Week 2 MVPs: Special teams and shutout defenses shine in second week of football

Week 3 is upon us and the Post is coming in hot with a list of standout players from Week 2 who need to be on your radar for this Thursday and Friday's competitions.

Below, get to know Palm Beach County's latest MVP-worthy playmakers making waves after the 2023 season's inaugural list of game ball winners.

Who was an MVP in Week 1? Who had game ball-worthy plays in Palm Beach County season openers?

Week 3 picks and predictions: Who wins St. Andrew's-West Boca, Atlantic-North Miami, and more

Week 2 MVPs

Da'Marion Alberic, RB, Atlantic

Alberic rushed the ball 142 yards for three touchdowns to help Atlantic (2-0) stay undefeated against a gritty Monarch squad. Down 32-20 at the top of the fourth quarter, the three-star UMass commit scored on a 10-yard run to the end zone at the 11-minute mark, closing out the game with a 20-yard rush across the goal line to take down the Knights, 33-32.

Dylan Bennett, LB, Cardinal Newman

Big brother Henry is off playing running back at the University of Kentucky, but there's still a Bennett at Cardinal Newman (2-0) making big plays for the Crusaders. Dylan, a 5-foot-11, 210 pound sophomore, proved to be a terror in the trenches in the 2022 Class 1M region finalist's 41-0 win at Belen Jesuit last Thursday. He led the defense with 11 tackles − eight solo − and two sacks.

Vory Copeland, CB, St. Andrew's

Copeland stole the show from the secondary for St. Andrew's in Week 2 as the Scots (2-0) blanked Saint John Paul II, 56-0. The junior recorded a team-high five tackles − three solo − and a caused fumble to help keep the Eagles scoreless last Friday.

Ethan Dagostino, K/P, Palm Beach Central

Nine points of insurance in Palm Beach Central's 37-21 win at Boca Raton came from Dagostino. The junior went 10-for-10 from field goal range while playing 14 games in his first season with the Broncos (2-0) last fall and kept his perfect record rolling into the 2023 season with 20, 30 and 26 yard field goals against the Bobcats.

Preston Douglas, ATH, Jupiter

Special teams sealed another culture-shifting win for Jupiter (2-0) when the Warriors went to Park Vista last Friday. One of the Cobras' only scoring opportunities in Week 3 was stopped by Douglas, a junior, who batted down a field goal attempt to keep PV's side of the scoreboard at 0.

Pahokee shining at next level: How did Palm Beach County players fare in 2023 college football openers?

Pierre Fertil, DB, Pahokee

Fertil had a day putting Pahokee (1-1) back in the win column with a 29-6 win over Inlet Grove. The senior had three tackles − two solo − three pass breakups, and two interceptions for 44 yards, highlighted by a pick six.

Owen Holowecky, K/P, Seminole Ridge

For Week 3 against Royal Palm, Holowecky set the Hawks (2-0) up for success from kickoff, nailing four touchbacks on six for 163 yards − long of 40. Plus, a third of the points in Ridge's 27-0 win against the Wildcats can be attributed to the senior. He went two-for-two from field goal range and cleared the posts on every extra point attempt.

Tristian Johnson, RB, Somerset Canyons

Last Friday, Glades Day took a tough 45-0 tumble at the forces of Johnson's churning legs, which accounted for 140 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries. Taking advantage of reps that went to Somerset (2-0) graduates David Duong and Quincy Rowe last fall, the senior has already exceeded the 248 yards he accumulated in 10 games through the 2022 season.

Xavier Reid, DT, West Boca Raton

Reid's stat line against Lake Worth served as a statement ahead of West Boca's (2-0) highly anticipated Week 3 matchup against St. Andrew's. In Week 2, Reid, a 6-foot-1, 260 pound sophomore, tallied nine tackles − eight solo and 10 for loss − two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery to stake a 51-7 win versus the Trojans.

Marion Victor, RB, King's Academy

The scoreboard between King's (1-1) and Glades Central looked a little different this year thanks to a standout three touchdown, 100-plus yard performance from Victor. A 43-0 shutout last Friday has officially overshadowed 2022's 14-7 loss to the former Muck powerhouse and Class 2M district opponent.

Joey Weber, QB, Boca Raton Christian

Weber's four fearless quarters against Miami-based SmartEn Sports Academy meant a breakout performance. After picking up his first varsity win versus Marco Island Academy in Week 1, the Boca Christian (2-0) freshman improved from a solid 69 percent completion rate to a stunning 86 percent in Week 2, throwing 12-for-14 for 192 yards − long of 67. A halftime scoreboard tied at 0 was ultimately broken by two scoring passes from Weber.

Mekhi White, DB, Palm Beach Lakes

Palm Beach Lakes (2-0) hung 24 unanswered points on a scoreless Port St. Lucie, thrilling a football-loving fan base that's waited for the Rams' return to triumph. The crowd roared and the band played after White, a senior, hauled in an interception for a game-sealing touchdown last Thursday.

Jack Wiggington, ATH, American Heritage-Delray

While Heritage-Delray (1-1) left Fort Lauderdale's Westminster Academy with a 24-17 L, Wiggington was a winner in the stat book. The junior led the offense with 61 rushing yards on 11 carries and topped the receiver room in scoring, hauling in a touchdown on two catches for another 61 yards. He also led the defense with 10 tackles − seven solo − and a caused fumble.

Emilee Smarr is the high school sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Who from Boca Christian, Pahokee, Lakes and more were MVPs in Week 2?