The Olympic Heights football team fell to Royal Palm Beach 40–28 on Thursday, Oct. 20, at Royal Palm Beach for only the Lions’ second loss of the season and an overall 5-2 record.

More importantly, the loss drops the Lions’ district record to 2-2 forcing a must win situation against Palm Beach Lakes on Friday, Oct. 28 to hold onto any hopes of advancing to the post season. If the Lions beat Lakes and Royal Palm Beach beats winless West Boca, there will be a three-way tie for second place in the district forcing a playoff between OH, Lakes and Royal Palm Beach to determine which team advances to the district playoff round. The playoff for playoffs would be held on Monday, Oct. 31.

The Lions fell behind early against Royal Palm Beach giving up 28 unanswered points in the first quarter. The first Wildcats score came on the first play from scrimmage when running back Voshon Jackson went on an 80-yard run to the end zone. On his the Wildcat’s second possession and Jackson’s third carry of the game, Jackson added a 69-yard touchdown run putting the Lions down 14-0 just over three minutes into the game.

With just under two minutes left in the first quarter, the Wildcats Teja Young broke a 74-yard touchdown run. On the Lions’ subsequent possession, quarterback Anthony Petillo’s pass was intercepted for a 46-yard pick-6, putting the Lions down by 28 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw the Lions make a game of it by putting up 21 unanswered point with the Lions’ first score coming on a 37-yard Tommy Morelli touchdown run.

A few lucky bounces for the Lions set up their second score when Mike Nestor, lying on the ground at the Wildcats’ 13-yard line nabbed a Petillo pass that was deflected by two Royal Palm beach defenders. Later in the drive, a lateral from Petillo to Keyshawn Simmons came up short, but Simmons was able to catch the ball on the first bounce and take into the end zone on a 3-yard run.

With just under two minutes left in the first half, the Lions’ Jason Dodin scooped up a Wildcats’ fumble and took it 33 yards for the touchdown, sending the game to the half with the Lions trailing 28-21.

With just 44 seconds left in the third quarter, the Wildcats scored on yet another long touchdown run when Young went on a 66-yard scamper into the end zone giving the Wildcats a 34-21 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Lions pulled within six points when Morelli scored on a short run for his second touchdown of the night. However, the Lions hopes for a miracle comeback faded into the evening when a Petillo pass was intercepted for another Wildcat pick-6, this one for a 21-yard return.