Homestead takes advantage of turnover edge to down Jones, clinch return to state
There was only one condition the Homestead Broncos knew for certain about their matchup against the 10-4 Orlando Jones Fightin’ Tigers — the game would be close. With every other detail of a win a mystery, Homestead carved another unique path on the way to a state championship, beating Jones 42-35 in the 3M state semifinal game at Harris Field on Friday night.
“I knew that we would have to make enough plays to get it done and we did that yet again against a great program,” Homestead coach Ronnie Thornton Jr. said. “I’m just happy for the way we responded to that adversity.”
Homestead used a predictable and efficient pass and run game to beat their opponent, but the Broncos didn’t start with this traditional method. Instead, the Broncos defense forced four Tigers fumbles in the first half. A rarity, Homestead (12-1) returned fumbles from both Jones quarterbacks (Dereon Coleman and Trever Jackson) for touchdowns and 14 defensive points.
“Defensively, we scored a couple of key touchdowns that helped us kind of get through and we made stops when we needed to,” Thornton said. “We did enough to get the win. I mean, you can’t ask for much more.”
Homestead has won three of its playoff games by one score but will face a dominant St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders team in the Class 3M state championship in a rematch of last year’s final, won by the Raiders. Aquinas has outscored its playoff opponents 181-20.
Homestead will face Aquinas at 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee.
“When the game was on the line, we got it done. That’s the most important thing,” Thornton said. “Moving forward, we get another opportunity to do it.”
Homestead quarterback Joshua Townsend owns zero stars on his recruiting profile, but the signal caller showed up on a night when former Miami head coach Manny Diaz, among others, scouted from the sidelines. Townsend finished with no turnovers, 247 passing yards and three passing touchdowns while rushing for an additional score.
“I have a very underrated quarterback whose leadership and impact and his instinct and just what he brings to the game and this football team,” Thornton said. “I can’t thank that kid enough for what he’s been doing.”
Facing its own mistakes all night long, Jones wide receiver Branardo Forine epitomized the agony of the team’s frustration, dropping the football on fourth down with nearly 30 seconds left.
Down just one score, a catch would have meant a Tigers first down. As Forine saw the hopes of a state title slip from his hands, fans in the Broncos bleachers jumped for joy as shades of colored sports drinks filled the sky with a mix of water on the sidelines.
“We made ourselves attractive to the community and kids started to come,” Thornton said. “It’s been nothing but love and support, so they are just as much a part of this victory as us.”