ORLANDO, Fla. - Not many people knew of a South Florida quarterback named Ryan Williams when he walked into Miramar High School this fall. After all, Williams was off most college recruiters’ must-have lists after playing three years at Plantation American Heritage.
On Saturday, though, Williams introduced himself at the Florida Citrus Bowl and also put Miramar on the map. The 6-foot-5 senior set an FHSAA state finals record with five touchdowns passes to lift the Patriots to their first state championship.
Miramar defeated DeLand 42-20 for the Class 6A state title. By the end of the third quarter, Williams’ work was complete, and so were 18 of his 21 passes. Two of the other three incompletions were dropped by receivers. Williams finished the night with 254 passing yards.
Miramar Coach Damon Cogdell put together a strong game plan, and he said the Patriots (14-1) executed it with great success.
“We knew what we had to do, and Ryan made the throws,” Cogdell said.
What Cogdell knew heading into the game was that Deland’s usually stout defense was prone to an aerial attack?
“In the film, we saw that we saw all week where we could take advantage of them,” said senior receiver Denzel McCollum. “We saw where we had mismatches.”
Miramar’s offense used several four- and five-receiver sets, and that forced DeLand to adjust personnel and drop several defenders into pass coverage who mainly played the run in Deland’s prior games.
Doubling the Bulldogs’ doom was the absence of star junior DeAnte “Pop” Saunders, who played only quarterback. Miramar (14-1) beat the Bulldogs’ defenders, adept at stuffing the run all season, over the top early, and then threw shorter passes to open receivers when DeLand adjusted by leaving the Patriots’ pass-catchers more of a cushion.
“My guys were just getting open. I mostly threw to my first read,” said Williams, who has not received as much attention from college recruiters and football commentators as some other South Florida quarterbacks.
Saunders, who was limited by a moderate ankle sprain suffered in DeLand’s win at Apopka in the state semifinals, credited Williams with stepping up.
“He made some nice throws. He looked good tonight, but we blew some coverages, too,” said Saunders, who had only two carries and failed to score a touchdown for the first time this season after crossing the goal-line 27 times in the team’s prior 14 games.
Saunders said DeLand (13-2) simulated in practice all week what it expected Miramar’s offense to do, but that didn’t quite measure up to the real deal.
“The scout team is never going to be as good as the team you’ll actually face,” Saunders said.
The Patriots cruised to a 21-0 lead in the first half. On Miramar’s first possession, Williams threw to Ivan McCartey for a 9-yard score. Cogdell then elected to try an onside kick on the kickoff, and the Patriots recovered at DeLand’s 33-yard line.
On first down, Williams threw to McCartney, who ran a corner post route and caught the ball in the end zone to make it 14-0. On Miramar’s next possession, Jeremiah Hicks burst through the right side, broke tackles and raced for a 44-yard touchdown run.
The Bulldogs trimmed the lead to 21-7 when Achim Johnson bulled his way in for a 3-yard score midway through the second quarter, but Williams answered again.
This time, he threw 19 yards to McCartney and then threw 20 yards to Dante Chambers to reach the red zone. Miramar capped the 81-yard drive when Chambers caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Williams to make it 28-7 at the half.
The Patriots erased DeLand’s hopes for a comeback with a quick strike to start the third quarter. Williams threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Hicks.
Near the end of the third quarter, Williams set the record for the most touchdown passes in FHSAA finals history with a 15-yard strike to McCartney, who finished the night with five catches for 86 yards and tied the state finals record for touchdown receptions with three.
The Bulldogs scored twice in the fourth quarter. Cameron Poole recovered a Miramar fumble and turned it 7 yards for a score, and freshman JoJo Kemp scored on a 35-yard run.
Kemp was the bright spot for DeLand, which struggled with Saunders limited. Kemp finished with 89 rushing yards on eight carries. With Saunders mainly handing off, Miramar’s defense keyed on DeLand senior running back Shontrelle Johnson, who amassed more than 1,800 rushing yards in the Bulldogs’ prior games. Johnson carried 20 times for just 43 yards.
Saunders, who has verbally committed to the University of Florida, said his ankle injury became more painful as the game wore on. He grimaced in agony several times during the game and went to the locker room for treatment after fumbling away possession late in the third quarter. Marqies Hall recovered the fumble to set up the Patriot’s last touchdown.
The Bulldogs played the final quarter with their third-string quarterback. DeLand’s first-string quarterback, Nick Ciciarelli, has been out since suffering a vascular injury at the start of the postseason. Though unable to play, Ciciarelli, a senior, dressed for the Bulldogs.
Hicks had 85 rushing yards on just five carries for Miramar. Williams’ five touchdown passes broke the state finals record previously held by six players, including past Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. Williams also set the FHSAA state finals record for completion percentage by completing 86 percent of his throws.
It all adds up to a big finish for an athlete who started the season with a tall hill to climb.
“He had to learn how to play our game,” Patriots’ receiver Dante Chambers said. “It took him some time to adjust to our speed.”
Dwyer Blows Out Niceville
Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer cruised to a 42-14 win Saturday to claim the Class 4A state championship. Dwyer defeated Nicevill with help from a big effort by running back Matt Elam. He scored three touchdowns and rushed for 188 yards on 14 carries.
Dwyer (14-1) did most of its damage in the second quarter. After Niceville scored on Kyle McDorman’s 29-yard pass to Kody Williams to take a 7-6 lead early in the second quarter, Dwyer answered with a trio of touchdowns and a field goal to lead 30-7 at the half.
Dwyer’s first of three touchdowns in the second quarter came when Elam raced 69 yards on Dwyer’s first offensive play after Niceville’s touchdown. On Niceville’s ensuing possession, Williams fumbled. Dwyer’s Mike Ruiz recovered the fumble.
Then Dwyer scored in just two plays. First, quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw 28 yards to Elam. Then Elam rushed for a 28-yard touchdown to make it 20-7. Niceville turned it over on downs on its next drive. Dwyer then capped a 5-play, 67-yard drive with Robert Clark’s 11-yard touchdown run.
Elam had a key 26 yard rush on the drive. Dwyer added a field goal to lead 30-7 at the half. Neither team scored in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Clark intercepted McDorman to give Dwyer first down at Niceville’s 34-yard line. Clark then caught a 34-yard pass from Brissett to give Dwyer a 36-7 lead.
Clark scored three touchdowns, including a 88-yard kick return touchdown in the fourth quarter. Niceville running back Roy Finch finished the night with 164 rushing yards on 33 carries. McDorman was 9-for-27 for 100 yards. For Dwyer, Brissett completed 10 of 20 passes for 193 yards. Nick O’Leary caught five passes for 106 yards.
Niceville finished the season with a 13-1 mark.
