WESTON, Fla. – The spotlight from a viral sports challenge is shining on South Florida.
That’s because 17-year-old Cypress Bay High School football player Jake Balanovich took on the GOAT himself, Tom Brady.
They competed in what’s known as the viral MrBeast contest and believe it or not, Balanovich won.
The top-secret throwing competition happened on the Florida International University campus.
“There (were) no words, my jaw was dropped to the floor,” said Balanovich. “It’s like seeing your hero basically, you don’t know what to say or what to do.”
Balanovich is used to throwing the ball with his high school team as a quarterback with the Cypress Bay Lightning in Weston, skills he had to tap into as Brady and his seven Super Bowl rings challenged Balanovich to hit targets with footballs.
And adding to the pressure, there was $100,000 on the line.
“The nerves were crazy, my hands were shaking,” said Balanovich.
Despite the pressure and the odds, Balanovich scored and won the competition against Brady.
“Since I won, I guess I can say I beat the greatest of all time,” he said.
As for what he gets to do with his prize money, it sounds like Balanovich has earned the trust of his parents.
“It’s hard to tell a 17-year-old put this away in an account and don’t touch it, and later on when you’re older you’ll have some nice savings,” said Samantha Balanovich, Jake’s mom.
“But you’re trusting him with the decision?” asked Local 10′s Terrell Fornay.
“I think so,” she replied. “He’s a kid, let him enjoy it, but be smart.”