By James Oyola
MaxPreps.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – On a night where South Floridians experienced an unusual wave of cold weather, Miami Northwestern fans witnessed the usual dominant performance by their team. The Bulls cruised to a 42-23 win over Miramar in the state semifinal and into their third consecutive Class 6A title game.
Northwestern (13-1), the defending national champions and two-time 6A title holders, became the first team in Miami-Dade County history since the playoff system began to reach the state finals in three consecutive seasons.
“Unbelievable," Northwestern head coach Billy Rolle said. "This is truly what our team is all about, overcoming adversity. All season we kept hearing the comparison between this year’s team and last year’s team. Our kids constantly heard how they couldn't do what those guys did last year. But they've shown great character and determination and now we're one game away from accomplishing our goal.”
Leading up to the game, the buzz surrounded Miramar’s potent passing attack and superstar quarterback Eugene Smith. But on Friday night, it was Northwestern’s dominant ground game that stole the show.
Tyresse Jones led a rushing attack that amassed 258 yards and five touchdowns for the Bulls. Jones, a senior, rushed for 118 yards on 11 carries and three touchdowns. Daquan Hargrett, also a senior and West Virginia commit, aided the win by rushing for 105 yards on 14 carries and two scores.
“Before this season began, no one thought we would make the playoffs,” Jones said. “Now we are in the state finals. This does a lot for our confidence heading into next week’s game. Man I can’t wait.”
Miramar, who opened the game with back-to-back penalties, a sack and a blocked punt for a safety, could not find their rhythm and before they knew it trailed the Bulls 30-7 by halftime.
After the safety, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater connected with receiver Cadale Blackmon for a 21-yard touchdown pass and extended the lead 8-0.
The young Bridgewater outplayed the veteran Smith by completing 8-of-10 passes for 104 yards and one touchdown. In four playoff games, the 6-foot-3 sophomore completed 41-of-64 passes for 601 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.
After an 11-yard touchdown run by Miramar’s Orwin Etkins, Jones scored from 2 yards out with 10:03 left in the second quarter to extend the lead 16-7.
After Hargrett added to the lead with a 20-yard scamper, Jones scored his second touchdown of the half from three yards out, giving Northwestern a 30-7 lead over Miramar with less than a minute left until halftime.
Defensive lineman Todd Chandler led a unit that sacked Smith six times and made it impossible for the super senior to get comfortable. Chandler, a junior and University of Miami verbal, recorded three of those sacks.
Smith, who completed 44-of-61 passes for 696 yards and eight touchdowns in the previous two playoff games, completed only 16-of-28 passes for 206 yards and no touchdowns.
Northwestern’s brutal backfield continued its dominance in the second half as Hargrett scored on a 12-yard run to extend the lead 36-7 with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter.
Etkins, who rushed for 81 yards and three touchdowns, did all he could to rally the Patriots' offense, but unfortunately it wasn't enough.
The Bulls literally ran away with the win as Jones capped his hat trick with a 48-yard touchdown run to seal the victory.
Northwestern, winners of 43 of its last 44 games, will face Sanford Seminole (12-2) in the 6A state final on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Extra Points
The Bulls overcame many obstacles to get to this point. They defeated previously unbeaten and then No. 1-ranked Columbus 21-6 in the first round. Then they beat Central 38-32, the only team who defeated them in the regular season, in the second round and Killian, who was led by Miami-Dade County’s leading rusher Lamar Miller, 40-15 in the third round.
Class 5A
St. Thomas Aquinas (14-0), led by running back Giovanni Bernard and quarterback Ryan Becker, demolished Largo 35-14 in the 5A state semifinal. Bernard, a junior, rushed for a game-high 171 yards and a score, while Becker, a senior, completed 14-of-21 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns.
Becker also broke two school records against Largo. The standout senior surpassed Wes Carroll’s career record of 3,567 yards, finishing with 3,621. He also exceeded Dan Shula’s single-season passing record of 1,893 yards by finishing with 1,927 passing yards.
The Raiders will advance to their second consecutive state final and face 5A power Lakeland, who defeated them in the championship game three times in the last four seasons (2004, 2005 and 2006). The last time they played for the title, Lakeland edged St. Thomas 45-42 in double overtime.
St. Thomas, who outscored its opponents 175-43 in the postseason, has a chance to even the score with the Dreadnaughts and claim their throne as the nation’s top football program. Lakeland held the top spot in 2005 and 2006.
Class 3A
Sophomore kicker Cody Bell booted a 52-yard field goal as time expired to give Cocoa a 20-17 win over Monsignor Pace in the 3A state semifinal. Despite their victories over No. 1-ranked Glades Central and defending 3A champion Naples, the Spartans could not pull it off against the visiting Tigers (13-1).
Class 2A
On Saturday, Dec. 13 Jacksonville Bolles (14-0) defeated Miami Gulliver Prep 49-20 in the Class 2A final and captured its eighth state championship since 1990. Stephen Barnett led the way for Bolles by rushing for 134 yards on 17 carries and two scores.
Class 2B
Earlier that day, the Pahokee Blue Devils (12-1) defeated Ocala Trinity Catholic 21-17 in the state final and won its third consecutive Class 2B championship. Running back Vincent Smith led the way for the Blue Devils with 128 yards rushing on 22 carries and a touchdown.
Class 1B
Jupiter Christian (14-0), led by running back Will Powers and quarterback Marshyl Rothman, defeated Warner Christian 49-14 in the state final and won their second consecutive Class 1B Championship. Powers, a junior, rushed for 136 yards on 15 carries and two scores. Rothman, a senior, completed 7-of-9 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 144 yards and two scores.
National Honors
Archbishop Carroll receiver Rodney Smith is among the 32 finalists chosen for the Jerry Rice High School Wide Receiver of the Year Award.
Smith (6-6, 202 pounds), a Florida State commit, caught 35 passes for 703 yards and nine touchdowns and led Archbishop to a 9-3 record and the 2A regional finals.
St. Thomas Aquinas receiver Duron Carter (6-3, 200 pounds) was also among the 32 finalists selected for the honor. Carter, an Ohio State commit, caught 38 passes for 833 yards and 12 touchdowns and has helped lead the Raiders back to the Class 5A title game.
Miramar quarterback Eugene Smith (6-3, 195 pounds) was selected as a finalist for the Joe Montana High School Quarterback of the Year Award. Smith, a West Virginia commit, completed 195-of-309 passes for 3,001 yards with 32 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while leading the Patriots to the Class 6A state semifinal for the first time in the school’s history.
