Atlantic At Dwyer Preview

    Palm Beach County will have several battles between high school football teams this week for the top spot in their districts for postseason consideration. The big match up on Thursday night will pit two teams near the top of District 13-7A. The Dwyer Panthers(3-0, 6-0), tied with Royal Palm Beach for first place, will host the second place Atlantic Eagles(2-1, 4-2) in a game that will involve future college prospects.
    Dwyer won the district last year behind quarterback Faton Bauta, now a quarterback at the University of Georgia. The Panthers defeated the Pompano Beach-Blanche Ely Tigers in the first round and the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders at home in the regional final. The team led by head coach Jack Daniels ended their season with an away loss at the eventual FHSAA Class 7A champion Bradenton-Manatee Hurricanes.
    The Panthers will be headlined by Clay Meister as quarterback along with wide receivers Johnnie Dixon and Clint Stephens.  Defensive end Malik Brown will led the Dwyer defense that held Santaluces to a 47-0 shutout last week. The Panthers have four shutouts in six games this season.
    Atlantic currently have five players playing in the NFL and includes Orlando Franklin and Jayron Hosley who both graduated from there in the last six years. The Eagles didn't make the postseason in 2011 and are coming off a bye last week. They pounded the West Boca Bulls 40-0 two weeks ago. Atlantic is spearheaded by skilled offensive players like Tevin Spells and Marcus Gaskin. Quarterback Thomas Owens will try to get his team through the Dwyer defense.
    Three other districts in Palm Beach County will have first place decided outright on Friday night. The undefeated Palm Beach Gardens Gators(1-0, 6-0) host the Seminole Ridge Hawks(1-0, 3-2) in District 9-8A while the John I. Leonard Lancers(1-0, 4-3) travel to the Palm Beach Central Broncos(1-0, 4-2) in District 10-8A. In District 7-3A, two undefeaten squads will tangle for the district title as the defending FHSAA Class 3A champion Delray-American Heritage Stallions(2-0, 6-0) visit the Cardinal Newman Crusaders(3-0, 6-0).