By Trish Christakis - CBS4

On Wednesday, December 4th, the best high school football senior in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties will gather with their families at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens as the annual Nat Moore Trophy will be awarded, announced live at 7:30 p.m. with a special airing on CBS Miami and streaming on CBSMiami.com.

This yearly event has indeed become an event and honor that prospects all over the region hold in high esteem – and something that they can proudly carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Following in the footsteps of last year’s winner Jeremiah Smith (Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna), who is now a freshman star at The Ohio State University, the list has narrowed to just four student/athletes for this year.

THE NAT MOORE AWARD

A native of Florida, born in Tallahassee, Nat Moore grew up in Miami, where he attended Miami Edison Senior High and Miami-Dade Community College.

At the University of Florida, he was a star running back and later inducted into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1978. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1974 and was a star wide receiver for thirteen seasons from 1974 to 1986.

Over his 13-year playing career, Moore recorded 510 receptions for 7546 receiving yards and 74 touchdowns and ranks in the top three in Dolphin’s history in each of those three categories.

Moore retired in 1986 as an all-time Dolphin great.

He is currently the team's senior vice president of special projects and alumni relations. His post-retirement career is filled with humanitarian work and philanthropy.

In 1984, the NFL voted Moore as "Man of the Year" for outstanding service to his community and he received the Byron White Humanitarian Award in 1986.

In 1998, he created the Nat Moore Foundation, which works with disadvantaged kids in Miami-Dade County in efforts to make sure they receive the best education possible.

FOUR OF THE BEST ARE HEADED TO HARD ROCK STADIUM

The nominations are in and here are the four finalists. The voting period opened on Nov. 19 and closes on Nov. 30.

Here's a look at each of the four finalists and their stats (names in alphabetical order):

Ben Hanks Jr.

Miami Booker T. Washington

• CB/WR
• 6' 1" and 170 pounds
• Stats: (Offense) 9 Rec., 235 Yds., 3 TD (Defense) 13 Interceptions, 33 Tackles, 18 career interceptions.

VIDEO: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16372248/Ben-Hanks-Jr

Ezekiel Marcelin

Miami Central

• LB
• 6' 0" and 210 pounds
• Stats: 5 sacks, 10 solo tackles, 1 interception, 24 career sacks
• 3.76 GPA

VIDEO: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17070413/61b097dc386d9a07dc1faba9

Malachi Toney

Plantation American Heritage

• Wide Receiver 
• 5' 10" and 190 pounds
• Stats: 58 Receptions, 1,008 yds, 12 TDs, 28 career TDs.

VIDEO: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17846385/Malachi-Toney

Ennio Yapoor

Miami Norland

• Quarterback
• 6' 1" and 220 pounds
• Stats: 2646 YDS, 18 TD Passing, 9 TD Rushing, 109 Career TD Passing, 41 Career Rushing TD, 5-year starter
• 4.2 GPA

VIDEO: https://www.hudl.com/profile/14792479/Ennio-Yapoor

You too can nominate your favorite high school football player at NatMooreTrophy.com.

The CBS Miami team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSMiami.com.

By Dave Brousseau - BCAA  Writer

FORT  LAUDERDALE – Over the years the annual Fort Lauderdale and Stranahan football rivalry game has had its outstanding individual performances.

Friday in the 66^th meeting between the schools, it was senior Vila Jozama’s turn to shine.

The defensive back came up with a pair of big-time plays helping determine the outcome of the Flying L’s 17-0 victory at Lockhart Stadium on Friday.

The victory was bittersweet for assistant coach Richard Dunbar IV had stepped in for his father Richard Dunbar III, who suffered a gun shot wound a day after a postponed game against Halladale in mid-September,

“Oh man this victory was a blessing,” said Dunbar IV. “I feel like it was meant to be, it was meant to happen. I was meant to take over.”

The 17-point shutout win was the first for the Flying L’s since the two teams first met in 1958. It was also their eighth shutout all-time in the rivalry. Despite the loss, Stranahan still leads the series 41-23-2.  

With the game still in doubt late in the third quarter, Jozama took a direct snap from center racing untouched for a 73-yard touchdown run for 14-0 lead with 2:24 left in the third quarter.

Following a 31-yard field goal by Brandon Guerrero increased the Fort Lauderdale (4-5) lead to 17 points, Jozama squashed any thoughts of a Stranahan comeback with an interception late in the final quarter.

“On the touchdown, the ball was coming to me, and I said all right I’m going to make the play to turn the game around,” said Jozama. “Coming into the game we said we’re not going to stop. Games like this are always important.”

Fort Lauderdale took advantage of an early turnover, scoring on a Armani Strong 16-yard run with 3:49 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.

Stranahan (4-5) had several chances to produce points, including getting to the Fort Lauderdale one-yard line in the first quarter, before mistakes failed them.

“Fort Lauderdale made a couple of big plays that were the difference tonight,” said Stranahan coach Jack Candy. “We made some plays, but we just didn’t get in the endzone. We just played sloppy bad football tonight.”

Stranahan junior running back Leroy Cooks led all runners with 75 yards on 15 carries.

