BOCA RATON – West Boca Raton football is one win away from a state championship.
The Bulls’ defense dominated Miami Southridge in a gritty defensive affair Friday night, winning the Class 6A state semifinal matchup 14-11.
Facing an early 3-0 deficit and a Spartans offense driving once more, Marc-Sanchtz Lordeus scooped up a fumble on West Boca’s five-yard line and took it to the house to turn the game on its head.
What was looking like a 10-0 advantage for Southridge was suddenly a 7-3 lead for the Bulls, one they would not look back from.
Aaron Ford intercepted a pass in the second quarter and returned it for what looked like the Bulls’ second turnover-touchdown, although the return was called back.
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Still, it demonstrated the difficulty Southridge had driving the ball Friday night, especially after starting quarterback James Perrone was hobbled on a play early on.
West Boca star running back Javian Mallory, a four-star prospect with offers from top programs like Georgia, Alabama and Florida State, sat out again per coaching decision. Mallory, whose dealt with hamstring issues during the regular season, has yet to play this postseason.
Trey Moran deked a blitzing Southridge defender to run for a short touchdown for West Boca’s only offensive score of the game, a score that proved necessary insurance.
Southridge capitalized on a defensive mishap in the secondary for a long score on fourth down with just over five minutes left in the game.
Nerves heightened when the Spartans converted the two-point conversion, despite a false start dropping them back to the seven-yard line.
But the Southridge offense needed one more fourth down conversion, and the Bulls defense wouldn’t allow it, closing out the game in the final minutes to advance.
Up next will be yet another first for the West Boca program, as the Bulls await their opponent for the Class 6A state championship at Pitbull Stadium at Florida International University.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Boca Raton football stifles Miami Southridge to reach state championship
