Wildcats Down Broncos

Royal Palm Beach traveled to Palm Beach Central in hopes of clinching the 6A District 8 Championship. The Wildcats cruised to a 47-17 victory as Palm Beach Central was done in by turnovers and the outstanding play of Royal Palm Beach’s Chris Dunkley.

The Broncos offense had 4 turnovers with 3 of those turnovers being returned back for Royal Palm Beach touchdowns, while Dunkley put the ball in the end zone three times for the Wildcats. One score that did not cound for Dunkley was a 96 yard kick-off return that was called back due to an inadvertent whistle by one official.

The Broncos were the first to get on the scoreboard though when they ran a fake punt, as Jon Bostic completed a pass to a wide open John Beasley for a 40 yard touchdown. Palm Beach Central was out to an early 7-0 lead.

Royal Palm Beach quickly answered when quarterback Marvin Payne hit Eric Peterson on a quick pass, only to have Peterson sprint 50 yards for the score. The Wildcats missed the extra point keeping the Broncos in the lead 7-6.

On P.B. Central’s next drive quarterback Travis Simmons took command. Simmons connected with wide out Roody St. Germain for 20 yards and tight end Max Martial for 24 yards, before running 25 yards for a touchdown. Giving the Broncos a 14-6 lead towards the end of the game’s opening quarter.

The Bronco defense held and forced a punt, but this was the first of several heartbreaking turnovers for P.B. Central. Royal Palm Beach’s Perry McIntyre scooped up a Bronco fumble and returned it 59 yards for the touchdown. A missed two point conversion kept the score at 14-12. The Broncos answered back with a 20 yard field goal by Patrick O’Donnell pushing their lead to 17-12. That was all the scoring P.B. Central could muster though, and Royal Palm Beach’s Dunkley exploded.

A 17 yard run by Steven Brinson set up a Payne to Dunkley 16 yard touchdown completion, giving the Wildcats an 18-17 lead at half. Midway through the 3rd quarter Dunkley lined up at quarterback and ran around the left end for an 18 yard touchdown. Dunkley moved to cornerback for one play and he made the most of it returning an interception 22 yard for his third and final score of the game. These quick turn of events gave the Wildcats a 31-17 advantage towards the end of three quarters of play.

A 60 yard fumble return by Steven Louis for a score, a 30 yard field goal by Richard Bukowski, and 4 yard touchdown run by Trey Pendergrass brought us to the games 47-17 final.

Royal Palm Beach takes on Palm Beach Lakes next week, who they also play the first round of the playoffs. Palm Beach Central ends the season against Boynton Beach.