Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
How locals from South Florida fared.
MIAMI GARDENS — St. Thomas Aquinas product Nick Bosa had an impactful return to South Florida in the Super Bowl as part of a San Francisco 49ers pass rush that was relentless most of Sunday night on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at Hard Rock Stadium.
Bosa had a third-quarter strip-sack on Mahomes where he made a move to the inside on Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher to dislodge the ball from Mahomes’ grasp.
Bosa, who had five tackles and a pass deflection, flushed Mahomes out of the pocket consistently most of the night, along with defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. After Bosa’s strip-sack, a flustered Mahomes was intercepted on the ensuing play by middle linebacker Fred Warner. It was the first of two secondhalf interceptions Mahomes threw before he led a comeback for a 31-20 Kansas City victory.
Bosa’s impact was felt immediately on Sunday. The Defensive Rookie of the Year who was the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft after three years at Ohio State got after Mahomes on the second play from scrimmage and deflected a pass. He also hit him hard multiple other times, notably on a first-half option that he pitched to Chiefs running back Damien
Williams and on another deep throw where Mahomes was still able to complete a deep pass to a wide-open Sammy Watkins.
Several other players with local ties contributed for their teams.
Making his return to South Florida, Williams, a former Dolphins’ running back, turned in a career-best performance in the Chiefs’ comeback. The 27-year-old led Kansas City in total yards and scored a pair of touchdowns — including the game-winner with 2:44 left. Williams, who spent his first four seasons with Miami, rushed for 104 yards and one touchdown, while hauling in four catches for 29 yards and another score.
After 49ers running back Raheem
Mostert, who had a short stint with the Dolphins in 2015, had a record-setting NFC Championship Game to get the 49ers into the Super Bowl, he didn’t have nearly as dominant of a performance. Mostert did, however, score a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter that put San Francisco up 20-10.
Mostert finished with 58 rushing yards and the touchdown on 12 carries, plus a 2-yard catch.
San Francisco defensive tackle Earl
Mitchell, who spent three seasons from 2014 to 2016 with the Dolphins, had half a sack, splitting it with Buckner in the first half.
Former Florida State defensive tackle
Derrick Nnadi recorded four tackles, including one for loss for the Chiefs.
In the first quarter, Nnadi corralled 49ers running back Tevin Coleman for a 1-yard loss at the San Francisco 18-yard line.
Kansas City defensive back Rashad
Fenton, who grew up in Miami Gardens just blocks away from Hard Rock Stadium, made one tackle in Sunday’s showdown. In the fourth quarter, the Carol City alum helped force a 49ers punt, shoving Jimmy Garoppolo out of bounds after a 3-yard pickup.