South Florida Local News

Gainesville Buchholz linebacker Myles Graham, the son of legendary Florida Gators running back Earnest Graham, signed to follow in his father’s footsteps last Wednesday on National Signing Day.

A day later, Florida linebackers coach Jay Bateman announced he was leaving UF to take the same position on Mike Elko’s new staff at Texas A&M. Father Graham was furious. The younger Graham was hurt. They both said they felt deceived.

“I wasn’t really mad. I was kinda sad about it, that he up and left that quickly, the day after I signed,” Myles Graham said Friday at the Under Armour All-American Game media day at the Orlando Marriott World Center. The game will be played Wednesday at Camping World Stadium, 4 p.m. (ESPN).

“So it did hurt because I didn’t know about it and I felt like it stabbed me in the back, but it’s kind of a business as a whole, college football, so it’s not just the University of Florida that’s doing shaky business or anything. It’s just the way of the world and how it goes.”

My son was raised to understand the business as it exists but there has been new levels of disconnect with this program that I have NEVER ever experienced. No calls, no communication and the dryest experience imaginable. I’m just going to START there.

— Earnest Graham (@earnestgraham) December 21, 2023

His father was certainly mad the day after signing day and he took to social media to vent on X (formerly known as Twitter) under his handle @earnestgraham:

“My son was raised to understand the business as it exists but there has been new levels of disconnect with this program that I have NEVER ever experienced. No calls, no communication and the dryest experience imaginable. I’m just going to START there.”

Gators signee Myles Graham said Friday at Under Armour All-American Game media day that he and his father said they felt deceived after linebackers coach Jay Batemen left UF the day after signing day. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)

Myles said the emotions have calmed since last Thursday and he also said he learned a big lesson from the experience.

“I learned a lesson at a young age. I learned it the hard way to not commit to a coach but commit to a program,” Myles said. “I’m glad my dad did what he did and I back him in whatever he does. I think it will end up helping the university in that way, helping us as a program to be more vocal and communicate better.

Myles said the surprise move by Bateman was just as shocking to Gators head coach Billy Napier.

“He explained the situation,” Myles said. “Billy Napier, being the head coach, he found out kind of the same way that we did. He kinda talked it out and he said I was in good hands and that the next linebackers coach is gonna be a great coach, so he kind of expressed that there’s nothing to worry about.”

Myles also said Napier discussed the linebackers coach opening with him.

“He talked to me about who they may hire, who I want to see hired, who I thought the other guys in the room would want to see hired and we kind of discussed a few names and everything,” Myles said.

Myles also said he has since talked with Bateman since the sudden departure.

“I wished him farewell and I wished him good luck on his journey and he did the same to me, so we’ll see each other in Week 3 of the season,” Myles said.

Gators corral ‘alpha’ L.J. McCray following Signing Day delay

With the Gators struggling in each of Napier’s first two seasons, the recruiting pitch has been difficult for the UF coaching staff, but Myles Graham said that did not enter into his recruiting judgment.

“I’ve believed in the vision ever since I committed .. before [Napier] played his first game as coach,” Myles said. “Coach Napier is a brilliant guy and he’s a great coach … nothing’s going to happen overnight. We obviously want to win games, we obviously let our emotions get in the way of that, we all want to be the best team, but we all gotta be patient.

“A lot of programs come around after the second year and hopefully we’re going to be one of those programs that have a winning season, 8, 9 games … I really do believe we’re going to turn it around.”

This past season at Buchholz, Graham, a 4-star linebacker who is ranked No. 5 in the nation by 247 Sports composite rankings, had 82 tackles and nine tackles for loss. He also had three sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. Graham also played running back and had 600 yards on 62 carries and scored 17 touchdowns.

Chris Hays covers high school and college football, as well as college football recruiting. He can be found on X (formerly known as Twitter) @OS_ChrisHays and on Instagram @OS_ChrisHays. He can be reached by email at chays@orlandosentinel.com.

Jaylen Heyward never knew his father. He always pushed away Lorenzo Jamal Bell every time the father tried to connect. But the Rockledge safety, who signed to play with UCF last week on National Signing Day, wonders now if that decision was the best choice.

Heyward, a 6-foot, 180-pound safety, will be playing in the Under Armour All-American Game on Wednesday at Camping World Stadium, 4 p.m. (ESPN).

He found out a few years ago that his father was killed during a shooting in Titusville in 2018. His aunt informed Jaylen of the news, but not until a few years after the incident. It left him with mixed feelings.

“So, I didn’t really know about my dad. I didn’t even meet him growing up,” Heyward said. “He died and my aunt had to tell me about his passing. It was kinda hard on me because I never got to meet him.

“He tried to meet me before, tried to reach out, but I pushed him away because I was a young kid and it was just a lot, so now I try to do everything for him. I found out that he was a ball player and he gave it his all on the field and so that’s what I’ve done ever since I found that out.”

Gus Malzahn turns up Orlando-area interest, leverages Big 12 into recruiting success for UCF on signing day

Heyward said he did not think his father played high school football, but he was able to watch some of his little league football clips.

“He was a heck of a ballplayer, so that’s where I got my talents from,” Heyward said. “I saw some of his little league highlights and it just was amazing and it caught my eyes.”

He wonders now if he should have allowed his father to make a connection, and still his feelings are intertwined.

“I really didn’t know how to feel, honestly,” Heyward said. “It’s just a lot of emotions built up but, you know, I didn’t really know this person, but it’s still your dad, so-called dad, the one who gave you birth. So I had mixed emotions. I was just in my own head.

“Ever since I found out about him [dying], I just try to play every moment after him and I just thank God every day.”

His mother, Tiffany Heyward, has been the one who was always there for him. Heyward wears a picture of his mother holding his younger brother on a medallion attached to a gold chain around his neck.

“It’s my mom and my brother. They give me my motivation to get up out of bed every day,” Heyward said. “The same thing with my dad. I used to have a picture of my dad, but it got snatched during a football game.”

Ms. Heyward raised her son as a single mother who also gave birth to his little brother, Tristan Thomas, along the way. Tristan is four-years-old now.

“She helped me stay strong and remain on the course I’m on today,” Heyward said.

Move to Big 12 benefits UCF as it wraps up stellar 2024 recruiting class

Heyward is one of the top safeties in the country for the 2024 recruiting class and is ranked No. 20 in the 247 Sports composite rankings. He had 36 scholarship offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, FSU, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon, but the proximity to home left him with a strong liking for UCF.

“What sold me was Coach [Gus] Malzahn and his recruiting and Coach Addison [Williams] and Coach [David] Gibbs, they were recruiting me really hard,” Heyward said. “And my mom’s an alumni from there, as well, so that really persuaded me coming down to the decision.”

He had other schools recruiting him hard, but once he committed to UCF, most of them backed off, with the exception of a few, like Colorado. Heyward said it was difficult to keep from being swayed by Coach Prime.

“Yeah, Colorado was a school that wanted me to come up there really, really bad. They wanted me to come experience the, you know, the Florida boy, Deion-type of affect,” Heyward said. “It was kinda hard to turn down Coach Prime, but I did because I never went out there for a visit and I wanted to stay home. I really see what UCF’s future is and I like the future.

“The UCF future in the Big 12 is going to be amazing. I like the recruits that we’re bringing in. It’s a strong ’24 class that Gus pulled behind his resume and the sky is the limit for this class.””

At Rockledge this past season, the 6-foot, 180-pound Heyward had 22 tackles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He also caught two touchdown passes as a receiver.

Chris Hays covers high school and college football, as well as college football recruiting. He can be found on X (formerly known as Twitter) @OS_ChrisHays and on Instagram @OS_ChrisHays. He can be reached by email at chays@orlandosentinel.com.

