Coconut Creek High School Football Kicks Off New Season
In Coconut Creek, the excitement of high school football is in the air as the local teams gear up for the 2023 season. Monarch High School is coming off a strong performance, having recently captured its third straight District Championship and finishing the last season with a respectable 7-4 record. With only nine regular-season games, Monarch had two losses to top-ten teams in the nation. In their opening playoff game, the Knights faced Hkmestesd High School and secured a 28-20 victory, thanks to standout performances from Samari Reed, who rushed for two touchdowns, and Florentino Lopez, who added 167 rushing yards and one score.
However, the season ended on a tough note for the Knights as they traveled to play top-seeded South High School and lost 20-14, concluding their season with a solid showing despite the challenging schedule. The team will see over a dozen seniors graduate this year, with many having already committed to playing football at the collegiate level.
On the other side, Coconut Creek High School experienced a rough start, losing its first three games but rebounding to finish the regular season with a 4-5 record. After a demanding schedule, the Cougars earned the sixth seed in the playoffs. Unfortunately, they fell short against Blanche Ely High School, losing 34-27 in a closely contested game.
The athletic achievements extend beyond football in Coconut Creek. Cross country also saw notable performances. Jeremiah Accius led the boys’ team finishing 54th in his race, while the girls’ team was represented by Salaya Campbell and Layla Naves. Monarch High School’s boys had Joshua Reneau, Gavin Mulligan, and Brian Colquhoun competing, along with the girls’ cohort of Riley Cockrehan, Luna Hill, and Isabella Alba.
In other sports, North Broward Prep capped off its football season with a 21-7 victory over Pine Crest in their final game, though they did not make the playoffs. Their volleyball team advanced to the Regional Semifinals after clinching a District Championship. The cross country team, led by Willis Gillis, placed 24th at the State Championship.
The girls’ golf team found success in their season as well, winning a District Championship led by Jerera Mendez, who finished third with a score of 78. Jordan Ellis finished sixth with an 87 and received valuable contributions from team members Tingting Zhuang, Ava Koury, and Cooper Aucoin. Additionally, both the boys’ swim team and girls’ swim team competed at the Regionals.
The community of Coconut Creek continues to support its high school athletes as they strive for excellence in their respective sports.
