“They’re happening after big plays and it’s momentum killers,” Wildcats coach Willie Bueno said about the penalties. “We’ve got to figure that out and get better at it.”

After a sloppy and scoreless first quarter, the Blue Devils struck first early into the second quarter. A fumble by Wildcats running back Demarcus Holloway on the Royal Palm Beach 8-yard line led to a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Rashaun Croney to give the Blue Devils a 7-0 lead.

The Wildcats swung the momentum in their favor in the final minute of the first half.

That’s when Royal Palm Beach (2-0) took advantage of a Pahokee pass interference penalty. Freshman quarterback Toddy Centeio then connected with receiver D’vonte Burden for a 22-yard touchdown with 43 seconds remaining in the half to tie the game at 7-7.

Royal Palm Beach added to its lead in the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns. It took agamble deep in Blue Devils territory in the third quarter on a drive marred with penalties on both sides. On 4th-and-17, Jimmy Moreland hit Alon Sims for a 25-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats a 14-7 edge.

“We just needed something to get momentum going,” Bueno said.

After a poor punt by the Blue Devils, the Wildcats took advantage of great field position. Charles Perry ran for a 13-yard touchdown to put them up by two scores with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Pahokee (1-1) scored late in the fourth quarter when Croney connected with Malik Thompson for a 6-yard touchdown. Pahokee had a chance to tie the game in the final minutes, but its rally fell short.

“It’s a good win,” Bueno said. “We’ve just got to keep getting better.”