 

 

By COLBY GUY (Associated Press)

SUNRISE — Sam Reinhart scored two goals, Aleksander Barkov tied a franchise career record by collecting three assists, and the Florida Panthers beat the NHL-leading New York Rangers 4-3 on Friday night.

Carter Verhaeghe got the winning goal for Florida in the third period. Evan Rodrigues also scored for the Panthers, and Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 31 saves. Barkov tied Jonathan Huberdeau for the Panthers’ record with 415 assists.

Artemi Panarin, Will Culleye and Mika Zibanejad scored for the Rangers, who tied the game twice after facing deficits of 2-0 and 3-2. Panarin and Culleye scored 1:13 apart in the second period to tie the game for New York.

Jonathan Quick stopped 28 shots for the Rangers, who lead the NHL with a .721 standings-point percentage so far.

Florida improved to 15-0-1 when leading after two periods and 14-1-0 when scoring at least four goals. New York is 2-9-1 when allowing four or more goals — the Rangers are 22-0-0 when holding opponents to three goals or less.

Barkov departed with 8:37 left after taking a high hit to the head from the Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere. Referees originally called a 5-minute major, then downgraded the penalty to a minor.

Zibanejad briefly made matters worse for Florida with a short-handed goal 52 seconds into the Panthers’ power play, tying the game again at 3-3. The Rangers killed off the rest of the Panthers’ man advantage, but Verhaeghe scored 14 seconds after New York returned to full strength.

And the next boost for Florida came a couple minutes later, when Barkov returned to the ice with 4:17 left after a brief stint in the Florida dressing room.

Barkov is the Panthers’ leader in games (696), goals (254), points (669), power-play goals (71), power-play points (196), game-winning goals (46) and shots on goal (1,854). The only offensive franchise record of note that he doesn’t have is power-play assists; Huberdeau still leads him there, 146-125.

UP NEXT

Rangers: Visit Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Panthers: Host Montreal on Saturday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

CORAL GABLES — Norchad Omier had 27 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season and Miami beat North Florida 95-55 on Friday night.

Omier scored 14 points in the opening 10 minutes to help Miami build a 27-14 lead. Omier made his first six shots, including a 3-pointer, while North Florida started 5 of 22 from the field.

Omier finished the half with 19 points as Miami led 42-27. Seven of North Florida’s nine field goals in the first half came from behind the arc.

Kyshawn George and Bensley Joseph each made a 3-pointer during Miami’s 17-5 run to begin the second half for a 59-32 lead.

Bensley Joseph and Matthew Cleveland also had double-doubles for Miami (10-2). Cleveland had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Joseph had 11 points, 10 assists and four steals. Christian Watson added 14 points and George finished with 10. Omier reached the 1,500-point mark for his career.

Wooga Poplar, Miami’s leading scorer at 17.5 points per game, played just 15 minutes after appearing to injure an ankle. The Hurricanes were also without starter Nijel Pack (back).

Chaz Lanier scored 12 points for North Florida (7-8). The Ospreys attempted 45 3-pointers and made 17 2-pointers.

Miami hosts No. 18 Clemson on Wednesday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here ___ AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

General Daily Insight for December 30, 2023

Fabulous energy is shimmering throughout the skies. The day begins with a bang as the Moon in Leo squares shocking Uranus in Taurus, encouraging us to break out of any ruts. Then, the lunar trine to Mercury should let us voice our feelings, even though a quincunx between the Moon and Neptune could leave us a little conflicted. Happily, lucky Jupiter will turn direct in Taurus at 9:40 PM EST, once again bringing us positivity and bounty in its wake. How wonderful!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Get ready to make it rain, Aries! You’ve just become an absolute money magnet as Jupiter turns direct in your 2nd House of Wealth, bringing you fabulous opportunities to increase your net worth. This could result in a higher-paying job or a raise for all your hard work. Even if you don’t work, windfalls could be just around the corner! That said, you may have trouble denying yourself, so if you’re going to purchase indulgences, do your best to choose quality over quantity.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

It’s all systems go! Bountiful Jupiter is turning direct in your sign, once again encouraging you to put yourself forward and show off where you can, because hosting this blessed influence is something that only happens once every twelve years. Don’t waste any time before making use of it! Where you may have faced limitations before, now you will mainly see open roads, so start marching in whatever direction you choose. You can reach it even sooner than you’d ever dreamt.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You have special permission to let your imagination take over. Jupiter, the guardian of good luck, is turning direct in your dreamy 12th house. This is rather like having a fairy godparent watching over you, only you may not realize it. You’re being boosted in ways you presently even see, but if you let your mind wander you may have an unexpected eureka moment that makes you understand just how fortunate you are. Trust that the universe has your back and go with the flow!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Everyone is waiting for you to come out and play. Your popularity is through the roof, thanks to Jupiter turning direct in your 11th House of Global Networks. Peers may spring up everywhere, all of whom seem practically dying to see you. If you feel like you’ve outgrown your current social scene, then this change can help you find more people who align with your updated values. You’re ready to break out of your shell and discover what everyone is up to.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

There’s no such thing as too successful — not according to you, Leo. You can set your sights as high as you choose with Jupiter finally moving ahead once more after its five-month retrograde in your 10th House of Determination. You can reach new professional heights now that Jupiter will be putting wind in your sails, so don’t sit around waiting for opportunities to land in your lap, even though they actually might do so. Your efforts should be well-rewarded, so avoid slacking off.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

The world is opening up to you in a whole new way. Expansive Jupiter is waking after spending the last five months retrograding through your 9th House of Quests, which could have made you all too aware of certain limitations as you attempted to expand your world. At last, Jupiter will begin to break down those barriers so you can start exploring once more, offering you real options that can bear fabulously unfamiliar fruit. It’s time to go beyond the horizon.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

A windfall is always a welcome event. You may have such fortune in store as bountiful Jupiter turns direct in your 8th House of Shared Finances, bringing a burst of luck to money matters that involve others, like taxes, bonuses, inheritances, and other lump sums. This is an especially good time if you’re in the market for a loan, as Jupiter will do its best to get you all you need and more. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

There’s never been a better day to partner up. Your closet relationships are coming into focus as lucky Jupiter spins direct once again in your 7th House of Associations. All kinds of connections are highlighted, as long as they are one-on-one, so whether you’re looking for a partner in love, business, or friendship, know that you should have your pick of the lot. If you’re already satisfied with the plus-ones in your life, you can look forward to even better times together with them.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You’ve got a clear road to your best self ahead of you. The planets are working in your favor as Jupiter wakes up in your 6th House of Daily Routine and starts pushing you forward once again. You can use this energy to transform your life into whatever you want it to be, starting from the inside out. Small changes will have a big impact! With can-do Jupiter at the helm, you deserve to take pride in all you achieve.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Step forward and take a bow! You’ve got cosmic permission to put yourself on display as Jupiter turns direct in your 5th House of Enthusiasm, so hiding yourself away from the world is the last thing you should do right now. Any artistic projects or special ideas you’ve been pondering may finally be ready for their debut, or at least get moved from the back burner onto the heat. Prepare yourself — a passion project could earn you quite a bit of attention.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your home is your castle — or whatever fabulous structure you want it to be. You can make major improvements to your space now that gift-giving Jupiter is waking up from its retrograde phase in your dwelling sector and turning direct once again, bringing waves of positivity right to your front door. If you’ve been thinking about moving or major renovations, this is the perfect time to get started! Jupiter is doing its best to ensure the results are very much to your liking.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

There could be something special around every corner. Your neighborhood just became a goldmine of opportunity as Jupiter turns direct in your 3rd House of Local Society, allowing you to find treasure under every stone. Make a point to see what is going on in your area, because you’ll almost surely discover some wonderful haunts or meet some fascinating people who may become personal favorites. The shortest small talk session at a party or while running errands could change your life for the better.

