Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
RB Williams powers Patriots over No. 1 Lions
HOLLYWOOD — American Heritage-Plantation senior running back Lavelton Williams rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries Friday night.
But, perhaps, his biggest carry of the night did not go for six points. With the Patriots clinging to a onescore lead with three minutes remaining, the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder broke off a 39-yard run down to the Chaminade-Madonna 15 to break the Lions’ hearts.
American Heritage would add a 27-yard field goal with 1:33 to play to earn a hard-fought 31-21 victory over Chaminade in a battle of Associated Press No. 1-ranked programs. “I seen a big gap, I hit it and then I broke one tackle,” Williams said of his pivotal fourth-quarter run.
American Heritage (4-1) came in ranked No. 1 in 5A, while Chaminade (3-2) led the 3A poll. The Lions’ two losses are to state No. 1’s Heritage and (8A) Deerfield Beach.
Friday’s showdown was just the second time two Broward County defending state champions met the following season after having won it all. The first was Flanagan vs. St. Thomas Aquinas.
Heritage never trailed in the contest and dominated the time of possession. The Patriots rushed for 263 yards on 45 carries. Senior Tyler Jones rushed for 98 yards on 21 carries and junior quarterback Edwin Rhodes added a 4-yard TD run.
“Our physicality [was the difference],” Heritage coach Pat Surtain said. “Our line totally dominated from that second quarter on. We ran the ball. That’s what we wanted to get. We wanted to get our running game going and by that happening it opened up the play-action for us . ... Total team effort.”
Williams’ 24-yard TD run 1:34 into the second quarter broke a 0-0 tie. After the Lions tied it 7-7 on a 6-yard TD run from sophomore running back Thaddius Franklin, Williams put Heritage back up on a 9-yard run around end.
Chaminade would stun the Patriots with a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown by junior defensive back Deidrick Stanley to tie it up at 14 with 7:20 to go third quarter.
Rhodes’ TD run and a 60-yard TD pass from Rhodes to Junior receiver Doug Emilien gave Heritage a 28-14 advantage with 11:49 remaining.
Chaminade again clawed back, thanks to a 50-yard TD pass from senior Daelen Menard to junior receiver Elijah Canion with 7:55 to go. But Williams’ huge 39-yarder kept the Lions at a distance.
Rhodes finished with 10-of-16 passing night for 188 yards. Emilien had 105 of those receiving yards.
Menard was 12 for 23 for 147 yards. Senior receiver John Dunmore had eight catches for 79 yards. Franklin rushed for 92 yards on 13 carries.