Gulliver honors Sean Taylor’s memory; Palmetto routs Doral
Sean Taylor’s name continues to be spoken with reverence as one of the greatest football players in NFL history.
The big plays he made in college while at the University of Miami are still some of the most impressive by any player in that school’s rich history in the sport.
But his roots will always be tied to Gulliver Prep where it all started.
On Friday, Taylor’s high school alma mater once again honored his memory by rededicating its renovated football facility in his honor, calling it the “Sean Taylor ’01 Memorial Field” at a ceremony prior to the Raiders’ preseason classic against Archbishop Carroll.
Taylor, who would go on to become an AllAmerican at the University of Miami and later an All-Pro safety with Washington in the NFL, led Gulliver to its lone state title in 2000. That season, he set a state record with 44 touchdowns combined, rushing, receiving, on kick returns and on defense.
Tragically, Taylor was shot during a home invasion robbery at his home in November 2007 and later died at age 24. In the years since, numerous remembrances have been held in Taylor’s honor across the country and he has been regarded as one of the best players to ever play the safety position.
Gulliver also retired the No. 1 — the jersey number he wore in high school as a star safety for the Raiders — and presented a jersey to his family who were in attendance for the ceremony.
The team also played a two-minute video with a montage of interviews and highlights from Taylor’s entire career.
“It means the world to me and the family that Gulliver continues to honor Sean,” Taylor’s father, Pete, said. “It’s been a true reminder of appreciation and hard work. [Gulliver school founder] Mrs. [Marian] Krutulis who started this journey with Sean and her commitment, her love and the staff here that continues to build and make Gulliver what it is. We appreciate this with so much love.”
Palmetto 35, Doral 3: The Miami Palmetto football team’s first play of 2023 was a near disaster.
A high snap over quarterback Lucas Goenaga’s head nearly ended up in the end zone. But Jacory Barney made sure to set a better tone for the Panthers season on the very next play.
Barney, a University of Nebraska commit, extended and made a great falling catch for 34 yards. Later he’d make another huge catch for 29 more to set up the Panthers’ first touchdown.
Barney would then play quarterback and proceed to throw two touchdowns himself and spark a rout of host Doral Academy in a preseason kickoff classic on Thursday night.
“He’s a lot of fun and can do a lot of different things well,” Palmetto coach Mike Manasco said. “I’m glad we don’t have to play against him.”
The game was halted with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter due to lightning in the area and concluded at that point after both sides agreed to end the game.
AThe Panthers controlled the game almost from the outset in a duel of two teams which made the playoffs last season in Class 4M.
Manasco felt like he saw enough of what he hoped from his team as it prepares to open the regular season next week against Class 3M state runner-up Homestead on Aug. 25 at Harris Field.
“Our kids played fast against a quality opponent and some things happened on offense that changed what we wanted to do, but our defense responded,” Manasco said.
While Barney was the engine that drove Palmetto on offense, he was not alone.
Junior running back Ethan Lopez ran for two touchdowns and Shemar Irvin ran for one. Lamarcuse Taylor and Cameron Sapp each caught a touchdown pass from Barney.
Balancing the offense is a goal Manasco said his team had this offseason coming off a 6-6 season in 2022 that ended in the second round against rival and eventual state champion Columbus.
“We really wanted to improve running the football and that’s who I want us to be,” Manasco said. “We need to be a group that can get those tough yards and we haven’t been that these past few years so I’m excited about this group.”
Palmetto’s defense kept Doral contained on its own end for most of the game and intercepted Doral quarterback Jordan Lleo three times. Javier Moss, Wynton Jones Jr. and Corey Pruitt each had an interception.
“That’s the youngest unit in our group, but we have seven or eight kids that can really play,”
Manasco said. “That [Doral] offense is tough because you have to read guards and stay within your technique so our guys did a great job.”
SCORES
Friday: Miami Central 13, Ocala Vanguard 6; Miami Norland 35, Pompano Beach Blanche Ely 7; Coconut Creek 34, Monarch 6; Miami Southridge 42, Miami Carol
City 0; Miami Dr. Krop 28, Pembroke Pines Flanagan 14; Hialeah Goleman 70, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 0; Miami Varela 37, Marathon 0; Miami La Salle 34, Miami Sunset 0; Miami Beach 30, North Miami Beach Mourning 2; Hialeah Gardens 44, Oakland Park Northeast 0; Hollywood South Broward 27, Miami Springs 6; Palm Beach Gardens 21, Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian 7; Miami Booker T. Washington 7, Plantation American Heritage 0 (canceled after 1st quarter, medical emergency); Miami True North 21, South Miami 0; Hollywood Avant Garde Academy 26, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy 0; American 39, Harmony 7.
Thursday: Miami Killian 16, Weston Cypress Bay 6; Homestead 23, Clearwater Academy International 21; Davie Western 47, Parkland Stoneman Douglas 2; Fort Lauderdale Dillard 16, Deerfield Beach 0; Miami Belen Jesuit 30, Miramar Everglades 6 (half); Miami High 26, Miami Ferguson 6 (half); Pembroke Pines West Broward 28, South Plantation 0 (half); Plantation 45, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 45 (tie); McArthur 13, Nova 0 (half).
Wednesday: Miramar 21, Miami Edison 0; Miami Florida Christian 21, Southwest Miami 0.