Pines Charter, Palmetto flag football teams win in state quarterfinal games
Kevin Mujica never had a doubt a day like this was possible at Miami Palmetto.
After starting up a flag football team just three years ago, the Panthers have spent 2024 enjoying first after first after first.
And on Friday evening, as Mujica was soaked in cold water after his players dumped a bucket of it on their coach, he took a moment to thank everyone that had supported their program during what’s been a relatively quick and remarkable ascent to become the top team in Miami-Dade County.
Led by Sami Anes’ two interceptions and one touchdown, the Panthers secured another milestone victory by blanking Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 18-0 in a Class 2A state quarterfinal at their home field.
Palmetto (18-1), which won its first GMAC, district and regional titles this season, will play Pensacola Pace in a 2A state semifinal next Friday at either 7 or 8:30 p.m. at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa.
“A lot of these girls play travel ball and it’s made them grow closer,” Mujica said. “These girls know football and push each other every day in practice and they make my job so much easier. Going to Tampa is going to be special. We have to embrace the experience and we’re super excited to be able to have this opportunity.”
Anes is an example of the collection of players that came together on the Panthers roster with various athletic backgrounds.
A three-sport standout who plays basketball and is headed to UCF on a soccer scholarship, Anes has helped Palmetto ascend from going 7-3 each of its first two seasons to the top seed in next week’s Class 2A state final four.
“Anes chose to play flag football to be out here and have fun,” Mujica said. “She’s going to UCF to play soccer, but she loves to play flag football and made three tremendous plays for us. We’re just loaded with girls who can make plays all over the field.”
Another is starting quarterback Ava Alvarez, who transferred from Cooper City before this season.
Alvarez played wide receiver and defense at Cooper City before she converted to play quarterback for the Panthers. This season she has thrown 47 touchdown passes and only six interceptions.
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Class 1A state quarterfinal — Pembroke Pines Charter 26, Homestead 6:
Ava Rivera is no stranger to pressure.
Growing up playing basketball put her in tense situations often and tested her resolve.
So when she is playing quarterback for the Pembroke Pines Charter flag football team, Rivera knows exactly how to adjust to any adversity on the field.
“When I get nervous I know how to keep it together,” Rivera said.
On Friday afternoon, a less experienced team could have folded facing a strong Homestead squad on the road with a trip to the state final four on the line.
But Rivera and the Jaguars responded and punched their first ticket to the state semifinals in program history following a dominant 26-6 victory over the Broncos on their home field.
“I never imagined this when I was playing JV at Cooper City,” said Rivera, who transferred from Cooper City before this season. “We knew we had the talent but we just needed to put it together and it clicked since the first game.”
Rivera threw four touchdown passes on Friday, adding to her school record total of 58 for this season.
The Jaguars (17-3) will be the No. 3 seed and play No. 2 seed Choctawhatchee in a Class 1A state semifinal on Friday at either 4 or 5:30 p.m. at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa.
Top-seeded Tampa Robinson will host fourth-seeded Braden River in the other semifinal.
“This has been a journey building for the past five years,” Pembroke Pines Charter coach Keidran Willis said. “When I took over the program, we had some talent but no direction. This might not be the most athletic or the fastest team, but it’s the most committed to winning. They’re coachable and they deserve this.”
Sophomore wide receiver Madison Ojeda, who is another basketball player in addition to starring in flag football for the Jaguars, caught two touchdown passes while sixth-grader Khailia Sprouse made a key interception in the second quarter as Pines built a commanding
26-0 lead after three quarters.
Homestead (17-3), which advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time, finally got on the board early in the fourth on a touchdown pass from Jerniyah Fowles to Caitlyn Gibson.
But it was too late for the Broncos as the Jaguars ran out the clock on their ensuing drive.