Homestead remains unbeaten after ugly victory
It’s been a process over the past two-plus seasons for Homestead’s football team to go from the cellar to one of the top teams in South Florida.
The architect of the Broncos’ turnaround — coach Phillip Simpson — doesn’t like to make excuses when adversity strikes.
So despite getting only one full practice in this week as several schools playing Friday night did due to Hurricane Ian prompting the closure of schools for two days, Homestead found a way to remain undefeated.
It wasn’t pretty, but the Broncos overcame a slow start and the loss of two key players to upend South Miami from the list of Miami-Dade County’s remaining unbeatens with a 22-6 victory at Harris
Field.
“We had a bye week and then the storm happened this week so in the last 10 days I think we only had two real practices,” said Simpson, who in two years has guided Homestead from a 2-8 season in 2019 to back-toback playoff appearances including a berth in the regional finals last year for the first time since 2002. “We struggled with mental errors and it was a humbling experience. We have to get better.”
Homestead (6-0) forced four turnovers on defense and needed a resilient effort from a shorthanded offense to pull off the victory to set up another battle of unbeatens next Friday against Columbus (6-0). The Explorers, who crushed Miami High on Friday, entered the week ranked 31st nationally by MaxPreps.
Homestead quarterback Joshua Townsend left the game in the first quarter with what appeared to be a foot injury, although he walked off the field under his own power. Freshman backup quarterback Kymani Corbet threw a couple of interceptions, but also threw a pair of touchdown passes to help the Broncos score just enough to hold off the Cobras (3-1).
Carol City 13, Monsignor A Pace 8: Even though the Carol City offense struggled all night to move the ball against a tough Monsignor Pace defense, it didn’t matter.
The Chiefs defense came up with two big plays just 90 seconds apart right before halftime that proved to be the difference. Carol City safety Jaheem Guillaume got what defenders call the “trifecta” when he came free on a blitz to sack Pace quarterback James Hayes, stripped the ball, scooped it up and headed 35 yards to the end zone for a 6-0
Chiefs lead 2:05 before halftime.
Just a minute and a half later, the Chiefs defense did it again, when defensive tackle Jamal Rowell sacked Hayes causing a fumble, scooped it up and was off to the races for a 48-yard score to make it 13-0 at the half. — BILL DALEY
Blanche Ely 36, Fort A Lauderdale 12: Many Blanche Ely followers of the school’s football program suffered through the 2021 season when the team stumbled through a 1-9 campaign.
Following Friday’s victory, the Tigers remained undefeated at 4-0, securing the team’s best start since opening the 2010 season 6-0 under former coach Willie Snead.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Fort Lauderdale (4-1), which was the Flying L’s longest streak since the team went 7-0 in 1962.
The Tigers defense recorded five sacks for minus-41 yards, while holding the Fort Lauderdale running game to nearly 60 yards of negative yardage. — DAVE BROUSSEAU
Columbus 55, Miami A High 14: Darriel Harper returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and the Explorers (6-0, 1-0 District 15-4M) cruised to the victory at Curtis Park. Alberto Mendoza threw two touchdown passes and AJ Arellano caught one and ran for another score. Quincy Balkman caught a pair of touchdown passes for the Stingarees (2-2, 0-1).
Palmetto 45, Coral A Gables 0: The Panthers (2-4, 1-0 District 16-4M) needed a bounce-back victory and picked it up with ease on Friday afternoon at Tropical Park. Sophomore Cameron Sapp returned the opening kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown and Robert Fulmore returned an interception 21 yards for another score to set the tone early. Sophomore Lucas Goenaga threw three touchdown passes including one to Robby Washington, who caught a screen pass and broke loose for a 70-yard score.