By James Oyola
MaxPreps.com
MIAMI, Fla. – Defending Florida 4A state champion Booker T. Washington welcomed Arizona’s Hamilton High School of Chandler to Dade County Friday night to open the Miami Sports Kick-Off Classic at Traz Powell Stadium.
After a competitive first half, it was the visiting Huskies who settled in and looked at home, running away for a 37-19 victory.
Hamilton arrived in Miami with a record of 113-13 and three state titles since opening in 1998. The school currently has 31 players on college rosters entering this season and was a state semifinalist a year ago. Last season, Booker T. Washington won its first state title since re-opening as a high school in 1999. The Tornadoes have gone 57-7 over the past five seasons.
The Huskies’ strength and stamina overcame the local school’s size and speed.
Hamilton wasted no time in taming the Tornadoes. On the first play from scrimmage, after a 30-yard kick return, senior quarterback Zachary Parrish attempted a bomb to receiver Alante Wright. The pass was incomplete, but it showed that the Arizona team would not be intimidated by the nationally recognized Tornadoes.
The first score came with 6:36 left in the first quarter after a Washington fumble by junior running back Eduardo Clements. Hamilton’s offense took charge and capitalized off the turnover with a six-yard touchdown run by tailback Zachary Bauman, his first of four. The junior back totaled over 100 yards on 15 carries.
“We worked hard this summer, it was a great win for us,” Bauman said. “We came out here to win and I’m glad I was able to help the team do that. They have their ring, now we want to use this momentum to go back home and get ours. Coach called my number and I didn’t want to let him down.”
If the game had an MVP award, the recognition would go to Bauman who lists Oregon and Texas as the top teams seeking his commitment.
On the ensuing possession, the Tornadoes answered with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Torrance Moises to Quinton Dunbar for a 17-yard touchdown catch . First team All-Dade County kicker Oscar Diaz missed the extra-point attempt, keeping the Huskies ahead 7-6.
Hamilton and Bauman struck again on the ensuing possession, keeping it on the ground from three yards out with 11:06 left in the half.
Moises and Dunbar, a 6-foot-3 junior, connected again six minutes later for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The catch cut the deficit to two and Booker T. Washington went for the two-point conversion but was unsuccessful.
The Huskies tacked on a field goal before half to send take a 17-12 into the locker room.
The Tornadoes began the second half with a new look at quarterback as Moises suffered an injury and watched the rest of the contest from the sideline. Without its leader, the BTW offense collapsed, resulting in a quick turnover.
From that point on, the Hamilton trio of Parrish, Bauman and Wright took over. With Bauman churning out yards on the ground, the Huskies balanced it out by going deep to Wright, who finished with 136 yards on four receptions.
With 6:08 left in the third quarter, Bauman scored his third touchdown of the game from three yards out yards increase his team’s lead to 24-12. Then he did it again, three minutes later, for a fourth and final score on a five-yard run. The bruising junior back extended Hamilton’s lead 30-12, crushing the confidence of their hosts.
Tornado running back Clements was able to remind everyone why he is considered one of the top backs in the state. With 51 seconds left in the third quarter, the 5-9 tailback quickly eluded four Hamilton defenders en route to an amazing 20-yard touchdown run.
With a little over a minute left in regulation, Hamilton put the finishing touches on its victory as Parrish connected with receiver Michael McDonald for a 16-yard touchdown grab.
Booker T. Washington won’t have much time to sulk over the demoralizing loss. The Tornadoes travel to Georgia for a showdown with two-time defending state champion Northside High School of Warner Robins on Sept. 5.
Hamilton’s victory added to an impressive early-season resume against out-of-state teams for Arizona. Brophy College Prep of Phoenix knocked off defending Nevada state champion Bishop Gorman 16-6 last weekend.
The Kick-Off Classic continues at 1 p.m. Saturday with Pahokee facing Mississippi’s Olive Branch High School, followed by Northwestern against storied California program Long Beach Poly at 7 p.m.