FORT LAUDERDALE — Mike Norvell has preached to his Florida State players that they never know when their number might be called.

As it turns out, those words were never more accurate as the 5th-ranked Seminoles (13-0, 8-0 ACC) prepare to face No. 6 Georgia (12-1, 8-0 SEC) in the Capital One Orange Bowl (4 p.m., ESPN) at Hard Rock Stadium Saturday.

FSU enters the game shorthanded, with more than 25 players opting out either to enter the transfer portal or to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft. A dozen of those were starters, including running back Trey Benson (905 yards), receivers Johnny Wilson (617) and Keon Coleman (658) and pass rusher Jared Verse (12.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks).

Florida State will be without 94% of its offensive production and approximately 35% of its defensive output from this season.

Even so, Norvell said there has been a buzz around the program as the Seminoles prepared for this week’s game, especially from many younger players.

Possibly adding former Gators RB Trevor Etienne excites Georgia QB Carson Beck

“You work for an opportunity, and that’s the greatest thing about football: you never know when this moment will show up. You never know when your number will be called, but you’ve got to be prepared for it,” he said. “There are guys on this team that are going to make major contributions in this game that have been preparing for this for their entire life.”

Added co-offensive coordinator Alex Atkins: “We’ve got a confident bunch. They’re like, ‘This is my time to show what I can do.’ It will be fun for those guys because they get to go out there, have a good time, and display their talents.”

Coaches: Norvell, 4th season at FSU, 31-16 (69-31 overall); Kirby Smart, 8th season at Georgia, 93-16 (93-16 overall).

Quick slant: This is the 12th game between these programs, with Georgia holding a 6-4-1 advantage. In their last meeting, Musa Smith had 145 yards as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 17-7 halftime advantage before cruising to a 26-13 win over Florida State in the 2003 Sugar Bowl. … FSU’s 19 consecutive wins is the second-longest winning streak in the country behind Washington (20). Georgia previously held the longest streak with 28 straight wins before losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

Finding motivation is easy for FSU heading into Orange Bowl

About FSU (13-0, 8-0 ACC): Linebacker Kalen DeLoach, third on the team in tackles for loss (10.5), announced his plans to leave the program for the Draft. DeLoach is FSU’s active tackles leader with 210. … Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald is having a career season, connecting on 90% (18 of 20) of his field goal attempts. He’s also perfect (58 of 58) on extra-point kicks. … The Seminoles have held their final 9 opponents to 20 or fewer points.

About Georgia (12-1, 8-0 SEC): Quarterback Carson Beck led the Bulldogs to 12 wins in his first season as the starter. He passed for 3,738 yards with 22 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. … Brock Bowers, the two-time Mackey Award winner given to the nation’s top tight end, hasn’t been a factor in Georgia’s bowl preparations this week and his status for the Orange Bowl is unknown. … Senior receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint is back home in Fort Lauderdale, where he starred for powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas.

3 things to watch

Establish the run. After averaging 156 rushing yards per game throughout the season, Florida State must find a way to make up for the loss of 92% of its ground production with the absences of Benson, Lawrance Toafili, Rodney Hill and CJ Campbell. That puts the onus on Penn State transfer Caziah Holmes (156 yards, 2 TDs), freshman Samuel Singleton Jr. (52) and receiver Ja’Khi Douglas. The trio has taken 34 snaps out of the backfield and will be tested against the 4th-best rush defense in the SEC.

QB Brock Glenn’s path to starting for FSU in Orange Bowl is most unconventional

Protect the quarterback. Freshman Brock Glenn is starting his second career game against a Georgia defense that ranked 7th in the SEC in sacks (29). Glenn has been sacked 4 times in his 35 dropbacks,  per Pro Football Focus, and should benefit from one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country with a combined 265 career starts. Glenn’s backups — Dylan McNamara and Michael Grant — have a combined 0 snaps this season.

Create turnovers. With five starters choosing to opt-out of the game, Florida State needs to have several backups step up in their absence. Where they can make up ground is through turnovers. Georgia has allowed just 14 takeaways and is negative-1 on turnover margin.

Where: Hard Rock Stadium

When: 4 p.m.

TV: ESPN; Radio: Seminoles Sports Radio, Sirius/XM 80/84

Weather: 67 degrees, 4% rain chance

Favorite: Georgia 20 points

Online: orlandosentinel.com/florida-state-seminoles

Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X at @osmattmurschel.

By KEN RITTER (Associated Press)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Prosecutors are telling a Nevada judge that witnesses may be at risk in the case of a former Los Angeles-area gang leader charged with orchestrating the killing of hip-hop music icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas more than 27 years ago.

A court filing submitted Thursday urges the judge to keep Duane “Keffe D” Davis behind bars until trial, alleging that a list of witnesses was given to Davis family members, and that Davis’ son told the defendant during a recorded jail telephone call that a “green light” order had been given.

“In (Davis’) world, a ‘green light’ is an authorization to kill,” prosecutors Marc DiGiacomo and Binu Palal said in the court filing.

“This caused enough concern that the federal government stepped in and provided resources to at least (one witness) so he could change his residence,” the prosecutors wrote, calling the Oct. 9 jail call evidence of “credible threats to witnesses (that) demonstrate both a consciousness of guilt and that defendant poses a danger to the community.”

There is no reference in the court filing to Davis instructing anyone to harm anyone or to anyone associated with the case being physically harmed. DiGiacomo and Palal were not immediately available Friday for comment.

One of Davis’ court-appointed attorneys, Robert Arroyo, said he and co-counsel Charles Cano were reviewing the prosecution allegations and intend to respond in court on Tuesday. A hearing is scheduled on Davis’ request to post $100,000 bail and remain on house arrest until his trial in June.

“However, after our initial review of the phone call in question, we fail to see when (witnesses) were mentioned,” Arroyo said, “let alone threatened.”

Arroyo and Cano argue in a bail request filed Dec. 19 that Davis, 60, poses no danger to the community, wouldn’t flee to avoid trial and is not getting proper medical attention in jail following a colon cancer diagnosis that they said is in remission.

Davis is originally from Compton, California. He was arrested Sept. 29 outside a suburban Henderson home where Las Vegas police served a search warrant July 17. He pleaded not guilty in November to a murder charge and is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, where detainee phone calls are routinely recorded. He could spend the rest of his life in prison if he is convicted.

In Thursday’s court filing, DiGiacomo and Palal told Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny that, by his own descriptions, Davis was “the shot-caller” in the fatal shooting and he should remain jailed.

The prosecutors cite what they call multiple “confessions” since 2008 — in police interviews, in Davis’ 2019 tell-all memoir and in the media — that he orchestrated the September 1996 drive-by shooting at a traffic light near the Las Vegas Strip that killed Shakur and wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight.

Knight, now 58, is serving 28 years in a California prison for the death of a Compton businessman in 2015.

Davis is the only person still alive who was in the vehicle from which shots were fired. He asserts he was given immunity in a 2008 agreement with the FBI and Los Angeles police who were investigating both the killings of Shakur in Las Vegas and rival rapper Christopher Wallace in March 1997 in Los Angeles. Wallace was known as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls.

Davis’ attorneys argue that his accounts were “done for entertainment purposes and to make money.”

One of former Broward Mayor Dale Holness’ daughters is charged with fraudulently handling her father’s 2020 re-election campaign and falsely obtaining emergency federal benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic crises, according to a federal charging document.

Richelle Holness was her father’s campaign treasurer from April 2019 through October 2020, when he was running unopposed for his seat on the Broward County Commission. Dale Holness was chosen by his fellow commissioners to serve as county mayor for a one-year term that ran through 2020.

