Hollywood Hills quarterback tosses TD on first pass of her career

Holly Neher’s debut as quarterback for Hollywood Hills won’t soon be forgotten.

The 5-foot junior, in just her third snap from center in her high school tackle football career, launched a 42-yard scoring strike to Alexander Shelton late in the fourth quarter of a 21-7 loss to Hallandale Thursday night at Cooper City High.

Though she wasn’t the first female to play quarterback in Broward County (South Plantation’s Erin Dimeglio did back in 2012), Neher was the first to throw a touchdown pass in a game.

She also showed her toughness surviving a pair of roughing the passer penalties. She jumped right back on her feet after each of them.

Her second pass was another completion to Shelton for 24 yards. She finished the night going 2 for 4 for 66 yards and the one score in the Spartans loss.

“I just saw a little bit of orange on my first pass and it went for a touchdown to Alex,” Neher said. “I was pretty excited.”

“Her touchdown is a testament about how much this team cares about her,” Hollywood Hills coach Brandon Graham said.

Hallandale sophomore running back Andrew Henley hammered Hollywood Hills’ defense rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown.

He left with a left leg injury as the third quarter ended.

Hallandale led 21-0 at the half. Henley scored on a 20-yard run, Deimon Santos scored on a 14-yard fumble return, and Devin Jackson scored on a nine-yard pass from quarterback Nathaniel Williams.

Dave Brousseau

▪ Miami High 35, Krop 12: Miami High’s meteoric rise back to relevancy under new head coach Sedrick Irvin took another big step on Thursday night. The Stingarees traveled to Ives Estates Field and dominated Krop, another team on the rise, from the opening whistle to record a 35-12 win and move to 2-0.

Led by safety Devenson Caclet, the Miami High defense dominated most of the night before the Lightning (1-1) put up two scores in the final two minutes after the game had gone to a running clock. Caclet picked off two passes returning the second one 30 yards for a score.

With numerous Division I schools after his services, it was running back Johnny Ford that led the way for the Stings as he rushed for 158 yards on 13 carries, including a 67-yard touchdown on the game’s first play. He also reeled in a screen pass from quarterback Isaias Castellon and turned it into a 23-yard score early in the second half.

“We’re excited about what’s in front of us,” said Ford, who was at Coral Gables a season ago before transferring to Booker T. Washington for spring practice, then eventually winding up at Miami High over the summer. “Coach says we only get out of something what we put into it, so it’s just a matter of the hard work paying off.’’

BILL DALEY

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

BOYS’ GOLF

GIRLS’ GOLF

This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 10:57 PM with the headline "Hollywood Hills quarterback tosses TD on first pass of her career."