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Quarterback Antonio Scionti has spread his wings to leave the Academy of the Eagles of Saint John Paul II after a season. Wanting to complete what he started as a Gator, the senior re-enrolled at Palm Beach Gardens High School.
But why leave only to come back immediately?
“I made the decision to transfer because at the time I wasn’t sure Gardens would have a season after all,” said Scionti.
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A year ago, the Palm Beach County School District withdrew from the Florida High School Athletic Association’s State Series for All Fall Sports amid the coronavirus pandemic. This meant that neither team could play for the state championships, and the football season didn’t start until the end of October.
In turn, student-athletes, especially juniors and seniors, went wherever they could promise a full season.
Scionti was one of them.
He was still at St. John Paul II in the spring when he pitched for two touchdowns and 223 yards against Pahokee. But all the while, the burgeoning senior quarterback yearned to return home.
“This is the reason I came back,†said Scionti. “The culture that ‘local football’, from the fans and the squad brings to the fellowship on the pitch.”
For Gators head coach Tyrone Higgins, football in his hometown means ‘tradition’.
“There’s a certain pride that comes out when you talk about your school, where you’ve played and your track record… it’s good to have good football in your hometown,†Higgins said.
Scionti recognizes Gardens’ ‘family’ culture as a big factor in his comeback, but he also thinks the team’s’ zone-read, RPO ‘style offense suits him best.
Scionti is hoping to receive several offers from Division I, but his main focus at the moment is to nail down the starting position.
Higgins had initially expected junior Brand Campbell to lead the Gators offense, not expecting him to have another quarterback on the roster. In the Palm Beach Garden spring game, Campbell connected on a 90-yard touchdown pass – actually a 7-yard tilt that wide receiver Kevin Levy turned into that long scoring – in a 14-yard win. -8 on Miami Edison.
Campbell is suffering from an ankle injury and his imminent recovery could mean Scionti may have returned at the perfect time.
Having seen what his current starter Campbell can do and knowing how talented the returning Scionti is, Higgins will determine who calls the coins in an old-school quarterback competition over the next three weeks.
“I think this year we’re going to have some really good football against all of the Palm Beach County teams,†Higgins said. “We played well against the southern teams. I think collectively we are all getting better and better.”
Palm Beach Gardens Alligator Quick Shots
Classification:8A-7
The Head Coach:Tyrone Higgins, 12-6, third season
2020 review):4-3
Returning “impact†players:RB Vincent Dubose, OLB / ILB Naivyan Cargill, RB / DB Jacory Brown, RB Adrian Santiago, OL / DL Peter Lubin
Major matches: Palm Beach Lakes, Dwyer
Provisional timetable:
8/27 vs. Atlantic
9/3 at Glades Central
9/10 at Dwyer
9/17 against Wellington
24/9 in Pahokee
10/1 at Palm Beach Lakes
10/15 at the Royal Palm Beach
10/22 against Palm Beach Central
10/29 against Jupiter
11/5 vs. Park Vista
All games start at 6.30 p.m.
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