Columbus has shot at 2nd state title in a row; Norland reaches first title game since 2011

The celebration was starting to die down for Columbus after its dramafree 27-7 win against Tampa Plant on Friday at Tropical Park sent the Explorers to the state title game yet again when Bryce Fitzgerald asked for his teammates to huddle up one more time around him.

Mere minutes earlier, his second interception of the game — and fifth in two weeks — put a final touch on Columbus’ win and Fitzgerald was ready to start thinking about what’s next.

Fitzgerald was at home a year ago when the Explorers were playing in the Class 4M championship. When he decided to transfer to Columbus earlier this year and his new coaches asked him what he wanted to accomplish in his first season at his new school, he said he wanted “to go to the state championship,” so he asked his teammates to huddle up one last time and gave them a reminder.

“It’s my first time!”

The Explorers jumped up and down and sprayed whatever was left in their water bottles.

“We’re going to the ’ship!” they chanted and, for most of the them, it was a familiar feeling, but it still doesn’t get old.

“It’s a new experience for each group of kids,” Columbus coach Dave Dunn said.

In 2022, Columbus won its second state title on a trick-play two-point conversion in overtime. Players barked, “Let’s get two!” up and down the sideline while the clock ticked away. Now, the Explorers (12-2) are just one win away from repeating as state champions for the first time.

Until 2019, Columbus was always the would-be powerhouse that couldn’t quite get over the hump. Now, the Explorers have a chance to win their third state title in five years when they face Jacksonville Mandarin at 3 p.m. Friday in Tallahassee.

After Columbus needed to come from behind in each of its previous two postseason games, the Explorers removed any possible drama from the 4M semifinals quickly this weekend.

Columbus started with the ball, marched 80 yards and scored to go up 7-0 in the first four minutes. The Explorers built a 20-0 lead by halftime.

Fitzgerald had two interceptions to set a new single-season Columbus record with 10 after he tied the mark last week. Star defensive lineman Daylen Russell, who’s orally committed to Miami, had two sacks and a tackle for loss, and FIUbound defensive lineman Robert Williams had a sack, too. Three different Explorers scored touchdowns. Specialist Robert Czermcha made a 50yard field goal right before halftime and pinned all five of his punts inside the Panthers’ 10.

“It’s always good to score first, get the lead, get the blood flowing for everybody,” said running back Agyeman Addae, who scored a touchdown on the opening drive and finished with 89 yards on 14 carries. “We’ve worked so hard for this and honestly my teammates, my O-linemen came and pulled through.”

A

Class 3M state semifinal - Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 50, Tampa Gaither 14:

Senior running back Jordan Lyle’s 131 yards rushing on 11 carries and three touchdowns led the Raiders

(13-1) on Friday.

St. Thomas, which is bidding for a fifth straight state championship, improved to 18-2 in state semifinal games since 2000. Aquinas already owns the state record with 14 state championships.

The Raiders, winners of 40 of their past 41 games, will play Homestead, a 42-35 winner over Orlando Jones, at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee on Dec. 9.

— DAVE BROUSSEAU

Class 2M state semifinal - Miami Norland 28, Jacksonville Bolles 7:

A

Seven days after turning in one of the most gut-wrenching, emotional wins in recent program history, it only figured that Miami Norland might come out a little flat when they took the field against Jacksonville Bolles.

Sure enough, the Vikings did struggle, mainly on offense as quarterback Enio Yapoor was off target through the air.

But, thanks to a terrific defensive performance and a career rushing night from their go-to running back Juan Rodriguez, that proved to be more than enough for Norland on Friday at Traz Powell Stadium.

The win moves the Vikings to their fourth state championship game and first since 2011 when they last won a state title — their second in program history. Norland (14-0), ranked No. 11 in the nation by Max Preps, will take on Tampa Berkeley Prep in the Class 2M state title game on Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. at Bragg Memorial Stadium, on the campus of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

— BILL DALEY

Class 2M state semifinal A - Tampa Berkeley Prep 17, Plantation American Heritage 14: The Patriots had two drives to save their season and get back to the state championship.

But as quarterback Dia Bell’s final throw while under pressure landed in the defense’s hand, it began to sink in on the Patriots’ sideline that their season was minutes away from coming to an end.

American Heritage (10-2) led 14-9 at halftime behind a pair of rushing touchdowns from junior Byron Louis, who finished the game with 135 rushing yards.

After the Patriots punted on their opening drive of the second half, Berkeley Prep (12-2) orchestrated the drive of the game.

— JORDAN MCPHERSON

Class 4M state semifinal - Jacksonville Mandarin 51, Coconut Creek Monarch 21:

A

It took a couple of quarters, but it seemed the Knights finally had things rolling on offense.

AJ Hairston lobbed a perfect pass over the middle to Jabari Brady, who sped 60 yards to the end zone to give Monarch a 21-16 edge with 6:26 left in the third quarter.

Unfortunately for the Knights (11-3), that would be the last time they’d enjoy a lead in what was a historic season for their program.

The visiting Mustangs cranked up their own balanced offensive attack and rolled up 35 consecutive points to end the Knights’ season on Friday night at Coconut Creek. The lopsided loss was a tough conclusion to Monarch’s first trip to the state semifinals. Instead of a Miami-Dade vs. Broward County final, Mandarin (11-3) will be the team to face Miami Columbus in the Class 4M final next Friday at 3 p.m.