LAKE WORTH — Park Vista’s undefeated flag football season goes on — just barely.
Less than two weeks after steamrolling Spanish River in a 19-point win in districts, the Cobras had to fight tooth-and-nail to keep the Sharks at bay in a 12-7 regional semifinals win on Monday night. Jordana Weil found Ansley Hobson for the go-ahead score with just 15 seconds left to play.
Coaches in the post-game huddle lauded the game as “one of the best” they’ve been a part of, as tears from both sides streamed down cheeks for different reasons.
“It meant a lot to know that now we’re only one game away from states,” Hobson said. “It’s my senior year and I really wanted this play. With my team behind my back, it just felt so good.”
Park Vista (17-0) threatened several times, but twice, the Spanish River defense came up with a pair of crucial interceptions in the red zone ― the second of which ricocheted off a Cobras receiver and into the waiting arms of Mara Jones.
Jones was a star on offense for the Sharks (13-6), as well, acting as the final receiver in a double lateral play for the Spanish River’s lone touchdown of the evening.
For quite some time, that kind of production looked to be enough for an unlikely Spanish River upset, though Hobson didn’t want that to be the Cobras’ story this year.
“We were down in the first half and we really stepped it up in the second half, because we all really wanted it,” she said. “Spanish River came out to fight, but we weren’t letting them fight anymore.”
Monday night’s gritty win was essentially par for the course, according to Park Vista head coach Andrew Joseph, who has watched his team go from dividing and conquering in blowout wins to edging out close contests against some of the state’s best.
“It was a dogfight, and kudos to them – they came in with a helluva game-plan for us,” Joseph said. “It means everything to me because it’s been that type of season for us. To come out with a win like this, it’s rough on the heart, but the ending makes it all the better.”
Cobras players soaked in the moment, celebrating the journey continuing with fans in attendance while coaches delivered impassioned speeches in the huddle.
The undefeated season remains alive, as does the target on their backs.
“It’s a gift and a curse,” Joseph said. “When we came into this season, we knew that last year, we lost a lot of close games. And our point of emphasis this season was to play all the way through and see what happens. ‘Let’s be a bigger motor, let’s have each others’ backs.’”
The Cobras will look to keep things rolling when they host Stoneman Douglas (14-3) on Thursday, with the No. 7 seed Eagles posting back-to-back upsets against Western and Palmetto to reach the regional finals.
Regardless of the opponent, Monday’s win was the latest step in a season with one objective for Park Vista.
“It’s super exciting for them,” Joseph said, “because we had a goal in mind and we’re one step closer to it.”
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: Park Vista flag football survives Spanish River scare in regionals
Reporting by Alexander Peterman, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
