Marc Berman
| Special to The Post
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- Boca Raton High School defeated Forest Hill 28-12 in a non-district football game.
- The victory marked Boca High’s third consecutive win, improving their season record to 3-1.
- Running back Adon Elmon secured the win with a 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
- Boca Raton quarterback Mason Chapman connected with receiver Sonny Pepitone for two touchdowns.
BOCA RATON – It was Boca Raton High’s Homecoming on Sept. 19 with a packed house at Bobcats Stadium after a morning pep rally attended by the entire school.
A hot night on Glades Road became the perfect time for the Bobcats to roar and take down Forest Hill 28-12 in a non-district game. The victory moved Boca High’s winning streak to three games and set their record at 3-1.
After a season-opening loss to Boynton Beach, Boca, a two-time defending district champions, looked like it could be in for a long season with its first-year coach Collin O’Neal.
“I think at first we were a little shaky at the start of the year,’’ said wide receiver Geron Miller, a Saint Andrew’s transfer. “We’re coming together as a unit. The O-Line is getter better, my quarterback is making better reads.’’
Quarterback Mason Chapman hit Miller on a slant that resulted in a 41-yard touchdown score in the first quarter that tied the game at 7.
Indeed, Forest Hill, 2-3 under its new head coach Evan Williams, didn’t go down without a fight. The gritty Falcons scored first in taking a 7-0 lead and were within 21-10, driving at the Boca Raton 28-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
“Our guys fought like warriors all night long,’’ said Williams, an assistant coach for 14 seasons at Forest Hill before finally inheriting the top job.
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It wasn’t clinched until Boca running back Adon Elmon burst 77 yards for a touchdown with 8:55 left, getting to the sidelines and outsprinting Forest Hill’s defenders. That made it 28-10. “It felt great,” Elmon said. “Was a great play and O-Line did what they had do.”
The Forest Hill coach wished he could have that play back. “No excuses, but the last touchdown we gave up, we were a little gassed,’’ Willaims said. “We have a lot of guys playing both ways.’’
Next week will be a big Boca test with its District 14-7A opener vs. Stoneman Douglas. “I think we’re in a good spot – just got to clean up some things.’’’ Miller said. “I love Mason. He’s the best quarterback I’ve had so far and I was at another school.’’
Boca plays in a district with two Broward County outfits in Stoneman Douglas and Coral Glades in addition to crosstown rival Spanish River.
“I wasn’t dictating our whole season on the very first regular season game,’’ said O’Neal, who took over for the wildly successful Alex Savakinas. “Especially against a good opponent in Boynton Beach. The district title is in our sights. It’s in our hands to capture or lose it. We’ll be ready for it.’’
The Boca offense looked dismal in the season opener but is progressing.
“Our offense is starting to click as a whole in terms of knowing the plays and knowing what some kids can and can’t do,’’ O’Neal said. “Normally defenses pick it up quicker and sooner than the offense.’’
The biggest surprise has been the play of unheralded junior offensive tackle Adrian Lantigua, who had never played football before. “He’s helped us out a lot,’’ O’Neal said.
Boca now has victories over Dwyer (19-13), Lake Worth (34-21) and Forest Hill.
It was a losing night for the Falcons but not without moments as its running lefty quarterback MacVane Cole ran for 101 yards out of the Wing T option.
Cole transferred from Dwyer, where he was a backup. “I love the culture here,’’ Cole said. “They want to win. I love the team camaraderie we bring. I thought I can bring an impact to win. I know we’ll bounce back from this. This loss doesn’t define us.’’
Forest Hill is not a storied program by any means. Williams, in his 14 seasons, has worked under 5 head coaches – but he’s the fourth head coach in the last six years.
Forest Hill hung around because of three Boca turnovers and Boca’s ill-fated onside kick to start the second half which resulted in a Forest Hill field goal.
But the Bobcats were too talented. The Boca receivers are thriving with Miller, Crew Gibson and Sonny Pepitone, who caught two touchdown passes Friday.
After falling behind 7-0, Boca reeled off three consecutive touchdowns in a span of 11:40. Chapman, despite two interceptions Friday, is finally 100 percnt after an offseason Achilles injury. Chapman also got banged up in the preseason classic.
“He’s throwing good now,’’ O’Neal said. “We can do a lot more things with him than starting out the season. We can do a lot more getting outside the pocket, rolling out and getting him on the run where we’re comfortable now.’’
Boca defensive end Jacory Noel has been vital. A big sack by Noel for a loss of 12 got Boca the ball back quickly after it tied the score at 7. Chapman then completed a 25-yard strike to Miller, who got slammed in the helmet by a tackle, adding another 15 yards for a personal foul.
Elmon ran for 8 yards and Chapman hit Pepitone for a 4-yard touchdown. Pepitone scored again on a 17-yeard slant to compete the spree with 5:11 left in the half for a 21-7 lead.
Forest Hill struck first for a 7-0 after Chapman got intercepted by McBryan Reese at the Boca 21. Forest Hill put together a long drive, highlighted by a 58-yard run down the sidelines by Jamarkus Emerson. Cole ran it in from the 2 and Boca was behind 4:30 into the contest.
“I think we could’ve won this game,’’ Cole said. “We had a lot of opportunities at the 5-yard line and couldn’t push it through. We played well.
Forest Hill faces its first district match next week – John Carroll. “I’m looking forward to that,’’ Cole said. “I’m 6-2, 190 pounds. I consider myself a power running back. The coach gives me quarterback runs and I take advantage of it. I love modeling my game after Tim Tebow.’’
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