WELLINGTON — Pahokee senior quarterback Xavier Mitchell had three touchdown passes, senior running back Samuel Arnold had an 80-yard catch-and-run for a score, and the Blue Devils held off host Palm Beach Central 27-25 in the season opener on Friday night.
Pahokee junior wide receiver Antoine Lawrence delivered an impressive performance in his first varsity game with two touchdown catches, and senior Tristian Gooden added a touchdown run.
Palm Beach Central senior quarterback Chance Routson accounted for four touchdowns in the loss, which included two passing and two rushing scores.
Senior wide receiver Jayden Phipps and junior Jayden St. Fort each had touchdown receptions.
Pahokee avenged a 21-14 loss to Palm Beach Central last season and a 33-30 overtime loss from two years ago.
“We started being undisciplined and allowed for the game to be a little more difficult than it needed to be,” Pahokee coach Carlos Lammons said. “I am grateful and happy for the win, but I know we have a lot of room for improvement. Palm Beach Central is a good football team. They have beaten us the last few years. They [Xavier Mitchell and Samuel Arnold] seized the moment. Those guys took advantage of the opportunity, and they made big plays tonight.”
Pahokee (1-0) jumped out to a 7-0 lead at the end of the first and led 14-6 at halftime before grabbing had its biggest lead of the game at 21-6 in the third quarter.
Palm Beach Central (0-1) missed a 50-yard field goal attempt on their first series on offense. Pahokee marched downfield with a scoring drive on their first possession. Mitchell tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Lawrence with 5:00 left in the first quarter.
“The offense was clicking on all cylinders,” Mitchell said. “Coaches calling the right plays. Offense was going smooth in the first half, and we kept it rolling in the second half.”
Gooden rushed for a 6-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14-0 with 6:40 left in the second, but Routson connected with Phipps for a 36-yard gain on the ensuing possession. The Broncos were able to cut the deficit to 14-6 as Routson had a 33-yard touchdown pass to Phipps in the right corner of the end zone with 3:59 left in the first half.
Palm Beach Central reached the Pahokee 30-yard line late in the first half before an interception by the Blue Devils defense.
Arnold took a screen pass and raced for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of the second half to push the lead to 21-6.
“My teammates did a great job blocking,” Arnold said. “My coaches trust me with the ball in my hands. I saw the hole and I knew they were not going to catch me.”
Arnold had an 88-yard touchdown run called back on their next drive after offsetting penalties on the play.
Palm Beach Central stepped up with a blocked punt and capitalized with a short field at the Pahokee 21-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, Routson powered his way up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 21-12 with 5:17 left in the third.
The Broncos pulled within 21-18 with 11:11 remaining in the fourth. On third-and-goal, Routson connected with St. Fort for a 10-yard scoring pass.
Pahokee, however, had a fumble recovery on a punt in Palm Beach Central territory in the fourth. Mitchell fired a 26-yard scoring pass to Lawrence to extend the lead to 27-18 with 5:33 left.
“It was emotional playing in my first game,” Lawrence said. “I am happy I was able to help my team out to get this win.”
Routson had a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 27-25 with 36 seconds left.
Pahokee senior CeeJay Embry had two sacks and three tackles for a loss in the win.
“The last two years was hard losing to Palm Beach Central,” Embry said. “I came in with the mentality not to lose.”
Pahokee finished 7-4 and reached the regional semifinal last season.
Palm Beach Central had a 10-2 record and fell in the regional semifinal last year.
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