FORT LAUDERDALE vs. STRANAHAN

Football History (Through 2024)

Stranahan leads All-time Series: 41-23-2 

Stranahan All-Time points: 1,147

Fort Lauderdale All-time points: 812

Stranahan (Consecutive wins): 16 (1985-2000)

Fort Lauderdale (Consecutive wins): 6 (2013-2018)

Stranahan (shutouts): 14

Fort Lauderdale (Shutouts): 7

Stranahan (Mort points scored in game): 48 (2003)

Fort Lauderdale (Most points scored in game): 33 (2016)

Most points in game (Both teams): 75 (2003, Stranahan 48-27)

Year Winner Loser Score

2024 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 17-0

2023 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 30-14

2022 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (OT) 20-14

2021 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 36-0

2020 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 36-20

2019 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 28-23

2018 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 22-0

2017 Fort  Lauderdale Stranahan 24-19

2016 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 33-21

2015 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 2-0

2014 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan T 0-0

2013 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 23-0

2012 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 26-19

2011 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 23-6

2010 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 38-16

2009 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 45-24

2008 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 29-14

2007 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 3-0

2006 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 25-14

2005 No game Hurricane Wilma Xxxxx

2004 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 27-14

2003 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 48-27

2002 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 28-7

2001 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 14-7

2000 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 14-0

1999 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 41-0

1998 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 15-0

1997 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 25-0

1996 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 33-14

1995 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 19-0

1994 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 24-6

1993 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 9-6

1992 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 21-0

1991 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 36-0

1990 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 34-6

1989 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 22-21

1988 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 26-13

1987 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 25-0

1986 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 19-0

1985 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 14-8

1984 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 12-7

1983 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 25-21

1982 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 24-8

1981 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 17-14

1980 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 17-8

1979 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 7-0

1978 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 27-8

1977 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 21-10

1976 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 41-0

1975 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 14-0

1974 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 27-14

1973 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 13-12

1972 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 13-9

1971 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 29-7

1970 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 22-21

1969 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 21-15

1968 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 21-13

1967 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 21-7

1966 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan T 14-14

1965 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 27-7

1964 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 26-6

1963 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 7-6

1962 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 20-0

1961 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 13-6

1960 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 27-13

1959 Stranahan Fort Lauderdale 19-18

1958 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 14-13

1956: Stranahan played 10th grade football under coach Clyde Underwood

1923: Fort Lauderdale first game Miami 25-0 (coach Bob Porter first coach).

Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE – The St. Thomas Aquinas girls volleyball team inched a step closer to their eighth state championship in a very powerful way.

Mikayla Porter, Sydney Guerrier and Emmi Merhi combined for 24 of the Raiders 47 kills to cruise past South Plantation 25-7, 25-11, 25-12 in a Class 6A regional final on Wednesday.

The victory moved Aquinas a step closer to defending their state title and possible eighth over championship. They will face Land O’Lakes Sunlake (15-8) in a state semifinal match on Nov. 8 at Polk State College in Winter Haven at 10 a.m.

Should the Raiders advance they would face the winner of the Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer/Gulf Breeze winner. The championship match is set for Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.

“We were very offensive tonight, and everyone contributed,” said St. Thomas coach Lisa Zielinski. “The inside was strong and the outside was scoring. It wasn’t just one player. It was multiple players that were scoring.”

The victory was the third of the season against South Plantation, all in straight sets. Aquinas has won 10 consecutive matches against the Paladins (20-4)  dating back to 2008, while losing just one set.

Overall, the Raiders have outscored the Paladins 25-2 in sets won.

The Paladins hung tough down two sets to none, trailing 11-6 and 20-12 in the third set before the Raiders closed out the match with five straight points that included a Porter kill to seal the victory.

“Our front row is very aggressive,” said Porter. “That’s one thing we have and other teams know. We’re  all such a good team with such good players. We come together do get it done.”

St. Thomas was clearly the better team from the onset.

The ended the first set on a 12-2 run with Porter’s deciding kill.

An indication of how one-sided the regional final was, is the Paladins’ longest point streak was held to three, but not until Aquinas led 20-9 in the third set.

Overall, the Raiders had all the right moves to a clear victory.

Senior outside hitter Tameary Wardlaw had eight digs and Makia Brooks had six digs along with her match high 17 assists. 

Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Make no mistake about it, when it comes to high school football talent in south Florida, age means nothing.

This is the region of the country where 9^th and 10^th graders are fair game. If they are needed to make a contribution at the varsity level, they step in – no questions asked. The talent level is that impressive.

Many chalk the talent up to the amazing youth programs that run through Miami-Dade and Broward Counties and produce elite talent.

RUSSELL PROFILE

PLAYER: Daylen Russell

POSITION: DE

SCHOOL: Miami Christopher Columbus

CLASS: 2024

HEIGHT: 6-1

WEIGHT: 235

SCOUTING: Having watched this young man play, there is no limit to how impressive he is going to be.

Remember, this is someone who already has turned heads, and with a solid spring and a summer where college coaches are getting an early peak, this is definitely the next defensive lineman who will step up for the Explorers.

He is quick off the ball, strong and very athletic. When you see him play, it’s hard to believe that he has three seasons left to go – and that already has many thinking this is going to be a top area player.

In his spring game against North Miami Beach, he showcased some of what he’s all about – coming up with a sack and getting off the ball against a quality senior offensive lineman.

While the Explorers have several holes to fill, and questions to be answered, here is a young talent who will certainly give head coach Dave Dunn and his team less to worry about.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/9810163/Daylen-Russell/about

For the past 51 years, we have spent time going from games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events. We will remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein- SFHSports) and Twitter (@SFHSSports - @larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..