Boca Raton 34, Atlantic 27: Bobcats rally to victory

Thursday, November 05, 2009
by Jason Lieser

Eddie Sullivan has thrown the same pass to the left side of the end zone since he was little, but none was as important, or as celebrated, as the one he delivered to beat Atlantic on Friday.

Sullivan lofted a 36-yard touchdown pass to an outstretched Jeremy Retzch with 17 seconds left to give Boca Raton a 34-27 victory and a post-season berth.

"That ball — for some reason it's been that ball every time," Sullivan said, recounting similar touchdown passes in his past.

"He was so open. All I had to do was throw it."

No. 4 Boca Raton (6-2) improved 3-0 in District 8-6A and is assured one of the district's two playoff spots.

Whether Atlantic (4-4, 1-2) makes the playoffs or not, the season already has been a major disappointment for a team that went 10-1 last year and returned 13 starters.

"You can't win on paper," said Eagles coach Andre Thaddies, who had beaten Boca Raton four straight times.

"I don't even know what to say. It's a big underachievement."

The Eagles scored on their first drive and led 27-19 with 2:58 remaining when Boca Raton took possession near midfield. Two plays later, Sullivan found Cameron Lewis for a 50-yard touchdown pass.

The same combination hooked up for a two-point conversion attempt in which Sullivan rolled right to escape pressure and found Lewis in the back of the end zone.

After a three-and-out by Atlantic, Sullivan hit running back Jerome Bradley on a 28-yard screen before firing his game-winning touchdown pass to Retzch.

In the final 9:08 of the game, Sullivan completed 4-of-9 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns.

"That's the kind of kid he is; he's a winner," Bobcats coach Keith Byars said. "When you must have it — and tonight was a must-have — it gets magnified."

Sullivan completed passes to six different receivers and finished 15-of-31 for 313 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Retzch caught four passes for 107 yards, Terrell Williams had two receptions for 80 yards and Lewis grabbed three passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns.

Atlantic, meanwhile, turned the ball over four times and did not score an offensive touchdown in the second half.

Eagles quarterback Mark Leal finished 18-of-33 passing for 228 yards and two interceptions, threw for one touchdown and ran for another.

Atlantic wide receiver James Louis had six catches for 107 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown. Quadarias Mireles set up a field goal with an 81-yard kickoff return and took an interception 40 yards for a score.

None of that was enough, though, as Atlantic lost in the final minutes for the second straight week.