Atlantic Takes Blanche Ely And Distirct

     The Atlantic Eagles clinched the District 13 title in Class 7A with a 34-16 victory over the Blanche Ely Tigers on Friday night at Hilltop Stadium in Delray Beach. It was the first time that both schools faced other in a district game. The Eagles played in Class 8A last year and were a state finalist in 2017.
     Blanche Ely(7-2, 2-1) scored first at the 2:53 mark of the opening quarter. Schneider Etienne booted a 28-yard field goal.
     The momentum in the contest would change on the next play. Tyler Burke caught the ball at the one-yard line, cut to the left sideline and capped off a 99-yard kickoff return for an Eagles touchdown 16 seconds later and a 7-3 lead.
     Atlantic(6-2, 3-0) made it 14-3 at 8:35 of the second quarter. Running back Bry'yon Jones raced around the left end and scored from six yards away.
     It became an 18-point margin with 5:39 to go in the second. Quarterback Guenson Alexis connected a 35-yard pass to wide receiver Javone Jackson in the front of the end zone.
     The Tigers fought back and make it a game by halftime. Wide receiver Darnell Deas was shifted to the backfield for one play. He went off-left tackle and rumbled in from ten yards out and they were down 21-9 with 1:26 left in the second.
     The Eagles finished their next possession on a bad punt snap with 12 seconds remaining. Blanche Ely capitalized on the first play from scrimmage as quarterback Jevon Williams released a 40-yard pass to the left sideline, wide receiver Dewante Deas got under it for a score and they trailed 21-16 with 2.3 seconds remaining in the first half.
     After no scoring during the third, Atlantic pulled away in the fourth quarter. The Tigers had a bad snap on a punt attempt and the Eagles took over. They scored on the third play of the drive when Alexis fired a 25-yard pass down the right hash marks and wide receiver Tyrese Blue made a leaping one-handed catch in the middle of the end zone at 9:37 for a 27-13 lead.
     Atlantic added one more score later in the fourth. Defensive back Jeremiah McClendon intercepted a pass and retuned it 40 yards to the Tigers 21-yard line. Two plays later, Jones sprinted to the left hash marks and scored on a 16-yard touchdown run with 4:30 left.