Westminster Academy @ USchool
WEEK 8 | 2023 SEASON
October 12, 2023
by Josh Zedner
Davie, Fla. | “Sharks Chomp Thru Lions”
Florida Man Sports is back with a high intensity Week 8 matchup between the Westminster Academy Lions and the NSU University School Sharks. Both teams came into tonight with 6-0 records, smack was talked, and we got set for what was sure to be an entertaining battle on the Sharks’ Senior Night.
The Lions got the ball first, and 2026 WR/DB Amari Deer got the offense in good starting field position with a great kick return. The drive stalled when 2025 MLB Griffin Pomper sacked 2024 QB Anthony Barbar, and then a poor high snap was recovered by 2025 ATH Devin Mila. USchool then cruised down the field with a bruising run by 2025 RB Jacques “JJ” Dixson Jr., followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by the Lions. 2024 QB Jett Yurgealitis tossed a swing pass to Dixson which resulted in a broken tackle and a stretch over the goal line to get the Sharks on the board first.
Westminster got its run game going through the legs of 2025 RB/LB Harrison Gant, who gashed through for a couple of chunk gains. On a 4th and Inches, the Lions sent out their field goal unit, but they ran a fake field goal attempt which failed terribly. Why did they not just continue to churn down the field with their potent rushing? The world may never know.
This marked a clear turning point in the game. Barbar tossed a pass over the middle that was jumped and picked off by 2025 ATH Belal “Juju” Logan. On another drive, Westminster attempted a touch pass that was bobbled, fumbled, and eventually picked up by Pomper, who was attempting to punch the ball out of every Lions weapons’ hands when they touched it.
Yurgealitis got into a groove. He tossed a touchdown to Logan to get the lead out to 13-0. On another drive, he threw consecutive first downs to 2024 WR Ronald Johnson and 2027 WR Carlos Avila-Lopez. Yurgealitis then threw another dot to 2024 WR Ian Donohue that was bobbled, but eventually caught with his feet for a TD. Ridiculous play. 20-0 USchool.
Right before the half, Westminster finally put together a drive that gave them some positive momentum headed into the half. Barbar delivered a ball with a nice 1st down snag by 2024 WR/LB Evan Tempro, followed by three Sharks penalties that resulted in first downs. Barbar then delivered a dime to Tempro again for a long touchdown to cut the lead back down to 13 as the first half closed.
Whatever remaining momentum that Westminster had heading into the half was completely shattered coming out of the gates in the second half. Dixson Jr. shredded their defense with a Shark attack for three consecutive first-down runs. Yurgealitis had another great toss that was somehow caught by Avila-Lopez for a first down near the goal line. On the very next play, it seemed as if Dixson Jr. was crushed by two Lions defenders, but Yurgealitis kept the ball and easily cruised in for another Sharks touchdown. It fooled me. It fooled multiple U School staffers. It definitely fooled Westminster.
More dominant defense ensued. The Lions were caged. Logan delivered another interception with a long return. He was all over the place tonight. An outstanding performance by the two-sport star. Yurgealitis then threw a touchdown to Avila-Lopez that went off of a defenders hand and somehow landed into the waiting arms of the receiver. Great composure and way to keep your eye on the ball by the freshman Avila-Lopez.
Some more Shark bites were delivered by the USchool defense. 2025 DE Justice Martin and 2026 CB Joshua Houston came through with sacks. Logan added to his stat line with two pass breakups and 2026 CB Landan Kelly chipped in a PBU of his own.
After one more explosive run by Dixson Jr., Yurgealitis delivered his 5th touchdown pass of the night to his 5th different receiver as 2025 WR Bradyn Potter caught one in the endzone. The final score was 42-7 in favor of the NSU University School Sharks.
A lot of things to like from USchool tonight. All three units of their team excelled tonight. Yurgealitis started off a bit slow but showed that his poise would not deter him as he was responsible for every touchdown by the Sharks tonight. And that defense is young and has years to grow. They played their tails off. It was as if at one point or another, everyone had their moment to shine. They are now 7-0 with one regular season game left.
As for the Westminster Academy Lions, they were the prey to the predator tonight. It just wasn’t their night from start to finish. They had a state-leading passer in Barbar and a state-leading receiver in two-sport athlete 2025 WR/DE Dwayne “DJ” Wimbley Jr., but just couldn’t get much going on offense tonight. Their defense was gashed by both passes and runs, and penalties shot them in the foot all night. A lot of smack was talked and the teams duked it out, but the Sharks were atop the food chain tonight.
FINAL SCORE:
USchool beats Westminster Academy 42-7
About Josh Zedner:
Joshua Zedner is a beat writer covering high school football for Florida Man Sports. A native of Miami Beach, he attended Florida International University before finishing his undergraduate Business Administration degree at the University of Florida. Josh is an avid Miami sports fan, and he also writes a music review blog as a passion project under the @AlbumAnalysisWithZ handle on Instagram.