Federal prosecutors accused his daughter of misusing campaign funds by issuing checks for campaign consulting and other expenses and having the checks’ recipients send the money back to her. While she used the money for “liquor, fast food, airline tickets and clothing,” she filed expense reports showing the money was used for legitimate campaign costs.

Some of the money was used to pay the rent for her father’s real estate business, according to the charging document.

In 2020, Holness’ daughter claimed to be unemployed so she could collect emergency benefits, according to the document. The amount she is accused of receiving was not included.

She is scheduled to appear in federal court in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 10 to address the allegations.

No attorney was listed for Richelle Holness.

Another daughter of Holness, Damara, was sentenced to a 20-month prison term in January 2022. She was released in May, according to prison records.

Damara Holness pleaded guilty to lying on a COVID-19 loan application to get $300,000 during the pandemic.

Dale Holness was the face of the county during the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in Florida, making the case for restrictions that were deemed medically necessary at the time but became less and less popular over time.

He lost a hard-fought 2021 congressional race to fill the vacancy left by the death of U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings. The winner of that special election, U.S. Rep. Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick, defeated Holness by five votes out of more than 49,000 cast.

Cherfilus-McCormick won a little over 65 percent of the vote in their rematch the following year.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked key parts of an Iowa law that bans some books from school libraries and forbids teachers from raising LGBTQ+ issues.

Judge Stephen Locher’s preliminary injunction halts enforcement of the law, which was set to take effect Jan. 1 but already had resulted in the removal of hundreds of books from Iowa schools.

The law, which the Republican-led Legislature and GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds approved early in 2023, bans books depicting sex acts from school libraries and classrooms and forbids teachers from raising gender identity and sexual orientation issues with students through the sixth grade. Locher blocked enforcement of those two provisions.

The judge said the ban on books is “incredibly broad” and has resulted in the removal of history volumes, classics, award-winning novels and “even books designed to help students avoid being victimized by sexual assault.” He said that part of the law is unlikely to satisfy the constitution’s requirements for free speech.

In barring the provision barring any discussion of “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” in elementary school, Locher said the way it was written it was “wildly overbroad.”

Iowa educators lauded the decision.

“When education professionals return to work next week, they can do what they do best: take great care of all their students without fear of reprisal,” Mike Beranek, president of the Iowa State Education Association, said in a statement.

Reynolds’ office did not immediately comment on the ruling.

The judge let stand a requirement that school administrators notify parents if their child asks to change their pronouns or names, saying the plaintiffs did not have standing.

Iowa’s measure is part of a wave of similar legislation across the country. Typically backed by Republican lawmakers, the laws seek to prohibit discussion of gender and sexual orientation issues, ban treatments such as puberty blockers for transgender children, and restrict the use of restrooms in schools. Many have prompted court challenges.

Opponents of the Iowa law filed two lawsuits. One is on behalf of the organization Iowa Safe Schools and seven students, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and Lambda Legal. The other is by the Iowa State Education Association, publisher Penguin Random House and four authors.

The first lawsuit argues the measure is unconstitutional because it violates students’ and teachers’ free speech and equal protection rights. The second suit, which focused more narrowly on the book bans, argues the law violates the first and 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.

Lawyers for both lawsuits said the law is broad and confusing.

At a Dec. 22 hearing, Daniel Johnston of the Iowa attorney general’s office argued that school officials were applying the book ban too broadly. When deciding whether to remove books, educators shouldn’t focus on the idea of a sex act but instead look for text or images that meet Iowa’s definition of a sex act, Johnston said.

The fall 2023 All-County honorees, covering top high school athletes from Palm Beach County in football, swimming, girls volleyball, cross country, golf and bowling.

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• High School Sports | The best of Broward County high school sports: Fall 2023 All-County honorees

FOOTBALL

Palm Beach 4M-3M football offensive player of the year: Javian Mallory, West Boca sophomore

Palm Beach 4M-3M co-defensive players of the year: Michael Wright, Palm Beach Gardens senior, and Jayden Parrish, Atlantic senior

Palm Beach 4M-3M football offensive first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Palm Beach 4M-3M football defensive first team, second team

Palm Beach 2M-1M-1R football co-offensive players of the year: Chauncey Bowens, Benjamin senior, and Jackson Parke, St. Andrew’s senior

Palm Beach 2M-1M-1R football defensive player of the year: Jacob Cosby-Mosley, Benjamin senior

Palm Beach 2M-1M-1R football offensive first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Palm Beach 2M-1M-1R football defensive first team, second team

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Palm Beach 7A-6A girls volleyball player of the year: Sarah Brodner, Jupiter senior

Palm Beach 7A-6A girls volleyball first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Palm Beach 5A-1A girls volleyball player of the year: Tekoa Barnes, Boca Raton Christian junior:

Palm Beach 5A-1A girls volleyball first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

BOWLING

Palm Beach boys bowler of the year: Jayden Brown, Dr. Joaquín García freshman

Palm Beach boys bowling first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Palm Beach girls bowler of the year: Angelica Blimegger, West Boca junior

Palm Beach girls bowling first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

CROSS COUNTRY

Palm Beach boys runner of the year: Preston Sangely, Spanish River sophomore

Palm Beach boys cross country first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Palm Beach girls runner of the year: Avery Fronrath, King’s Academy senior

Palm Beach girls cross country first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

GOLF

Palm Beach boys co-golfers of the year: Pavel Tsar, Benjamin junior, and Tristan Wieland, Jupiter junior

Palm Beach boys golf first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Palm Beach girls golfer of the year: Kayla Bryant, FAU High sophomore

Palm Beach girls golf first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

SWIMMING

Palm Beach boys swimmer of the year: Diego Balbi, St. Andrew’s senior

Palm Beach boys swimming first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Palm Beach girls swimmer of the year: Aspen Gersper, St. Andrew’s senior

Palm Beach girls swimming first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

The fall 2023 All-County honorees, covering top high school athletes from Broward County in football, swimming, girls volleyball, cross country, golf and bowling. The section also will be available in Sunday’s editions of the Sun Sentinel.

Related Articles

• High School Sports | The best of Palm Beach County high school sports: Fall 2023 All-County honorees

FOOTBALL

Broward 4M-3M football co-offensive players of the year: Jordan Lyle, St. Thomas Aquinas senior, and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, South Broward senior

Broward 4M-3M football defensive player of the year: Nick Rodriguez, St. Thomas Aquinas senior

Broward 4M-3M football offensive first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Broward 4M-3M football defensive first team, second team

Broward 2M-1M football offensive player of the year: Jeremiah Smith, Chaminade-Madonna senior

Broward 2M-1M football defensive player of the year: Omar Thornton, American Heritage senior

Broward 2M-1M football offensive first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Broward 2M-1M football defensive first team, second team

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Broward 7A-6A girls volleyball player of the year: Sydney Van Cott, St. Thomas Aquinas senior

Broward 7A-6A girls volleyball first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Broward 5A-2A girls volleyball player of the year: Mia Gold, Pine Crest sophomore 

Broward 5A-2A girls volleyball first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

BOWLING

Broward boys bowler of the year: Braiden Meyers, Taravella senior

Broward boys bowling first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Broward girls bowler of the year: Kellie Monahan, Western sophomore

Broward girls bowling first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

CROSS COUNTRY

Broward cross country runner of the year: Shamar Henry, Flanagan senior

Broward boys cross country first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Broward girls cross country runner of the year: Christiana Coleman, Dillard senior

Broward girls cross country first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

GOLF

Broward boys golfer of the year: Alexander Weinberg, Pine Crest junior

Broward boys golf first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Broward girls golfer of the year: Katherine Schaefer, American Heritage senior

Broward girls golf first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

SWIMMING

Broward boys swimmer of the year: Kaii Winkler, South Florida HEAT senior

Broward boys swimming first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

Broward girls swimmer of the year: Erika Pelaez, South Florida HEAT senior

Broward girls swimming first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

How to start reading more in the new year

Reading more is a goal for many people, but how do you turn it from a New Year’s resolution into a reality? You can start by carving out some dedicated time to read, and you may choose to make reading goals, but you’ll also need decent books to keep you turning those pages.

