Gutsy performance from QB and defense help Western prevail over Georgia powerhouse
Davie Western quarterback Davi Belfort isn’t afraid to improvise on the football field when the situation calls for it.
Belfort’s shovel pass on the run to receiver Koby Howard during the second quarter of Thursday night’s game was a perfect example.
Playing in muddy and wet conditions, which caused the ball to slip out of his hand more than once, Belfort flung a wobbler to Howard that his speedy teammate turned into a key 36-yard gain and led to a touchdown that would end up the difference in the game.
“I look up to guys that make those kinds of plays like Bryce Young, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson,” said Belfort, a Virginia Tech commit. “The instincts just kind of kicked in there. I couldn’t really throw it how I wanted to and Koby made an amazing play.”
Belfort’s ability to make such gritty plays with his arm and legs helped Western persevere with its offense missing one of its biggest stars, and pull off a 14-10 victory at home against Georgia powerhouse Milton High in the second annual Broward Football Showcase.
Western (1-0) triumphed for the second consecutive season in the event, and picked up a major win over a team that won a state title in 2018 and entered the game ranked No. 43 nationally by MaxPreps.
Belfort, who transferred from Gulliver Prep, made his first start for Western and completed 11 of 19 passes for 129 yards. He also ran the ball 17 times for 43 yards and ran for a second-quarter touchdown to lead the Wildcats, who entered ranked 86th nationally by MaxPreps. Howard caught eight passes for 93 yards.
Howard’s catch and run off Belfort’s unorthodox throw set up a 2-yard touchdown run three plays later by Brendan Leal that broke a 7-7 tie.
Western’s running game mustered only 58 yards, but picked up tough yards when it had to as the Wildcats played without senior Tovani Mizell, who sat out with an undisclosed injury.
“All that matters is us winning,” Belfort said. “This game meant a lot and I knew I was going to do whatever it took to get a victory. We’re going to fix up a couple of things to make sure we get better down the road.”
Western’s defense tipped the scales in its team’s favor with key stops throughout the game.
Milton junior quarterback Luke Nichol, a University of Miami commitment, completed 19 of 31 passes for 173 yards and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tristen Payne in the first quarter.
But the Wildcats held Milton to 258 total yards and just three points the rest of the way.
“This is one of the biggest wins in our school’s history,” Western coach Adam Ratkevich said. “(Milton) is at a plateau that we’re striving for having a state title and five straight regionals, so that’s a heckuva football team we beat tonight.
“Their quarterback is going to UM and they have athletes all over the field. Our defense held them to 10 points and they were dominant.”
Western’s offense sputtered at times, but Ratkevich trusted it to pick up the key first down through the air with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Belfort connected with senior Chosen Allen for a 17-yard gain and a first down that allowed the Wildcats to run out the clock.
“We have to improve our tempo and we have guys that are really talented that have to improve in their understanding of the scheme,” Ratkevich said. “When you play a great football team they can frustrate you, but I just wasn’t happy with the overall tempo of our offense.”
THURSDAY’S SCORES
Broward Showcase: Monarch 50, Cedar Grove (Ga.) 42
South Dade 50, Carol City 0
Krop 28, Miami High 14
Goleman 47, Mater Academy 0
South Miami 28, Coral Reef 6
Edison 17, Hialeah 6
La Salle 38, Palm Glades Prep 0
Ferguson 47, Hialeah Gardens 0
Cypress Bay 20, West Broward 7
Pembroke Pines Charter 42, Northeast 0
South Plantation 20, Coral Glades 14
McArthur 26, Stoneman Douglas 15
This story was originally published August 25, 2023 at 12:46 AM.
