non-district victory on Monday night.
It was West Broward’s fourth consecutive victory after opening the season with a pair of losses to out of state opponents.
Seconds after a successful goal-line stand inside the one-yard line, West Broward quarterback Brandon Mincy connected on a 99-yard touchdown pass to Amir Sears with 54 seconds left in the opening quarter. It broke an early 7-7 tie, and the Bobcats never relinquished the lead.
“We knew we were going to get single coverage because they were going to blitz everybody,” said West Broward coach Brian McCartney. “We knew we were going to get Sears on the outside and he did what he was supposed to do.”
“I just threw it up and let him [Sears] make the play,” said Mincy. “Once I saw him juggle the ball and catch it, I knew it was a touchdown.”
Like last year’s 43-39 West Broward victory over Gibbons, there was plenty of offense on display on both sides.
Junior running back Amos Bradford, who rushed for 237 yards in last year’s win over Gibbons, had 172 yards on 18 carries and a pair of touchdowns on Monday. He was joined by Daquon Adderly with 120 yards on 13 carries and two more scores.
“We are redefining our run game and that we need to do to make a state championship run,” said McCartney. “We’re undefeated in Florida.”
Bradford’s second touchdown gave the Bobcats a 34-10 lead early in the second half.
Then came the Chiefs furious attempt to make a comeback.
With the Chiefs (3-2) inability to slow down the Bobcats (4-2) run game, they relied on an efficient passing game led by senior quarterback Jayden Torres to remain at striking distance of the Bobcats lead of 27-10 at the half.
Torres completed 31 of 44 attempts for 375 yards for the game and had four second half touchdowns. His scoring passes went to four different receivers – two to Merrick Toddich (8 catches for 152) and one to Luke Cichoski and junior standout Demarcus Deroche.
Senior Gary Hadley finished with seven catches for 114 yards.
In last year’s loss to West Broward, the Chiefs finished with 531 yards, compared to 388 Monday night. The Bobcats had 529 yards a year ago with 347 on the ground. They rushed for 363 yards, finishing with a total of 564 on Monday.
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – There’s little doubt what the best girls’ volleyball rivalry is among Broward County schools.
How often is a high school gymnasium in Broward filled to its capacity, as it was Wednesday night when St. Thomas Aquinas hosted Cardinal Gibbons.
The front-line strength of Aquinas would eventually prove why the Raiders have been dominant in the series dating back to 2012.
Led by seniors Emmi Merhi and Isabella Sangha, the pair combined for 17 kills and 10 blocks to power St. Thomas to a 25-18, 25-17, 25-7 victory. The win was the Raiders (14-4) 16th over the last 17 matches against the Chiefs (8-9).
“It’s a great rivalry both ways,” said Aquinas coach Lisa Zielinski. “There’s nothing like and it’s been this was forever. It’s playful fun and competitive.
We blocked really-well and shut down Gibbons offensively. I think we played well tonight.”
“St. Thomas did a great job at the front line,” said Cardinal Gibbons coach Kathryn Reeber. “We were struggling to get our swings past their blocks.”
The last time Gibbons defeated the Raiders in a regular season meeting was September of 2011.
Overall, the Raiders were successful on 34 of 74 kill attempts, while protecting the net with 12 blocks. Seniors Hailey Trebbien and Sydney Guerrier combined for 26 assists.
“With our balance and great front line was a big difference,” said Sangha, a transfer from Pine Crest. “We always come in with a lot of energy. That’s our game with our front line.”
Taylor Scott and Beatriz Matos each had five kills for Gibbons, while Avery Paton added 13 digs and Ava Flores 11 assists.
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PHOTO CAPTION: (Left to right): St. Thomas Aquinas front line of Sydney Guerrier, Isabella Cabrera, Isabella Sangha.