If you’d like to read more in the new year, these eight book recommendations are a great place to get started.

Tips for reading more

You can buy every book recommended to you, but if you don’t make an effort to read more, they’ll only pile up on your nightstand or gather dust on your bookshelves. One easy way to encourage yourself to read more is always to have a book on hand, even when out and about, so you can squeeze in a few pages whenever you have some downtime. You can also try setting out some dedicated reading time, for instance, an hour before bed or on your lunch break, but be flexible as life might not always allow for this. Try only to read books you’re interested in and don’t be afraid to ditch a book if you’re 100 or so pages in and are still finding it a slog.

Reading goals

Some people thrive on setting themselves goals, for reading or otherwise, while others feel pressured by these goals and crumble under their weight. You probably know which camp you fit into, so choose your path accordingly. There’s no need to set yourself reading goals if you don’t want to. After all, reading is supposed to be fun. However, try not to make unrealistic goals, as these will only discourage you should you fail to meet them. Start small, with a goal of one book a month, for instance, and ramp it up if you find you easily meet your target.

Top book recommendations

[ Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler ]

After the pandemic, you might think the last thing you want to read is a post-apocalyptic novel, but this classic masterfully weaves in elements of fantasy and science fiction. It also provides a commentary on climate change and social inequality that seems even more pressing now than it did when it was released in 1993.

[ The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green ]

This nonfiction tome delves into the anthropocene, the current geologic age, where humans have reshaped the earth. You can dip into topics such as culture, medicine and science in this insightful and funny collection of essays exploring the human condition.

[ Detransition, Baby: A Novel by Torrey Peters ]

A huge hit of 2021, this novel fearlessly tackles issues around sex, gender, family and relationships with a whole lot of heart. It tells the story of three women, trans and cis, wrestling with questions about family and motherhood from a perspective rarely tackled in popular fiction.

[ No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July ]

This collection of strange and charming short stories is an excellent read for anyone, but especially those out of the habit of reading who find the idea of tackling a weighty novel intimidating. Rich, lyrical and sad, but filled with whimsy and pockets of joy, these stories will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

[ The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami ]

When the protagonist of this book’s cat goes missing, followed by his wife, it sets off an extraordinary chain of events masterfully told by internationally renowned Japanese author Haruki Murakami. A master of magical realism, this book perfectly blends the fantasy elements with the mundane.

[ All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks ]

Not only does this book explore what love is beyond conventional ideas of romantic love, but it also discusses the polarization of society and what you can do to heal it. This is a visionary work of nonfiction from the late feminist icon and should be on every 2023 reading list.

[ White Teeth: A Novel by Zadie Smith ]

A beautifully-written bestseller from British author Zadie Smith centered around the unlikely friendship between World War II veterans Archie Jones and Samad Iqbal. This inventive and sometimes challenging novel might have been released more than 20 years ago, but it still feels relevant.

[ The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen ]

Winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, this novel follows a Vietnamese communist double agent as he starts a new life in Los Angeles with other refugees from his country after the Vietnam War. In parts, a pacey spy thriller, an exploration of identity and a gripping story of love and friendship, this book will keep you gripped from start to finish.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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As New Year’s Eve approaches with 2023 in its wake, you might already be thinking about your New Year’s resolutions. Start your new year off right by spending some time picking out a meaningful resolution.

There’s no need to wait for January 1 to start your resolutions. Whether you want to start working on your goals now or have to make preparations, it’s never too early to start planning. Consider what resolution you want to achieve and gather any supplies you may need. This kind of planning will ensure you’re set up for success.

Choosing a meaningful new year’s resolution

Many people have New Year’s resolutions about changing their bodies. These resolutions have the potential to be unhealthy, especially if they feed into toxic ideas about appearance. That said, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve your fitness level or strive to eat a more balanced diet. Other meaningful resolutions can focus on a passion, whether you want to improve your artistic talents, write the screenplay you’ve always thought about or learn an instrument. You might also choose to read more or improve your wellbeing with meditation. These meaningful resolutions can enrich your life in many ways.

Sticking to your new year’s resolution

One surefire way to derail your resolution is to create an unrealistic goal. This sets you up for failure and may make you give up altogether. For example, if you make a resolution to read every day and you don’t get around to it on a busy workday, you might feel like you’ve broken your resolution and give up on it. Instead, you could resolve to read at least one book a month, which gives you more flexibility to read on days when you have the time to do so.

It also helps to pick New Year’s resolutions that you actually care about. Don’t choose a resolution just because it’s something you think you should do. Find one you really want to work towards, so you’re more likely to stick with it throughout the year.

Top picks to help you with your new year’s resolution

[ 642 Things to Write About ]

Want to write more in the new year but aren’t sure where to start? This journal contains 642 writing prompts, plus space to write. You might want another blank notebook or journal to expand on ideas that particularly inspire you. It’s great for anyone new to writing and for more experienced writers who want to cultivate a regular writing practice.

[ Isa Does It: Amazingly Easy, Wildly Delicious Vegan Recipes for Every Day of the Week ]

If your resolution is to eat more vegetables, go vegan or eat plant-based meals throughout the week, this recipe book will help you out. Penned by one of the world’s premier vegan cookbook authors, this book contains 150 recipes. You can cook up most of these meals in 30 minutes or less. With a mixture of inventive flavor combinations and vegan versions of old favorites, there’s something for everyone.

[ Brooks Ghost 14 Neutral Running Shoe ]

Want to improve your fitness by taking up running or want to start running more regularly? A decent pair of running shoes will reduce the risk of pain or injury. These running shoes are a bit expensive, but they provide all the support and cushioning you need. You can choose from a wide range of colors too.

[ Practicing Mindfulness by Matthew Sockolov ]

Mindfulness meditation might have started as an ancient practice, but it still has a place in the modern world. In fact, regular meditation can reduce stress and enhance well-being, making it an excellent resolution for the year ahead. This book contains 75 meditations listed in a step-by-step format, so you can easily read about them before giving them a try. This is a great choice for people who find guided meditations distracting but still want a framework for meditation.

[ Paint This Book!: Watercolor for the Artistically Undiscovered ]

If you have a New Year’s resolution to be more creative, this is an excellent choice. This book comes with a simple set of watercolors and contains prompts and instructions on technique. You can paint directly in the book, so you don’t even need to purchase additional watercolor paper.

[ Greatest Works of Jane Austen ]

If your resolution is to read more, why not start this selection of literary classics? This hardback volume contains “Emma,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility,” and “Northanger Abbey.” Even though Jane Austen penned these books more than 200 years ago, the enduring themes of love and obligation make them popular today.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

MIAMI  – Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 114-102 victory to the Golden State Warriors:

– No, not optimal with Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin and Josh Richardson out.

– But also an opportunity.

– So Nikola Jovic showed flashes for the Heat, cast more of a perimeter option on offense and was allowed to settle into the zone defense on the other end.

– In other words, not cast at center.

– Making his minutes matter.

– Jamal Cain also had his moments with his athleticism.

– Including seven first-half points off the bench.

– And kept going from there.

– Shockingly, as a leading man.

– Then there was RJ Hampton making the emergency start.

– And making a difference.

– With Cain and Hampton both taking defensive turns on Stephen Curry.

– Jovic. Cain. Hampton.

