North Broward Prep opened the high school football playoffs with a 38-6 win over Avon Park on Thursday night, and special teams carried the Eagles. Kicker Mateo Sanchez, a Boston College commit, and long snapper Aidan Field set a school record for kicking points in a game. Sanchez made four field goals and two extra points.
Sanchez’s first field goal, from 35 yards, came as the first half ended and gave North Broward Prep a 22-6 halftime lead. He added three more field goals after the break, including a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles scored first on a blocked punt that Thor Hwasta returned for a touchdown. Avon Park answered with its only touchdown of the game to tie it. Christian Deering then scored the next three touchdowns on the ground, and the Eagles tried two-point conversions after two of them.
North Broward Prep improved to 5-6 on the season. The Eagles will face Somerset Academy in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. Somerset won only two regular-season games but beat Lake Placid High School 21-13 in its opening playoff game.
