Northwestern holds off Heritage; STA cruises
With a sold-out standing-room-only crowd packed in at Heritage Field in Plantation, a crowd that was lined up two hours early to get in, the de facto high school Game of the Year in South Florida lived up to every bit of its billing on Friday night.
When it was over, it was Northwestern that had just a little bit more than host Plantation American Heritage, hanging on to win the Region 4-5A showdown 23-20.
The Bulls, looking for an unprecedented third consecutive state title, advance to next week’s Class 5A state semifinal game where they will host Tampa Jesuit at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Traz Powell Stadium.
When defensive back and University of Miami commit Timothy Burns Jr. picked off a Heritage pass and returned it 22 yards for a score with just 42 seconds left in the third quarter, it appeared the Bulls (11-2) were on their way to an easier-than-expected win, leading 23-7.
But the Patriots (10-2) weren’t going anywhere. Quarterback Edwin
Rhodes threaded a perfect pass over the middle to Oronde Gadsden Jr. who split two Bulls defenders and turned a short slant into a 62-yard score with 10:44 left.
A fired up Heritage defense then forced a threeand-out and the offense started moving again. Eventually running back Joseph Carlson bolted up the middle from 8 yards out with 4:33 left and it was 23-20.
With the Heritage crowd screaming and the Bulls facing a third-and-20 at their own 21, Northwestern quarterback Taron Dickens’ pass to the sideline was incomplete, which would’ve forced a punt.
But pass interference was called on Heritage. Now faced with a thirdand-five at the 36, Dickens found Timothy Bostic in the right flat for a 12-yard gain and new set of downs.
A long Nathaniel Noel run followed by a face mask penalty put the Bulls on the Heritage 19 with 2:01 left before Heritage coach Patrick Surtain started burning all three of his timeouts.
St. Thomas Aquinas 27, Atlantic 0: Delray Beach Atlantic offered up a little bit of resistance on Friday night before St. Thomas eventually pulled away from a 7-0 halftime lead in the second half to win the Region 4-7A final at Brian Piccolo Stadium.
The Raiders (12-0) move on to their sixth consecutive state semifinal next Friday where they will host Venice in the 7A state semi at Piccolo Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The game will mark the fourth straight state semifinal meeting between the two teams, Aquinas having won two of the previous three.
Quarterback Zion Turner and Georgia commit Marcus Rosemy led the way for the Raiders as they hooked up on a pair of touchdown passes, the first a 27 yarder just one minute before halftime that broke a scoreless tie.
It appeared Atlantic (8-4) had come right back to tie the game when Tyler
Burke returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a score, but the return was nullified by a penalty.
Turner and Rosemy hooked up again early in the third quarter for a 33yard score before linebacker Derek Wingo recorded a sack in the end zone for a safety to make it 16-0. William Vold added a field goal early in the fourth before Turner wrapped up scoring with a 9yard score on a quarterback keeper with about two minutes left.
A Champagnat 42, Moore Haven 0: The host Lions scored early and often in their Region 4-2A final against Moore Haven as the Terriers offered up very little resistance and Champagnat rolled to a shutout win at Curtis Park.
The Lions (8-3) advance to next Friday’s 2A state semifinal where they will host Seffner Christian at Curtis Park at 7:30 p.m.
Receiver Johnquai Lewis had two touchdown receptions and 120 yards receiving. Malcolm Colson (2 rushing touchdowns), Donovan Jones (120 yard rushing, one TD) and quarterback Rylie Aguila, who threw for more than 300 yards, also had big nights.
On defense, linebackers Jonathan Nesbit (two sacks, interception) and Jesus Machado (19 tackles) led the way.
Chaminade-Madonna 35, Calvary Christian 0: The Lions demonstrated why they are the two-time defending champs as Chaminade-Madonna shut out top-seeded Calvary Christian in the Region 4-3A final.
Chaminade (10-2) will look for a fourth consecutive trip to the state championship game when the Lions host Clearwater Central Catholic in a 3A state semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Running back Thaddius Franklin and wide receiver Elijah Canion led the way for the Lions as Franklin ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns while Canion was on the receiving end of touchdown passes of 27 and 5 yards.
Jonathan Harris wrapped up the scoring with a 5yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter.