DELRAY BEACH — West Boca Raton senior running back Javian Mallory scored three touchdowns as the visiting Bulls pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 31-14 victory against previously unbeaten Atlantic on Thursday night.
Mallory, a University of Miami commit, had a 65-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, recorded a 6-yard touchdown catch in the second and rushed for a 6-yard score in the fourth.
“This game was personal for me and for our team,” Mallory said. “We worked extremely hard this week. We knew it was going to be a slugfest. We came out here and executed. I am happy and proud of my teammates in what we came out and did today.”
West Boca junior quarterback Trey Moran accounted for two scores, including a touchdown run on third down in the fourth quarter.
“We were motivated coming into this game,” Moran said. “We knew there was a lot of hype. We grew up with a lot of the kids on the other side. It just feels good to win.”
West Boca standout junior defensive tackle Jamar Thompson made an impact to help lead the Bulls defense as they held the Eagles scoreless in the second half.
“We knew what we had to come out and do,” Thompson said. “We just had to come back out and shut it down. We didn’t want to keep them in the game.
West Boca (8-2) had a 12-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Atlantic (9-1) rallied to jump ahead 14-12 in the second, but t
The Bulls outscored the Eagles 13-0 in the final quarter.
“We’re going to run the football and we’re going to play defense and I thought tonight we answered the call on both sides,” West Boca coach Dylan Potts said.
The Bulls opened the scoring as Moran connected with junior running back Anderson Gracilien for a 36-yard catch-and-run for a score.
Mallory’s 65-yard scamper extended the lead to 12-0 with 6:55 left in the first. The Bulls missed a 44-yard field goal attempt early in the second quarter. The Eagles responded as sophomore quarterback Pedro Martinez fired a 22-yard scoring pass to senior
wide receiver James Jones in the right corner of the end zone to cut the deficit to 12-7 with 7:47 remaining in the first half.
Atlantic capitalized on a short field after a punt return and penalty on the Bulls. Martinez connected with senior wide receiver Mark Hanniford for a 21-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a 14-12 lead with 4:13 left in the second.
The Bulls responded on the ensuing drive as Moran tossed a 6-yard scoring pass to Mallory with 18 seconds left prior to halftime.
Moran stepped up on the first play of the fourth quarter. On third down, he escaped the pocket and raced for a 47-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 25-14.
Atlantic had a touchdown pass called back on an offensive holding penalty later in the fourth. The Eagles also failed to convert on fourth down.
Mallory rushed for a 6-yard score to increase the lead to 31-14 with 3:53 remaining. West Boca sophomore CJ Jackson recorded an interception on the ensuing drive to seal the victory for the Bulls.
“All the coaches got faith in me,” Jackson said. “I am coming for it on every play.”
West Boca, the defending Class 6A state champion, has recorded five shutouts on defense and allowed 14 points or less in their eight wins.
“I think this a statement win at the perfect time,” Potts said. “I told our kids it’s all about who gets hot at the right time in the playoffs. We’re fortunate enough to have that experience in the playoffs. We knew how important this game was to get a win, not only just because it’s a rivalry, but to kind of get that momentum going into the playoffs.”
West Boca standout junior defensive tackle Jamar Thompson (Alex Kushel/Correspondent)
