American Heritage-Delray football has its first Sunshine State Athletic Association state championship.
The Stallions defeated West Nassau 51-41 to win the SSAA Atlantic division on Friday, Nov. 21 in The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium in The Villages.
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American Heritage-Delray, a three-time Florida High School Athletic Association state champion (2007, 2009, 2011), has competed in the SSAA the last two seasons under head coach Jonathan King. The program’s last state championship game appearance was in the FHSAA Class 4A final in 2015.
Sophomore quarterback Marcus Stracke, fresh off a seven-touchdown performance last week, accounted for another four scores in the state title contest, a necessary job in helping to stave off a multi-score rally from the Warriors (12-2).
“West Nassau is true grit,” King said. “It was bend but don’t break, and keep fighting. I wouldn’t want a game any other way. We’ve seen the fruits of our labor tonight, and we’re feeling great.”
American Heritage Delray’s Miles Rose hoisted after a score during a 15-14 loss to King’s Academy on Sept. 19, 2025.
More: The Post’s Boys Athlete of the Week: American Heritage-Delray’s Carter Wasko wins Week 4
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“Tonight, it was a collective effort,” King said. “When I say everyone on that offense played a role, everyone did.”
Stracke, a transfer from Spanish River after his freshman year, was stellar in guiding the offense, but not all heroes take snaps under center.
Shane Kleeblatt was one such player.
The junior do-it-all star returned a kickoff for a touchdown, handled all kicking duties on special teams, and added some physicality on defense, especially when he popped a ball loose during Friday’s win.
“He played an out-of-body game,” King said. “That young man … I don’t think he could duplicate that, and he doesn’t have to. It was his night.”
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Zachary Schwartz and Mitchell Joseph helped pace the offense alongside Stracke, contributing big plays behind the likes of Domenick Swanson and Elias Drucker on the line.
“We had a kickoff returned for a touchdown, we had a field goal going into half, we blocked an extra point, we had interceptions,” King said. “It was a complete night with all of our kids. I don’t even know where to start other than giving all of my kids and coaches praise.”
The Stallions finish the season with a 10-3 record, winning the title a year after losing in the state semifinals to Frostproof.
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: American Heritage-Delray football wins SSAA state championship
