At the halfway point of the regular season, it remains to be seen where Boca Raton stands in the playoff picture.
It may also be unknown how many stars the Bobcats (1-1 in District 10-8A; 2-3 overall) have to carry them for the next five games. But they do have at least one with loads of potential.
Such is the case of ATH Marlon Fleming (2015), a relatively unknown player who had his breakthrough moment in Boca Raton’s 40-0 home win over Spanish River on Oct. 2. The senior athlete registered 10 carries for 150 yards and four touchdown in his team’s District 10-8A win over the Sharks (0-2 in District 10-8A: 1-5 overall).
“It was a win that we needed,” Fleming said. “It helped us remember how dominant we can be when we do our jobs and it also brought up our confidence in our chances to go to state this year.”
To put in bluntly, Boca Raton is in a relatively weak district with Palm Beach Central (2-0 in 10-8A; 3-3 overall), John I. Leonard (1-1 in 10-8A; 2-4 overall), Park Vista (2-0 in 10-8A; 2-3 overall), Santaluces (0-2 in 10-8A; 1-4 overall) and Spanish River. None of the six teams in District 10-8A currently have a record above .500, which means that the Bobcats need only to win their three remaining district games against John I. Leonard, Park Vista and Santaluces.
Boca Raton’s season-defining stretch of district games will be played from Week 8 to Week 10.
“We can not lose any more district games,” Fleming said. “We need to make sure we aim to be 1-0 every week from here on out.”
Boca Raton, which earned its other win in Week 1 over Seminole Ridge (8A; 0-1 in 9-8A; 2-3 overall), would love to reach the .500 mark this week against No. 9 Pahokee (3A; 0-1 in 7-3A; 3-2 overall). What makes this non-district game a special one is that it falls on Boca Raton’s homecoming.
Fleming said he knows what a win over Pahokee would mean for the program.
“They want to beat us for the second year straight,” said Fleming, who was part of last year’s Boca Raton team that lost to Pahokee at Anquan Boldin Stadium.
“I plan to do everything in my power to not let that happen. They would not take a loss to us lightly because they are the No. 9 ranked team in the area and they don’t expect to lose to us. Most predictions are putting them as the expected victor. We know that coming into this game.”
Fleming had more to say about Pahokee.
“They are a very athletic team with a lot of talent,” he said. “They are well respected around the county and for them, football is life. With that said, I must do my job against this team. It takes eleven people to succeed on the field and everyone must do their job. I must also make sure I keep my team motivated and not let us become mentally defeated at any point in time leading up to or during the game.”
Attachment-1The 6’2″, 210-pound athlete will also be seeing time as a linebacker, the position he will probably be playing on the next level. Fleming has not received any college offers but has garnered some interest from the likes of Wake Forest, Purdue, Cincinnati and Georgia State.
The Boca Raton rising star reflected on his recruiting process to this point.
“Honestly, I think it’s turned out that way because nobody has ever heard of me,” he said. “I’ve been on the varsity team since my sophomore year, but this is the first opportunity I’ve been given to play. ince. So the film that people are seeing of me will only be from this year.”
This week’s game against Pahokee could be the thing that college coaches need to properly evaluate Fleming. A big game against the Blue Devils may be the one that ultimately gets him his first offer.
“I would feel honored and excited that a team is willing to invest in my future and that they believe my talent could make an impact on their team,” Fleming said. “It would truly be a blessing from God.”
Stay tuned for further updates on Fleming’s recruiting process and Boca Raton’s quest to qualify for this year’s Class 8A playoffs.
By Naji Tobias
Prepbuilders.com Editor
