BOCA RATON — The streak is over. For the first time in five years, Cardinal Newman football lost to a Palm Beach County opponent.
West Boca Raton snapped the Crusaders’ unbeaten run against local competition Thursday night, defeating Cardinal Newman 24-7 in a matchup between the reigning state champions behind a dominant defensive effort and three second-quarter takeaways.
The Bulls (3-0) capitalized on a pair of fumble recoveries by C.J. Jackson and Jemari Foreman, along with an interception by Larry Morgan III, to build a 10-0 halftime lead in muddy conditions after heavy rain drenched the field before kickoff.
Cardinal Newman (3-1) managed just 50 yards of offense in the first half and never fully recovered.
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Wally Harmon accounted for West Boca’s first 10 points, connecting on a 42-yard field goal before adding a touchdown run later in the quarter.
The Crusaders showed signs of life in the third quarter when Janarro Sumpter broke free for a 71-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 17-7. The score was only the second touchdown allowed this season by West Boca’s defense.
The Bulls quickly regained control.
Quarterback Trey Moran scored on a rushing touchdown before connecting with Anderson Gracilien for another score in the second half, helping West Boca pull away and reinforce its status as Palm Beach County’s top-ranked team.
Cardinal Newman’s last loss to a Palm Beach County opponent came Sept. 10, 2021, when Benjamin defeated the Crusaders 17-7. The Crusaders defeated 20 consecutive local opponents over the span.
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Boca Raton hands Cardinal Newman first local loss since 2021
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