LAKE WORTH — Palm Beach Lakes spotted Park Vista a 10-point lead Thursday night before its defense took over.
Dejon Smith returned an interception for a touchdown, Michael Kelly sealed the game with another takeaway and Hershell Reynolds added his eighth touchdown of the season as the Rams rallied for a 27-17 victory.
Mason Nicoloso added a 38-yard field goal with less than four minutes remaining to help Palm Beach Lakes (5-2) secure its second straight win. The Rams will travel to Lake Worth on Oct. 16.
Park Vista (3-3) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.
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Palm Beach Lakes' defense delivers
Palm Beach Lakes' offense has garnered attention all season, particularly after quarterback Jordan Johnson threw for 454 yards and five
touchdowns last week.
But on Thursday, the defense supplied the game's turning point.
Trying to escape pressure, Park Vista quarterback Erik Lee Jr. lofted a pass in the direction of running back Elisha "EJ" Gamble. Smith anticipated the play after seeing it on film throughout the week.
"I've been preparing for this all week," Smith said. "I've seen it on film. I knew they were going to leak out to the running back, and that is my opportunity to go up and go get it."
Smith returned the interception for a touchdown, helping spark a 17-0 run that erased Park Vista's early 10-point lead.
The Rams came up with another crucial takeaway late in the fourth quarter. With the Cobras driving and attempting to pull within one score, Kelly intercepted a pass near the goal line to thwart the threat.
"Last year he had seven (interceptions)," Palm Beach Lakes coach Turmarian "TMO" Moreland said. "So if you're talking about two years, 12 interceptions. That'll tell you everything you need to know. He's another powerful kid that we got in the back end."
Big plays fuel both offenses
Both teams leaned on explosive plays throughout the night.
Park Vista struck first when Jayce Allison turned a short pass into a touchdown on a catch-and-run that covered more than 60 yards.
Palm Beach Lakes answered with several chunk plays through the air. Ryan Ferdinand scored on a fourth-down touchdown reception, while Reynolds provided another spark with a long catch that helped set up a tying field goal in the second quarter.
"Hershell is big-time," Moreland said. "He's been big-time all year. We need a big play, No. 7 is going to get the football."
Gamble helped keep Park Vista in the game during the third quarter. After the Rams turned a 10-0 deficit into a 17-10 lead, the senior running back caught a screen pass and raced 75 yards for a touchdown.
Reynolds answered later in the quarter, hauling in a fade pass from Johnson for his eighth touchdown of the season.
"When I was running, I knew I had to adjust," Reynolds said. "As soon as I turned, he tried to grab it, but I grabbed it."
Nicoloso delivers the clinching kick
Holding a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter, Palm Beach Lakes drove into field-goal range before the drive stalled at the Park Vista 21-yard line.
Nicoloso then converted a 38-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10 points.
"Obviously, nerves in that moment," Nicoloso said. "But honestly, just trying to drown out the crowd. We've done it hundreds of times in practice. That's kind of what my mentality was."
The sophomore also connected on a field goal in the second quarter and was nearly given a chance to attempt a 50-yarder before halftime before the Rams elected to run an offensive play instead.
Moreland said his confidence in Nicoloso has grown throughout the season.
"He's mature for his age," Moreland said. "He's flat-out one of the best kickers in our county, and I just want to give him the opportunity."
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Lakes football rallies to spoil Park Vista's 'Senior Night'
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