– Who saw that coming?

– A day earlier, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra hinted all three could soon be headed to the G League for seasoning.

– But the absences of others afforded opportunity.

– Opportunity largely seized.

– As it was, the lone Heat player sent to the G League was center Orlando Robinson.

– With the Heat’s smaller-ball approach allowing for that move.

– With even Thomas Bryant out of Thursday’s mix.

– At this point of the season, the opportunities are limited for the end of the bench.

– With this the rare night when everyone was brought forward.

– And stepped forward.

– With Butler, Lowry and Martin out, the Heat opened with a lineup of  Bam Adebeyo, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro and Hampton.

– Hampton became the 14th Heat player to start at least one game this season.

– It was the Heat’s 17th lineup in their 31 games.

– Inactive for the Heat were Butler, Lowry, Martin, Dru Smith and Orlando Robinson.

– The Warriors opened with a lineup of Curry, Klay Thompson, Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney.

– Kevin Love and Duncan Robinson entered together as the first two Heat reserves.

– Cain then followed for eight deep.

– Jovic then made it nine deep when he entered at the start of the second period.

– That left Bryant and Cole Swider as the lone available Heat players not to enter.

– The Heat entered with 60 first-half points in four in a row, one off the franchise record set in February 2020.

– That streak ended with their 58-51 halftime lead.

– The Warriors entered on an eight-game home winning streak.

– Golden State entered leading the league in rebounding.

– With the Heat holding their own in that regard.

– Even amid the Warriors’ uneven season, Spoelstra said at the morning shootaround that Golden State continues to present unique challenges.

– “They have a dynamic style of play with Curry and Thompson,” Spoelstra said, “create a lot of different triggers or overreactions.”

– He added of the challenge, “We have to stay true to what we do. And for us, we know what our identity is defensively, making tough, physical, multiple-effort plays and we have to stay with it emotionally and mentally, even if they hit some of those shots that have a high degree of difficulty. You just got to stay with it and take away easy ones as much as possible.”

We Have Enough 114.

Golden State Warriors 102.

Officially, it was the Miami Heat winning by that score Thursday night at Chase Center at the start of their five-game western swing.

But the mantra of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra again held true on a night his team this time was without starters Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin, as well as without key reserve Josh Richardson.

No matter, not even against Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and a Warriors team that entered on an eight-game home winning streak.

“You want to set the tone right from the get-go,” Spoelstra said of starting the trip on the right note, “and for the most part I thought our guys brought that energy.”

So make it seven victories in the last nine for the Heat and a fourth consecutive road win, on a night there not only were 26 points from Tyler Herro and a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double from Bam Adebayo, but also a career-high-tying 18 points from two-way player Jamal Cain, 11 from seldom-used 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jovic and an emergency start from two-way player RJ Hampton, who scored seven and had three assists.

“We’ve had a lot of moving parts and this has provided our team to have a lot of different guys step up,” Spoelstra said. “Without those three guys and their contributions tonight, we’re not winning this game.”

From the Warriors, there were 13 points on a 3-of-15 shooting night from Curry and 13 points from Thompson. Golden State closed at 8 of 33 from the arc, their worst 3-point night of the season.

“Guys like that, you try to make them take as tough shots as possible,” Adebayo said. “And I feel like we did tonight. We forced them into difficult shots, and we were really locked in on the defensive end.

“We sustained for 48 minutes.”

It was an unlikely box score, and yet the type of outcome that Spoelstra continually stresses is possible when the correct approach is taken no matter the rotation resources.

“It shows we’re ready to step up,” Cain said of himself and the Heat’s other unexpected contributors.

And the start to the trip the Heat were seeking.

“It could be a stepping stone for us,” Herro said. “To be able to win at Golden State is never easy. We want to be able to stack wins after tonight.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Thursday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Warriors led 25-22 at the end of the first period. The Heat then went up 14 in the second period before taking a 58-51 lead into halftime.

From there, the Heat pushed to a 91-76 lead into the fourth.

The Heat’s lead then moved to 22 early in the fourth quarter, with Curry and Thompson pulled at that stage and then Golden State emptying their bench for the final two minutes.

The victory lifted the Heat to 19-12, at seven games above .500 for the first time this season.

“They took it to us,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We got out-coached, out-worked and out-played.”

2. The latest twists: In addition to a fourth consecutive game without Butler due to a calf strain, the Heat also were without Lowry due to soreness and Martin due the ankle sprain sustained in Monday’s Christmas night victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The depth was further limited with Richardson sidelined for a second consecutive game due to back pain.

That had the Heat rolling out their 17th lineup in their 31st game, this time opening with Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Herro and Hampton, who became the 14th Heat player to start at least one game this season.

In addition, the Heat sent center Orlando Robinson for seasoning in the G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Jaquez closed with 17 points, six assists and five rebounds.

3. The Cain game: With Duncan Robinson off with his shot and precious little available off the bench on the wing, Cain used his athleticism to move to 15 points by the end of the third quarter,  despite playing only 16 minutes to that stage.

On a two-way contract for the second consecutive season after going undrafted out of Oakland University in 2022, Cain eclipsed his previous season high of 14 points, entering with a career high of 18 in last season’s finale against the Orlando Magic.

He then matched that career high when he opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer.

“Cain has been progressively getting better,” Spoelstra said. “He’s really embraced a role as a defender and filling the gaps defensively.

“We never, ever run a play for him, but he finds a way.”

Included in his responsibilities was the defensive assignment on Curry.

“He’s a hard guy to guard,” Cain said. “I’m tired as hell.”

4. Herro again: Herro continued his scoring sizzle as he has settled the Heat offense in the absence of Butler, up to 21 points through three quarters.

He closed 10 of 18 from the field, including 3 of 7 on 3-pointers.

“He has a gift for scoring. He has a knack for it.” Spoelstra said. “But then now, it’s the decision making, because he’s being schemed against.”

In addition to his scoring, Herro also helped the Heat to a 44-43 rebonding advantage over the league’s top rebounding team, with seven.

“Just trying to be a leader and lead this team,” he said. “It’s all about stacking Ws and getting wins. It’s all we do here.”

The Heat are 4-1 since Herro’s return from a six-week absence with an ankle sprain.

5. Up next: The trip continues with a Saturday game against the Utah Jazz, before closing with matchups against the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

“You always want to start off on the road trip with a W,” Adebayo said. “That feels like it’s a spark for us. We just feed off the energy and keep it rolling.”

FIRST TEAM Adam Balogoun-Ali, Benjamin, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Adam Balogoun-Ali, LB, Benjamin sophomore: Totaled 87 tackles, including 70 solos, INT, six passes defended, four sacks, and a fumble recovery; most proud of beating Clearwater Academy International for the biggest win in school history; career highlight was getting interception against Palm Beach Central; already holds offers from Florida, Miami, Wake Forest, UCF, Kentucky, among others.

Devon Byrd, Cardinal Newman, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Devon Byrd, OLB, Cardinal Newman senior: The USF commit and school-record holder with 18 sacks in a season had 66 total tackles, 18 sacks, 22 tackles for losses; season highlight was beating his old school, Atlantic, this season; plays basketball and runs track.

DJ Copeland, St. Andrew’s, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

DJ Copeland, LB/DE, St. Andrew’s junior: Led Scots in all district games; 58 total tackles, including 14 solo tackles, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, pass defended, seven sacks, 16 TFL; most proud of making a solid playoff debut; plays lacrosse and wrestles.

Nick Darling, King’s Academy. Football. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Nick Darling, DE, King’s Academy junior: Named defensive MVP for two games; 84 total tackles, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, seven sacks, 13 TFL, 20 QB hurries; career highlight was beating True North Classical in OT; plays lacrosse and wrestles.

