Knighton leads Deerfield Beach past Plantation in regional semifinal
The Plantation football team discovered first-hand how difficult it is to contain Jaylan Knighton.
The Deerfield Beach junior running back had another big night, rushing for 132 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown while adding another score on a 31-yard reception to lead the Bucks to a 23-0 victory in a Region 3-8A semifinal on Friday.
The shutout was the first in 19 regional semifinal playoff games for the Bucks in school history. The Colonels’ loss was their eighth straight in regional semifinal games dating back to 2002.
The Bucks improved to 15-7 all-time against Plantation.
Deerfield Beach (11-1) will host Palm Beach Central, a 38-0 winner over Western, in a regional final next Friday.
Knighton has continued to pile on to his season totals. Enter next week’s regional semifinal, the Oklahoma commit has 1,915 yards on 210 carries.
“Jaylan is the best player in Broward County this year,” Deerfield Beach coach Jevon Glenn said. “He’s a special player. He’s a once in a lifetime type of player for most schools.
“He’s built for greatness.”
Much of the credit also goes to the Deerfield defense that not only registered the shutout but held the Colonels (10-2) Wing-T offense to 51 rushing yards on 36 carries.
Plantation quarterback Gerard Nesbitt was sacked six times for -44 yards.
“The defensive coaches did a great job getting these kids ready for tonight,” Glenn said. “The kids were dialed in. The effort was all there at the kids bought in.”
“Deerfield’s front seven is the best we’ve faced all season,” Plantation coach Steve Davis said. “They’re big, physical and fast and they have kids I’m sure that are highly recruited.”
Knighton had his longest reception of the season, hauling in a 31-yard pass from Derohn King for a 21-0 halftime lead. It was Knighton’s first touchdown catch this season.
Knighton’s first touchdown of the night came on a 12-yard run over the left side with 3:13 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 Bucks advantage. The score was Knighton’s 25th rushing touchdown of the season.
Deerfield went up 14-0 when a Colonels punt was blocked, and Keyon Martin returned it 17 yards for the touchdown.
Overall, the play between the teams was sloppy as they combined for 246 penalty yards and six turnovers. King finished the night with four interceptions.
Freshman running back Jaziun Patterson, who replaced Knighton late in the game, rushed for 99 yards on six carries.
Deerfield added a safety in the third quarter, the only points scored in the second half.