Fort Lauderdale, FL— Thursday marked another year of the Broward County High School Football Showcase. The fourth annual event kicked off another exciting slate of games for teams in Broward County taking on talented programs from across the state and in particular, across the nation.  Thursday’s action began with Peachtree Ridge (GA) knocking off Sunrise Piper in spectacular fashion 31-6 at Fort Lauderdale Dillard High School’s newly renovated turf field stadium. 

The Lions and head coach Matt Helmrich lost a close game to Coconut Creek Monarch in last year’s showcase. A game they led for the majority of the contest.  So a return trip and a win was a great result for the visiting team from metro Atlanta. 

The game of the night was perhaps an unhealed matchup between Archbishop McCarthy and Cardinal Gibbons.  In a complete barnburner, the underdog McCarthy Mavs pulled out the upset on the road 42-35 at Gibbons.  McCarthy got the job done on the ground as Damien Grant rushed for 260 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries.  An eye popping 15 yards per carry. Malik Denson also hauled in 4 catches for 115 yards and two scores.  

The finale of the evening was Coconut Creek Monarch playing host to Jacksonville Bolles.  This Bolles team finished a game short of the state championship in 2A last season, dropping a hard-fought game to Gadsen County who would lose the championship game to Cocoa. 

Monarch raced out to a 7-0 lead in the game marching down the field over 70 yards.  Bolles would answer to tie the game and then give up a safety.  Monarch led 9-7 in the first quarter and then Bolles took over and went on a 27-6 run to win the game. The Bulldog defense created three first half turnovers leading to an offensive explosion. Bolles should once again figure heavily.

In Miami-Dade County, Carol City jumped out 21-0 on Hialeah at Betty T. Ferguson Complex only to let the Thoroughbreds march right back into the game to lead 25-21. Carol City would score twice to win the game 35-25.