Fresh off its stunning 25-22 win over Dwyer on Thursday night, the Olympic Heights football team beat rival West Boca 19-7 just four nights later on Monday, Oct. 2, to improve its record to 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in district play.

The Lions were staked to a 12-0 halftime lead on two touchdown passes by senior quarter James Micioni. After almost two quarters of nothing but penalty-ridden stalled drives by both teams, Micioni hit senior tight end with a three-yard touchdown pass with 3:28 remaining in the half.

On their next possession the Lions were driving but looked as if they were going to run out of time until Micioni’s connected on 17-yard pass with senior wide out receiver Michael Ippolitto who made a spectacular leaping catch, barely coming down with the required one-foot in the end zone with just 1.6 seconds remaining in the first half to finish off the 73-yard drive.

The third quarter was a repeat of most of the first half, with the Lions and the Bulls exchanging stalled drives until West Boca quarterback Max Mazur scored on a three-yard run closing the score to 12-7.

The Lions defense, which forced three turnovers and held West Boca to just 233 yards on the night, came up big yet again in the game’s final minutes as West Boca was looking to drive for the win with just under two minutes remaining.

But senior defensive back Warren Laguerre put an end to West Boca’s hopes when he intercepted a Mazur pass with 1:33 remaining. The Lions put an exclamation point on the win with a 13-yard touchdown run by senior running back Reis Clark in the game’s final minute.

“This win was real big,” Alfred said. “I told the guys if they wanted to win the district and make the playoffs, we had to be 2-0, and we control our own destiny. We are just going to take it week by week.

The Lions travel to take on state power Vero Beach on Friday, Oct. 6. The next home game will be Friday, Oct. 13 against Palm Beach Lakes.