With three wins this past weekend at DRV PNK Stadium, five south Florida teams showcased some quality players in the state championships.
With titles in 4M, 3M and 2M, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties had the chance to make an impression with fans around the state.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
In the 4M matchup between Miami Christopher Columbus (14-1) and Apopka, it took overtime to win, but head coach Dave Dunn and the Explorers came through.
Among the offensive stat leaders were junior quarterback Alberto Mendoza (11 of 16 for 148 yards).
Senior running back Sedrick Irvin had 54 yards on the ground.
Junior Jose Leon (49 yards, TD) and senior A.J. Arellano (21 yards plus winning pass).
On defense, sophomore Hector Chavez (20 tackles), Ja’juan Bradshaw (16 tackles) and Daylen Russell (11 tackles).
RAIDERS WIN 3M BATTLE
In the first ever Miami-Dade vs. Broward County contest, the Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders ended the year with a perfect 14-0 mark, beating Homestead, 38-21.
Offensively, head coach Roger Harriott and St. Thomas Aquinas had 124 yards from senior quarterback Hezekiah “Champ” Harris.
On the ground, senior Gemari Sands had 95 yards and a score, junior Jordan Lyles finished with 93 yards and a score and Harris 62 yards and a score.
Junior receivers Chance Robinson (59 yards) and James Madison (49 yards) and a score were impressive.
Homestead junior quarterback Joshua Townsend (15 completions for 221 yards and three scores).
Javon Robinson (6 catches, 91 yards and 2 scores), Cortez Mills (5 catches for 79 yards) and Richard Dandridge (2 catches, 55 yards and a score).
Isaac Brown finished with 37 yards on the ground.
On defense for the Raiders, Keyshawn Johnson (7 tackles), Jayvant Brown, Zakaih Saez, King Mack and Nicholas Rodriguez all had five tackles.
Marcus Woodley had 12 tackles for the Broncos, Eduardo Nunez finished with 10 and David Jester chipped in with 7.
2M
In the other Miami-Dade against Broward contest, first year head coach Jube Joseph and Miami Central finished a perfect (14-0) season with a 38-31 win against 13-2- and first-year head coach Mike Smith and Plantation American Heritage.
The Rockets had 154 yards passing from senior Keyone Jenkins and three scores.
Jonathan Harris had 141 yards and a score on the ground. Sophomore Nicholas McCall added 101 yards and Jenkins finished with 73.
Corey Washington led all Central receivers with six catches for 51 yards and a score. Cataurus Hicks had 78 yards and a score and Anjuan Coleman finished with 20 yards and a score.
American Heritage was led by senior quarterback Blake Murphy, who threw for 235 yards and a score.
Ohio State commit Brandon Inniss caught 7 balls for 87 yards and freshman Malachi Toney caught four balls for 50 yards.
Standout Mark Fletcher ran for 111 yards and a score. Murphy had 61 yards.
On defense, the Rockets had 14 tackles from sophomore Ezekiel Marcelin, 13 from senior Stanquan Clark and Zayden Laing-Taylor eight tackles, senior Rueben Bain had a sack.
For the Patriots, the school’s all-time leading David Vadala had seven tackles. Byron Drewes finished with six, and Jamarcus Smith, Daemon Fagan and Victor King had 5.
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