Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Miramar has eyes set on district title — not revenge — against rival Western
MIRAMAR — Miramar players remember how last season ended. The Patriots had a winner-take-all game for a district runner-up playoff spot against Western at home, and the Wildcats snatched it from them, 7-6, by way of a Keshuan Clarke touchdown run with under a minute left.
As the two meet again today, this time at Western, the Patriots could approach it seeking revenge, but they seem more inclined to draw motivation from the opportunity to win the District 12-8A title with a victory.
“Don’t put that in the mind, stop worrying,” said senior receiver Terrence Horne, who as a member of Miami Carol City’s Class 6A state championship team wasn’t with the Patriots for the crushing defeat last season. “This is not the same team as last year. We’re coming in with a lot more focus.”
Focus has been the key word for Miramar as the week has progressed. Horne admits shortly after the Patriots’ 52-0 win over Everglades to make them 6-1 last week, players who went through the loss last year had that game in mind, but the concentration has shifted to what needs to be done on the field.
“We’re not trying to make it bigger than it really is. We’re letting everybody else put the hype on it,” said quarterback Steve Williams, who was there last year as Miramar fell in the defensive struggle. “It’s not really a rivalry, but we want the W. It’s not personal, but they knocked us out last year. We want this.”
First-year head coach A.J. Scott wasn’t there last season, although he’s been through virtually every other Miramar football moment since 2008. The longtime defensive coordinator under former coaches Damon Cogdell, Matt Strout and one of Pierre Senatus’ two seasons — before that tilt with Western ended his time at Miramar — was busy leading McArthur’s defense to a district title and a playoff run. He still felt the pain of a lot of players he developed a bond with.
“I still received the phone calls, the hurt of their season being over,” Scott said. “I would love to get a little payback for those seniors from last year.”
One strategy Scott will employ against Western and 6-foot-4 receiver Jordan Smith is to match up his own receiver, Dominick Watt (6 feet 2), against him at cornerback. It’s a plan he also used with Watt as a junior at McArthur last year in a key game against South Broward, which had tall receivers in Dennis Robinson and Dorian Hall, a safety who would also play on offense.
“Jordan, just be ready,” Watt said.
If Miramar locks up the district, it would give the Patriots their first playoff appearance since 2013. Should Western (7-1) win on Friday and Plantation beat rival South Plantation, District 12-8A would come down to a three-team tiebreaker that would come down to the FHSAA’s new playoff points system. The points currently favor Plantation, but a win against Miramar would provide a significant points boost for the Wildcats. All three appear to be in good position to reach the playoffs regardless with District 12 likely to see two wild cards in Region 3-8A. walk away as district champs. If the Bobcats take it, they’re likely to force a three-team tiebreaker between the two and Park Vista, but if the Cobras are upset Friday at Santaluces, the district title goes to Boca.
The Bobcats need a win to make the playoffs. They are too far down in the Region 3-8A points standings to earn a wild-card spot.
Gators fans may also want to check into Friday’s matchup. It’s also a battle of University of Florida commits with Atlantic receiver Corey Gammage and Boca tight end Dante Lang squaring off. it’ll be settled on Saturday night.
West Broward (4-2), in a matter of four nights, can go from outside looking in to a district champ with a victory. The Bobcats, with their one district loss coming to South Broward, would be tied atop the district with Nova and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
If Cooper City (4-4) wins, the Cowboys end up tied with the Titans, but Nova would be district champ, having beaten Cooper City head to head.
Even if West Broward finishes off this late surge and takes the district crown for an automatic playoff bid, Nova is in a strong position for a wild-card spot.