Jadon Goldman, Somerset Academy, Football. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Jadon Goldman, DE, Somerset Canyons senior: Two-time school-record holder in sacks; two-time sack leader; finished with 35 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles; two fumble recoveries; 11.5 sacks; most proud of having the best record in school history and having the best game of his career on senior night; throws the javelin.

Javian Jones, King’s Academy, Football. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Javian Jones, ATH, King’s Academy junior: Played on both sides of the ball; had 36 receptions for 718 total receiving yards and 12 TDs; had 13 total TDS; added 29 solo tackles on defense, with six interceptions and a fumble recovery; season highlight was winning a second consecutive district title and making a second round of playoffs; plays basketball.

Ricky Knight III, Cardinal Newman, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Ricky Knight III, DB, Cardinal Newman senior: Three-year varsity starter and FSU commit had 36 tackles, four pass break-ups, 10 passes defended, two interceptions, and fumble recovery; allowed just three catches for 32 yards all season; four-star recruit was most proud of not allowing a TD all season; career highlight was watching his dreams come true and receiving his first D-I offer from FSU; scored one TD on offense with 105 receiving yards.

Kevin Levy, Cardinal Newman, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Kevin Levy, CB, Cardinal Newman senior: The Rutgers commit had 22 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and two interceptions; added five receptions for 230 yards; also a 100-meter state champion in track; most proud of making playoffs this season.

Ollie Vickers-Murphy, Saint Andrew’s, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Ollie Vickers-Murphy, LB/SS, St. Andrew’s senior: Finished with 73 total tackles, including 21 solos, eight TFL, six sacks, two interceptions, forced fumble, blocked field goal; proud of team’s OT win against rival West Boca; career highlight was moving from Australia to the US to play football and finish his junior and senior high school years; making varsity and winning the district championship.

Marco Saberson, Somerset Academy Canyons, Football. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Marco Saberson, LB, Somerset Canyons junior: Two-year captain broke the school record for tackles; finished with 100 tackles, including 44 solo; 11 TFL; 2.5 sacks, forced fumble; doubled tackles from a year ago.

Amaree Williams, Benjamin. Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Amaree Williams, EDGE, Benjamin junior: Four-star edge rusher and Sun Sentinel Super 11 selection is top-ranked athlete in the country; had 34 tackles, eight TFL, four sacks, INT two fumble recoveries; added 424 yards receiving, seven TDs on offense; two-time state champion (football, track); holds 34 offers including Florida State, Alabama, Auburn among others; father is Moe Williams, who played 10 seasons in the NFL.

Josh Philostin, Cardinal Newman (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Josh Philostin, DB, Cardinal Newman senior: Team captain and two-way player was deciding between Indiana University and Syracuse on eve of the early signing period; had more than 30 D-I offers; 4×100 state champ in track; five total TDs, three receiving, punt return for TD and pick-six; 44 total tackles, blocked field goal, four pass deflections four interceptions; said career highlight was scoring five TDs in a little league game.

 

SECOND TEAM

Jeron Atwater, LB, Benjamin junior

Dylan Bennett, LB, Cardinal Newman sophomore

John Boueri, LB, St. Andrews senior

Levi Champion, DB, King’s Academy freshman

Jermaine Graddick, LB, Pahokee senior

Damari Jerry, DB, Somerset Academy freshman

Brennan King, LB/DE, Cardinal Newman senior

Ta’Narie Locust, DT, Cardinal Newman senior

Max Redmon, SS, Cardinal Newman junior

Wilson Stewart, LB, Oxbridge Academy senior

Jamarous Thomas, DE, Boynton Beach senior

Jack Wigginton, LB, American Heritage junior

FIRST TEAM Tayegan Briskey, Somerset Academy, Football. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Tayegan Briskey, WR, Somerset Canyons sophomore: Team captain totaled 915 passing yards, 72 rushing yards (1,065 all-purpose), and nine TDs; played defense and had 22 tackles, 10 solos, four interceptions, two passes defended; most proud of making playoffs for the first time in school history, finishing with a winning record; plays baseball.

Jaylin Brown, Cardinal Newman, Football. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Jaylin Brown, RB, Cardinal Newman junior: Finished the season with 965 yards rushing and 15 TDs; holds 15+ college offers; called season highlight playing with guys that he grew up playing with before they move on to bigger and better things; career highlight is beating rivals throughout the years; runs track.

Gideon Douglas, Jupiter Christian, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Gideon Douglas, RB, Jupiter Christian junior: Team captain and school-record holder for TDs; trophy team MVP, ran for 1,240 yards, 16 TDs, punt return for TD; 314 yards, five TDs; added 16 solo tackles, four assists, two INTs, two fumble recoveries, forced fumble, 10 passes defended, career highlight was game against Somerset Key where he finished with 300 all-purpose yards; three TDs and INT.

Teddy Hoffmann, Saint Andrew’s, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Teddy Hoffmann, WR, St. Andrew’s junior: Two-way player had 51 catches for 927 yards and 15 TDs; set records for wide receiver touchdowns in a season and a game (six vs. King’s); on defense, added two interceptions, 12 PBU, 17 solo tackles, and 14 assisted tackles; season highlight was winning a district championship; career highlight was the win over West Boca; plays basketball.

Tristian Johnson, Somerset Academy, Football. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Tristian Johnson, RB, Somerset Canyons senior: Set school record for most yards rushing with 1,466 yards and 18 TDs, had 166 receiving yards, TD for 1,566 all-purpose yards; most proud of reaching a goal of setting school rushing record; career highlight is O-Line getting him into the end zone; plays baseball.

Chase Malamala, Benjamin, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Chase Malamala, OL, Benjamin senior: The UCF commit was a two-year captain; blocked with an O-Line who allowed their RBs to have 3,500 yards, Sun Sentinel Super 11 pick; three-star recruit was three-year starter; most proud of how the team completely bought in during the season and the offseason.

Dylan Mayers, Saint Andrew’s, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dylan Mayers, QB, St. Andrew’s senior: Finished with 1,760 passing yards, 25 TDs; added 321 rushing yards, two TDs; tied record for most single-game touchdowns; most proud of team’s first win of the season against King’s Academy and had 400 total yards and 6 TD passes in OT win; plans to be preferred walk-on at Texas A&M.

Marion Victor, King’s Academy, Football. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Marion Victor, RB, King’s Academy senior: Team captain generated 1,449 rushing yards, 14 TDs, 151 reception yards, and 1,600 all-purpose yards; said hitting 1,000 rushing yards this season, and fighting to get to the second round of playoffs with his teammates and coaches was what he was most proud of; career highlight was scoring a TD as an eighth grader; runs track.

Luke Warnock, Cardinal Newman, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Luke Warnock, QB, Cardinal Newman senior: Finished the year with 2,000 passing yards and 25 TDs this season; 66% completion rate; set school records in touchdown passes and passing yards; most proud of getting the school’s touchdown record; holds offers from Maryland, Louisville, Charlotte, UMass, Lehigh, and UAB.

Pahokee football player Hardley Gilmore in Pahokee on Monday, August 7, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Hardley Gilmore, WR, Pahokee senior: The Kentucky commit, and Sun Sentinel Super 11 selection, finished the year with 52 receptions for 879 yards (16.9 yards per catch); added two interceptions and a 100-yard Pick-six; had 15 receiving scores and 16 overall; ran track and competed in field events, where he finished sixth in the Class 1A 800 meter dash (1:58.54) at last year’s state meet.

Cardinal Newman junior wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery. (Alex Kushel/Correspondent)

Nae’shaun Montgomery, WR, Cardinal Newman junior: Finished the 2023 campaign with 33 catches for 751 yards and 12 scores; most proud of being healthy all year and doubling his numbers from last year; said the best thing that happened to him playing the sport was, with a tenth of a second on the clock, and even though he was getting double-covered, the caught a deep pass in the end zone; plays basketball, weight lifts and holds 43 offers.

