On a cloudy, muggy and wet night, September 1, 2006 marked the beginning of a rivalry between two cities on different ends of Broward County. Hollywood and Pompano Beach were both represented by two good quality high school football teams, Hills and Blanche Ely, respectively. Blanche Ely Tigers (1-1) ranked 10th and Hollywood Hills Spartans (2-0) ranked 4th in the state. This was round 3 of a fight filled with agony, tears and passion from both squads putting their mark as one of the best in the state.

Last year, the Tigers and Spartans bump heads twice splitting both games at one game a piece. The Spartans took round 1 with a 22-20 win during the regular season. Round 2 had different results and more at stake as the Tigers edged the Spartans 14-7 in a Class 5A playoff battle. Now, it was about respect as round 3 started with an hour and fifteen minute delay.

Bad weather did not stop Chris Anderson, 5’9” junior running back, and Hills as he rushed for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns to help the Spartans defeat the Tigers 33-23 in a non- district intriguing 5A match-up.

The game started with both teams committing turnovers on their opening drives of the game with a pair of interceptions. Then, both teams settled down and responded with scoring drives to breakup a scoreless contest. Hills concluded an 8 play drive for 61 yards with a 12 yard touchdown run from Joe Wacenske, 5’5” junior running back, up the middle giving Hills the early 7-0 lead. Blanche Ely then responded with a score of their own as Jean Dessein, 6’3” senior quarterback, connected on a 43 yard pass to Dwayne Difton, 6’0” sophomore receiver. The Tigers took the lead 8-7 with a successful two point conversion.

The Tigers took advantage of the momentum with an interception by Patrick Johnson, 6’0” junior defensive back, and returning the ball inside Hills five yard line. On the next play, Blanche Ely cashed in on a Norman Robinson, 5’8” senior running back, score. Robinson darted up the middle giving the Tigers a 15-7 lead with a successful two point conversation.

Then Anderson took over the show with a 35 yard scamper untouched closing the scoring gap to one, 15-14 Tigers leading. After holding the Tigers on downs, the Spartans waste no time by putting the ball in their star’s hands to see magic. Once again, Anderson broke a 47 yard run inside Tiger territory at the 12 yard line. Next play, Anderson finished the drive with a 12 yard touchdown run for his second of the night. This put the Spartans ahead, 20-15 at the half.

“I’ve been waiting for this day to come for a long time. I was anxious to touch the ball, we just wanted to get some payback to a team (Blanche Ely) who knock us out of the playoffs last year,” Anderson said.

The Spartans defense was dominating also, giving up only 37 yards on the ground for the game. The line of scrimmage was controlled by the Spartans on both sides of the ball the second half. Hills increase their lead 26-15 with a 54 yard passing strike from James McCandless, 6’0” junior quarterback, to Jesse Julmiste, 5’8” senior receiver, giving the Spartans an 11 point cushion.

With 11 minutes remaining in the fourth, the Tigers put together a drive of their own. Dominque Grooms, 5’9” junior running back, cap off a 77 yard, 10 play drive, with a 5 yard score. This cut the Spartans lead down to three, with a successful two point conversation.

Then, Mr. Anderson sealed the deal with a knockout 51 yard touchdown run to keep the Tigers down for good. “We knew we had to stop their jet-sweep play to win and we did. Ely is a good football team and I am pretty sure we will meet again later in the season,” Al Lang (Hills head coach) said. “They surprise us with the passing game but overall I am pleased at how our kids played tonight,” Lang said.