Pahokee Takes Tiebreaker Over American Heritage

    The Pahokee Blue Devils came back from a 14-point deficit and won the first one-quarter tiebreaker game over the American Heritage Stallions 15-14 on Monday night at Sam Budnyk Field in West Palm Beach. In the game that followed to decide the District 7-3A championship, they fell to the Cardinal Newman Crusaders 6-0 in a Kansas tiebreaker following a second session one-quarter tiebreaker that was scoreless.
    The Blue Devils captured the district runner-up spot and will make their first playoff appearance since 2009. The Stallions will miss the FHSAA playoffs for the first time since 2000. Cardinal Newman(6-3, 2-1) picked up their first district title since 2005.
    Sha'corey Foster returned the opening kickoff for American Heritage(5-3, 2-1) 40 yards to the Stallions 45-yard line. Running back Devin Singletary followed with a 25-yard run into Pahokee territory. He would finish the Stallions first possession with a seven-yard touchdown run up the middle for a 7-0 lead at 8:25.
    On the Blue Devils initial play of their first drive of the game, quarterback Rashaun Croney raced toward the left sideline for a 14-yard gain and a first down. They later had a Croney 38-yard run on a 3rd-and-30 negated on a holding penalty down the field and had to punt.
    American Heritage got good field position on a bad punt and started their second drive at the Pahokee 45-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Singletary rumbled through the line and down the right sideline for a score from 45 yards out to make it 14-0 with 6:41 remaining.
    Pahokee(6-3, 2-1) began to stage a major comeback when they had their second possession. Wide receiver Dontrell Johnson caught a 37-yard pass on the right sideline and brought it to the Stallions 13-yard line. Running back Jay Hopson scattered through the right side with a 13-yard touchdown run on the next play and closed the margin to 14-7 with 5:29 to go.
    Foster returned the ensuing kickoff 25 yards to start the Stallions next drive at the 35-yard line, but American Heritage went three-and-out and had to punt the ball.
    The Blue Devils regained the ball on their own 28-yard line at 3:34. During the drive, Croney had a 23-yard run on a 3rd-and-3 and moved it to the Stallions 35. American Heritage had a chance to end the possession on a Croney pass downfield, however defensive back Greg Jackson stepped in front of Johnson at the goal line and could not hold on to an interception. On the following play, Johnson hauled in a 30-yard touchdown reception with 1:10 left and Pahokee was down 14-13.
    Pahokee head coach Blaze Thompson made the risky decision to attempt the two-point conversion and go for the win. Hopson sprinted toward the right sideline on the handoff from Croney and got into the front right corner of the end zone for a 15-14 lead.
    The Stallions had one final chance to win the game as they began their final drive at their 35-yard line. They were able to compile one first down, but they loss the ball on downs at their own 49-yard line.