2023 Palm Beach Fall All County First Team: Jenorris Wilcher, Pahokee; 2023 Fall All County 2M-1M-1R football First Team. (Jenorris Wilcher/Courtesy)

Jenorris Wilcher Jr., RB, Pahokee senior: Finished the year with 129 carries for 923 yards and 10 TDs rushing; added 104 yards receiving and a TD; 1,035 all-purpose yards; most proud of Muck Bowl win over rival Glades Central where he ran for 200 yards and three scores; contributed 32 tackles; said career highlight was being a leader on his team and having players look up to him.

SECOND TEAM

Cayden Alula, ATH, Jupiter Christian sophomore

Christ Charles, OL, St. Andrew’s sophomore

Joe Daily, QB, King’s Academy junior

Remi DeOrsi, RB, Oxbridge Academy sophomore

Phoenix Donghia, RB, Benjamin junior

Dylan Faison, WR, St. Andrew’s sophomore

Jayden Harrington, QB, Somerset Canyons junior

Michael Manna, WR, American Heritage senior

Landon Rapkiewicz, OL, Benjamin junior

Champ Smith, QB, Jupiter Christian freshman

Jake Weinberg, K, American Heritage-Delray

Dacoby Wooten, RB, Glades Day freshman

Reggie Workman, WR, King’s Academy senior

HONORABLE MENTION

American Heritage-Delray: Eli Drucker, Alfie Grayling, Chris Medina, Sean Siska, Peyton Surtain

Benjamin: Jeron Atwater, D’Andre LaVassaur, Jackson Hamilton, Josh Luiz, Matthew McKenzie, Baron Ryba, Josh Smith, Jayden Vega, Gage Wallace

Boynton Beach: Bernard Blanks, Bobby T. Smith

Cardinal Newman: Dylan Bennett, Dallas Desouza, Jyron Hughley, Brennan King

Glades Day: Marquis Clarke, Peyton Pitts, Julian Ramos, Demeterius Willis

Jupiter Christian: Gavin Baldwin, Caden Fletcher, Josh Joseph, Randolph Wilkerson Jr.

King’s Academy: Dartayvious Saintelus

Oxbridge Academy: Nico Aloi, John Beadles, Julien Dorsey, Koury Dowd, Branden Johnson, Connor McKenna, Jayden St. Fort

Pahokee: Zion Booth, Cory Bouie, Henry Boyd, Pierre Fertil, Antonio Simpson

St. Andrew’s: Vory Copeland, Chris D’Angelo, Connor Haufbauer

Somerset Canyons: Raymone Bailey, King Bridgett, Dennis Dresson, Kamal Duggan, Damari Jerry, Jalem Sime.

COACH OF THE YEAR Jimmy Robertson, Saint Andrew’s, Football. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Jimmy Robertson, St. Andrew’s: Led Scots to 9-2 record, most wins in school history in a season, and first district title since 1985; defeated King’s Academy in 2 OT and beat West Boca in overtime; defeated district opponents by a margin of 125-19; “We are building something very special at St. Andrew’s. Great things are happening for the Scots football program. I am very proud of this team and this program.”

 

To see the honorable mention selections, please go to sunsentinel.com/allcounty

Jacob Cosby-Mosley made a smooth transition from quarterback to playing nearly every position on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

In 2022, Cosby-Mosley threw for 1,177 yards and 11 TDs, ran for 163 yards in nine games, and caught three passes for 76 yards. The Wake Forest commit had 38 tackles on defense for the team which finished 5-5.

This season he helped the Buccaneers to an 8-3 record where they fell in the first round of the playoffs to rival Cardinal Newman. He ran for 103 yards and caught 531 yards in passes, accounting for nine scores, but it was his defense that was next-level. Cosby-Mosley, a team captain, had 49 tackles, three fumble recoveries, four interceptions, seven passes defended, four TFLs and a sack. He had 133 yards on kick returns and punted for a 36.90-yard average.

“I am most proud of beating the No. 7 team in the state at the time Clearwater Academy International in a high-scoring game against plenty of collegiate-level talent,” said Cosby-Mosley, a two-time track and field state champion. He also plays basketball for the school. “I’m also proud of improving our record from 5-5 to 8-3.”

“At the beginning of the year, there was a lot of uncertainty, and we didn’t know who was going to do what,” said Cosby-Mosley, a two-time track and field state champion. He’s been at the school for four years. “We had a couple of guys transfer out and a couple transfer in, but we also had a lot of guys graduate.

“We started the year 7-0 and started to feel good about ourselves,” he continued. “It was fun to grow and spread my wings. Coach taught me offense and defends kind of molds into one and it didn’t take much of a transition. I like defense, but the offense was fun too. I mean, who doesn’t want to score touchdowns?”

He believes he left a good legacy behind at Benjamin.

“I want people to remember I was a good person,” Cosby-Mosley said. “Football doesn’t last forever. I want people to remember I was a great student, a great person as well as a great football player.”

“Jacob was the ultimate team player,” Benjamin coach Eric Kresser said. “He played almost every skill position on the field. It is impossible to replace a player like him.”

Jacob Cosby-Mosley football player from Benjamin photographed on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Jackson Parke has enjoyed success in both lacrosse and football at St. Andrew’s, while Chauncey Bowens has also used his sprinter speed to take care of business for Benjamin on both the track and the football field.

The versatile athletes are the Sun Sentinel’s 2M-1M-1R co-offensive players of the year.

Parke, a two-year captain, finished with 910 rushing yards, 274 receiving yards, 378 return yards for 1,562 all-purpose yards and 20 TDS. He holds the school record for the longest rushing touchdown of 99 yards and helped the Scots (9-2) win their first district title since 1985. He also had a pick-six this season.

“My career highlight was having over 300 yards and four TDs in our district championship game against Somerset Canyons,” said Parke, who has won three straight state championships in lacrosse with the Scots. “It was senior night, so not only an important game for me but the rest of the team as well.

“Unfortunately, we lost in the playoffs, but we had an amazing year,” said Parke, whose team fell in the regional quarterfinals to Calvary Christian Academy. They did have regular-season overtime wins against both King’s Academy and West Boca Raton. “I was blessed to be part of such a great team. The program has grown exponentially since my freshman year.”

Chauncey Bowens football player from Benjamin photographed on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Bowens was a Sun Sentinel Super 11 selection, and this year’s Buccaneers squad finished 8-3 with two of the losses coming to state semifinalist Cardinal Newman. The Georgia commit totaled 842 yards rushing and 10 TDs, to go along with 272 yards receiving and two scores.

“I don’t remember stats from season to season,” said Bowens, who helped the school’s track team win back-to-back state team titles. “I remember records, seniors, and players. Honestly, I am going to remember this team as the best team I have been on in my four years at Benjamin. Everybody just bought into the process.

“When I am running with the ball, I’m not thinking about stats,” Bowens said. “It is all a blur. I am just running it like it will be my last carry.”

Benjamin’s coach Eric Kresser was impressed with the effort of Bowens.

“Chauncey has been a great leader on and off the field for four years,” Kresser said. “He is what every coach is looking for in a player.”

St. Andrew’s coach Jimmy Robertson said Parke has been a Scot for his entire life.

“He loves the school and this football program,” Robertson said. “He played every game with so much passion and his effort, commitment, and sacrifice to the football program has been one of the main reasons why our football team has been having so much success.  Jackson Parke is a very special young man on and off the field and I am honored I had the opportunity to coach him. “

Jackson Parke, football player from St. Andrew’s, photographed on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)