Emilee's Pick 6: Guest picker shares who will win Wellington-Palm Beach Central in Week 10
After going 3-3 on my predictions last week, I couldn't decide which Hannah Montana lyric to start off Week 10's: "Everybody makes mistakes" or "Nobody's perfect."
Both are true. Therefore I will use both.
Still, at risk of being crucified for incorrectly predicting a double-whammy rivalry-district championship this week, I subcontracted my picking responsibilities to Bronco receiver Luby Maurice Jr. while at Central last Friday.
Only for the long-awaited Wellington-Palm Beach Central rematch, though. You could say I’m living “The Best of Both Worlds.”
Let's get into this week's picks and predictions.
1. Wellington (5-3) at Palm Beach Central (7-1)
The Welly Cup is one we've been wanting since last fall and it's finally here.
Three losses to some of the Treasure Coast's toughest teams — Martin County, Jensen Beach and Vero Beach — leave Wellington's record bruised, but nicely battle-tested nonetheless.
As for Central, the Broncos corrected the mistakes that let Pahokee's run game surprise them at home, seen by the defense's outstanding performance against Palm Beach Gardens in Week 9 when they barred the Gators to less than 170 all-purpose yards.
This win is going to come down to whose men are more physical at the line of scrimmage, giving their respective dual-threat quarterbacks — Ryan Anthony of Wellington and Central's Ahmad Haston — the opportunity to break out of the pocket when necessary.
Luby's prediction: "50-7...I think," *implied* Palm Beach Central
Date/Time: Friday, 6:30 p.m.
2. King's (7-1) at Inlet Grove (6-1)
A district champion will emerge from this Week 10 matchup. While Inlet Grove is 2-0 in 2M-District 9, if the Lions of King's Academy come out of this one with the win, the district will be split three ways between Inlet, King's and Glades Central.
Both teams came away from Glades Central with one-possession games: a win for Glades Central and a loss for King's that sparked what's become a six-game win streak for the Lions.
Chances are that careless mistakes around the field are going to put these squads in the position of outscoring each other.
In the spirit of staying true to my preseason district champion predictions, I'm sticking with Inlet Grove here, but King's will likely give the Hurricanes a run for their money.
Prediction: 28-21, Inlet Grove
Date/Time: Friday, 6:30 p.m.
3. Palm Beach Gardens (5-3) at Jupiter (4-4)
Both teams 2-0 in their district, who will remain undefeated and become champions on Friday?
Probably Gardens. Especially after suffering their worst loss since the Vero shutout earlier this season to Central. Not to mention Jupiter is working through a rebuild.
It's worth noting that Gardens had to lock in for a second-half shutout to clinch a 17-6 win over Dwyer. A couple of weeks earlier, Jupiter almost started the year with a win against the Panthers but fell 13-7.
It's probably unwise to look back on a common opponent at the top of the season and one as unpredictable as Dwyer, but at this point, I think we can all agree that anything can happen.
Prediction: 24-7, Palm Beach Gardens
Date/Time: Friday, 6:30 p.m.
4. Jupiter Christian (5-3) at Westminster Academy (6-1)
State is...here? At least it is for the Sunshine State Athletic Conference and Palm Beach County has a contender in Jupiter Christian, traveling south for a region final appearance against Westminster Academy.
Quarterback Joel Sacerio will be dodging Westminster's sack-stealing line in hopes of finding top targets Nolan Hollinger, Glawinson Resignac and Jeremiah Augustin. If Jupiter Christian can get it done at the line of scrimmage, running back Adam Rosario can stack onto his 1,079 yards on the season.
Prediction: 28-17, Jupiter Christian
Date/Time: Friday, 7 p.m.
5. Dwyer (5-3) at Seminole Ridge (5-3)
Scoring comes a little more easily for Dwyer's offense than Seminole Ridge's. The Hawks escaped a possible four-game losing streak in Week 10, defeating Park Vista (1-7) by just one point.
It won't be quite as exciting as a championship game either, but these teams will still be fighting for second in the district in light of Atlantic securing the title with a 28-14 win over the Panthers last Friday.
Depending on which version of Dwyer shows up, it'll be able to stop Ridge's run-reliant schemes.
Prediction: 14-7, Dwyer
Date/Time: Friday, 6:30 p.m.
6. St. Andrew's (5-3) at Somerset Canyons (4-4)
Somerset Academy-Pembroke Pines surprised Somerset Canyons last week with interception, kickoff and punt returns for three touchdowns.
If special teams show up against St. Andrew's in Week 10, this one will at least be closer than the 47-14 shocker that hopefully woke up the Cougars, who have gone 1-3 in their last four games.
We'd probably feel a little more district heat, too, had Boynton Beach not already secured it over St. Andrew's in Week 8, but I think the Scots' own hefty 42-28 loss to Lake Highland Prep will have brothers of the backfield Jacob Cashion and Bill Young ready to get back in the win column.
Prediction: 28-14, St. Andrew's
Date/Time: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Emilee Smarr is the high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Emilee's Pick 6: Guest picker shares who will win Wellington-Palm Beach Central in Week 10
