Last season, as a sophomore, Noah Sidan was called upon to boost the Miami Norland Vikings to a pair of overtime wins against national power Miami Central. The first-year kicker made good twice as the Vikings advanced to the 2M state finals, losing to Tampa Berkeley Prep and finishing 14-1.
Last Friday night – now as a member of national powerhouse Hollywood Chaminade – history repeated itself as the junior ended one of the most exciting games in a long time as the Lions knocked off visiting Plantation American Heritage, 48-45, for the third straight year.
While that kick ended the game for head coach Dameon Jones and his team, it was another of the many things that went on as two of the best teams in the state, who have gotten off to a disappointing 1-2, put on quite a show before a packed house at the legendary Vince Zappone Field.
As there were many story lines in this game – with elite talent on both sides of the ball, perhaps the one that stood out most was senior quarterback Preston Wright.
As a starter the past two years for coach John Brantley and Ocala Trinity Catholic in the 1M state title game, Wright and his family moved to south Florida and attended Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, where he played in the spring but was not chosen as a starter. He made the move to Chaminade-Madonna – again as a backup, and when team added another quarterback, he was once again a third-team player, but the 6-2, 200-pounder never said a word and believed that his athletic ability (baseball player as well) would one day pay off.
On Friday night, it paid off as the Lions saw one quarterback (sophomore Zac Katz) leave the school two weeks ago – and the other (sophomore Tyler Chance) injured when the Lions were upset at Pompano Beach Blanche Ely. Enter Wright.
As the Lions were cautious about what game plan they put in against the Patriots, Wright never wavered, knowing that he had more big game experience than anyone on the field.
All Wright did in this evenly matched game was step up, completing 27 of 42 passes for 461 yards and throwing four touchdown passes and no interceptions. All those camps, combines and events that he has attended – away from the spotlight the past three years – finally paid off, and while it would have been easy for him to openly be frustrated, he never said a word.
While Wright was doing his things, versatile senior receiver Koby Howard and junior receiver Jasen “J-Roc” Lopez, one of the best kept secrets in the state, came up huge. Lopez, who came from Miami True North Classical Academy this year, caught 11 passes for 243 yards.
As good the Lions played on this night, let’s not forget how talented head coach Mike Smith’s team is – with senior running back Byron Louis, one of the nation’s best, coming up with 149 yards and a touchdown – and University of Texas junior quarterback commit Dia Bell, who was amazing as he completed 18 of 26 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
As many will focus on the two teams being 1-2 after the first three weeks, they may want to take a step back and appreciate what transpired for three hours as some of America’s elite football prospects put on a show to remember.
In addition to that thriller, here is a look at how some of Miami-Dade and Broward teams did this past week:
Boynton Beach Somerset Canyons 20, Key West 14
Coral Gables 41, Miami Beach 6
Coral Springs Coral Glades 35, Coral Springs 7
Davenport Four Corners Charter 54, Tavares Liberty Christian 6
Deerfield Beach 36, Parkland Douglas 0
Delray Atlantic 43, North Miami Beach 7
Doral Ronald Reagan 28, Miami Braddock 21
Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy 45, Miami St. Brendan 6
Fort Lauderdale Dillard 44, Oakland Park Northeast 0
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 42, Miami Christopher Columbus 6
Fort Pierce Central 35, Davie Nova 8
Hialeah 35, Doral Academy 7
Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy 32, Hialeah Gardens 6
Hollywood South Broward 40, Cooper City 15
Homestead 42, Vero Beach 33
Homestead Everglades Prep 36, Hollywood Avant Garde Academy 6
Lake Worth Dr. Joaquin Garcia 29, Hollywood Hills 20
Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson 28, Fort Lauderdale 15
Miami Archbishop Carroll 37, Miami Palmer Trinity 0
Miami Central 55, Miami Booker T. Washington 25
Miami Edison 27, Miami Killian 7
Miami Ferguson 23, Westland Hialeah 7
Miami Florida Christian 38, Hialeah ABF 0
Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace 26, Miami True North Classical Academy 7
Miami High 40, Miami Coral Reef 0
Miami Immaculata LaSalle 34, Miami Belen Jesuit 0
Miami Jackson 20, Somerset Silver Palms 14
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman 20, Hialeah American 7
Miami Northwestern 42, Miami Carol City 7
Miami Ransom Everglades 38, Coral Springs Charter 3
Miami Southridge 21, Miami Palmetto 7
Miami Sunset 35, Hialeah Miami Lakes 0
Miami Varela 18, North Miami Mourning 14
Miramar 28, Hollywood McArthur 0
Moore Haven 22, Miami Westminster Christian 14
North Miami 13, Miami Dr. Krop 7
Pembroke Pines Charter 55, Coconut Creek North Broward Prep 34
Pembroke Pines Flanagan 28, Miramar Everglades 14
Plantation 25, Pembroke Pines West Broward 21
Pompano Beach 35, Coral Springs Taravella 13
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely 54, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 20
Sunrise Piper 35, South Plantation 0
Tavernier Coral Shores 29, Goulds Palm Glades 28
West Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy 20, Deerfield Beach Somerset Key 14
West Palm Beach The King’s Academy 35, Miami Gulliver Prep 15
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
For the past 54 years, we have spent more time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..