Boca Raton 29, Seminole Ridge 27: Bicknell's five field goals leads Bobcats

Friday, September 25, 2009
by Zach Stewart

LOXAHATCHEE — When Aaron Gordon sacked Seminole Ridge's Hayden Collier on a two-point conversion attempt with less than four minutes to play, it appeared that Boca Raton's 29-27 comeback victory over the Hawks was secure.

But there was still a lot of football left to play.

Boca quarterback Eddie Sullivan (10-of-26 for 167 yards, 64 yards rushing) fumbled on a third-and-one carry as the Bobcats attempted to run out the clock at their own 47, and the Hawks' Eric Strickland recovered to give Seminole Ridge's offense one last chance.

Collier (5-of-9 for 135 yards, two TDs) and Javian Wrisper led the Hawks 22 yards on five plays, setting up Matt Johnson for a potential game-winning 42-yard field goal.

Johnson's kick was long enough, eliciting a roar from the large crowd, but wide left of the uprights, allowing the seventh-ranked Bobcats (2-1) to hold off the ninth-ranked Hawks (3-1).

Boca Raton's David Bicknell, kept the Bobcats in the game all night, hitting five field goals (25, 24, 33, 33, 47) as Sullivan started slowly and the Bobcats were unable to find the end zone and capitalize on two early Hawks turnovers.

After the Bobcats took their first lead, 15-14, on Bicknell's fifth field goal-a 47-yarder at the end of the third quarter-Seminole Ridge's Gary Holmes answered with a 98-yard kick return to regain the lead, 21-14.

But Boca answered with a 9-yard Jerome Bradley touchdown run, and scored again when Terrell Williams picked off Collier and returned the ball 36 yards for a touchdown with five minutes remaining.

The Hawks responded with a 53-yard drive, culminating in Wrisper's touchdown to close the gap to 29-27. Then Gordon came up with his big play to help Boca hold on.