Central beats Northwestern on last-second FG
There is only ever one proper way for a Miami Central-Northwestern game to end. Pandemonium.
The 2021 version of the rivalry — or, at least, Part I — delivered on that promise with a wild 24-21 win for Central.
“Those guys,” Rockets coach Roland Smith said, gesturing to the packed stands at Nathaniel “Traz” Powell Stadium, “got their money’s worth tonight.”
In the first quarter, a Central assistant coach got ejected. In the second half, there was a shooting scare. (It was a false alarm after a fight broke out in the bleachers.)
Both teams turned the ball over four times. With five minutes remaining, the Rockets led by two touchdowns. Three minutes later, the score was tied.
It all came down to the right foot of Jayden John, who missed a potential game-winning kick against Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Week 2 last month. As time expired, the Central specialist drilled a 32-yard field goal straight through the middle of the uprights to give the Rockets their first win against the Bulls since 2018.
“Hard work made that kick,” John said. “I’m speechless right now.”
John’s field goal rescued Central from a near collapse in Miami.
The Rockets went ahead 7-0 early on a fourth-down touchdown run by running back Ghana Oboh, but were tied 7-7 at halftime because of a missed field goal and a fumble in the red zone during the second quarter.
In the third, the Rockets lost another fumble in the red zone, then another in Northwestern territory. Central finally regained the lead with 9:22 remaining when quarterback Dyllan Tulloch scrambled for a 19-yard touchdown, and the Rockets pushed the lead to 21-7 with 5:49 to go when Tulloch hooked up with Lamar Seymore on third-and-20 and the star wide receiver broke a tackle, made another two defenders miss and ran 55 yards into the end zone.
“There were so many mood swings,” Smith said.
Central was one stop away from winning. The Bulls wouldn’t go away.
In 1:37, Northwestern quarterback Taron Dickens led the Bulls 80 yards in seven plays to cut the Rockets’ lead to 21-14 with 4:12 remaining. The Northwestern quarterback went 5 of 6 for 63 yards on the drive and Bulls running back Jamari Ford punched in a 2-yard touchdown run to keep Northwestern alive.
Now, Central needed only a few first downs to win. Again, the Bulls didn’t go away.
Oboh picked up one first down with three short runs and the aid of a penalty, then he broke one for 15 yards, only to fumble after he picked up another first down.
Northwestern defensive back Jamari Sharpe ripped the ball away, and Bulls linebacker Kareem Maycock scooped it up and rumbled 35 yards into the end zone to tie the game 21-21 with 1:57 left.
Oboh finished with 151 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, but lost three fumbles.
Tulloch and the Central offense went back onto the field for one more drive.
“We had to score,” Tulloch said. “We were not losing that game.”
The junior, who began the season as the backup and took over in Week 2 after an injury to fellow quarterback Keyone Jenkins, started the drive with a couple handoffs for 14 yards, then fired a slant to running back Santwan Brinson for another 13 to carry the Rockets from their own 23 out to midfield.
On first-and-10, a play broke down and Tulloch tried to scramble. He slid back at the line of scrimmage and folded in half on a late hit. He stayed down on the turf for close to a minute, the wind knocked out of him after an awkward landing, before he hopped back off and went to the sideline. Northwestern took a timeout and Tulloch, after initially heading to the bench, went back into the game.
Now at the Bulls’ 35, Tulloch threw one short pass to running back Jonathan Harris for 1 yard, took one errant shot at the end zone and then set up the game-winning field goal. He took his final snap with 10 seconds left and hit Seymore in the seam for a 22-yard gain.
Seymore, who is orally committed to the Miami Hurricanes, finished with six catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. Tulloch went 14 of 23 for 233 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 40 yards and another touchdown on four carries.
Northwestern tried to ice John with their final timeout, but it didn’t matter. The senior split the uprights and the sidelines emptied to celebrate a heart-pounding win.
It may well only be the first chapter, though. This season, the Greater Miami Athletic Conference is hosting its inaugural championship series, which will consist of a host of bowl games later this month. The top two teams in Class 6A and smaller will meet at Traz Powell Stadium on Oct. 28. As of now, those two teams are the Rockets and Bulls.
● American Heritage 23, Cardinal Gibbons 20: The rivalry between American Heritage and Cardinal Gibbons football teams has become one of those must-see games every year.
Senior kicker Julian Ramirez ensured a fantastic finish when he drilled a 42-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to lift Heritage to a nondistrict victory at Cardinal Gibbons on Friday.
The game-winning kick was the second gamewinner for Ramirez this season. The first came in a victory over Chaminade-Madonna earlier this season. Ramirez finished with three field goals on the night.
“It was really nerveracking,” said Ramirez about the kick. “The is what we work for, and we want to beat an archrival like Gibbons.”
The victory improved the Patriots (2-2) to 14-2 over the Chiefs (4-1) in their past 16 meetings, dating back to 2009.
The loss also snapped the Chiefs’ nine-game winning streak, which began after a 23-17 loss to Heritage last season. Gibbons would go on the win the Class 4A state championship. — DAVE BROUSSEAU
● Gulliver Prep 52, Champagnat Catholic 27: Only a pregame lightning delay could slow Sedrick Irvin Jr. and Gulliver Prep’s playmakers in a dominating win over Champagnat Catholic on Friday in Pinecrest. Irvin struck for 123 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns at the homecoming game on soggy Sean Taylor Memorial Field.
The win improved Gulliver to 5-0 and dropped Champagnat to 3-2. The Raiders have won 20 consecutive regular-season games, dating back to 2019.
Gulliver posted a 28point second quarter. Senior quarterback Carson Haggard went 25 of 35 for 327 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Wide receiver DeCarlo Donaldson made seven catches for 96 yards and scored on a 70-yard punt return. Champagnat freshman quarterback Ennio Yapoor went 13 of 19 for 210 yards and three scores.