‘Trust in 7’: Heritage QB Murphy’s drive pays off in trip to state
Blake Murphy wasn’t on the field when Plantation American Heritage’s season ended last season in the regional semifinals against Miami Central.
In fact, American Heritage’s quarterback was barely on the field at all last season. A broken ankle ended his junior season after just three games. That came a year after he missed five games due to a broken collarbone.
But despite the injuries, Murphy’s confidence never wavered.
“He’s one of the strongest people I know,” senior running back Mark Fletcher said. “That boy had every reason to quit, every reason to stop, and he doesn’t. He motivates all of us.”
“Trust in 7.”
The Patriots have trusted in 7 all season.
And the trust has paid off.
While he’s not the headline prospect on a team filled with top prospects, Murphy has been the American Heritage’s guiding force on its way back to the state championship game.
The Patriots (13-1) will face Miami Central (13-0) for the Class 2M state title at 7 p.m. Friday in a game between two of the country’s top-10 teams at Fort Lauderdale’s DRV PNK Stadium. A win would give American Heritage its sixth state title, all since 2013.
“It means the world because I’ve been through a lot the past few seasons,”
said Murphy, a three-star prospect who is orally committed to the University of LouisianaMonroe. “To finally get to showcase my talent shows that me and my team are getting where we need to be.”
Murphy became the Patriots’ starting quarterback as a sophomore but played just two games before being sidelined with a broken collarbone. He missed American Heritage’s final five regularseason games before returning for the playoffs, but had a limited role. Overall, he completed 54 of 102 passes for 675 yards and eight touchdowns against five interceptions while also rushing for 323 yards and two touchdowns as American Heritage won the Class 5A state title.
Murphy had little chance to build on it his
junior year. Murphy played in only American Heritage’s first three games in 2021 — completing 33 of 49 passes for 458 yards and four touchdowns against just one interception — before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Brandon Inniss, the team’s star wide receiver, took over at quarterback for the rest of a season.
“A lot of people doubted him,” said first-year American Heritage head coach Mike Smith, who had previously served as the Patriots’ strength and conditioning coach. “I told him coming in, when I took the job, ‘Man, I’m gonna ride with you the whole way. I trust that you have the ability to get us where we need to go.’ I’m just so proud of that kid. He just did such a great job.”
That trust was paramount
for Murphy.
“Me and coach Mike have always been tight,” Murphy said. “We always had an end goal and that’s to win state. We always knew that we had to do that together. We put our minds together and made it work.”
So far, so good.
This season, entering the state title game against Central, Murphy has started all 14 of American Heritage’s games. He has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 2,317 yards and 25 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions.
The talent he has around him has helped. He has a top receiver in Inniss (66 catches, 1,244 yards, 14 touchdowns), a top running back in Mark Fletcher (1,824 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns) and an up-and-coming star in freshman receiver
Malachi Toney (32 catches, 581 yards, eight touchdowns).
But Murphy’s football IQ and sheer determination can’t be understated when it comes to American Heritage’s success.
“That’s a confident kid. He just needed to play,” Smith said. “He just needed the reps and needed to get back out there and put all that injury stuff behind him. He plays fearless for a kid who has had his season ended twice; he doesn’t play with any fear. He’s a warrior, man. He’s a warrior. I’m happy for that kid. So proud of that kid, but we’ve got one more to go.”
Added Fletcher: “There’s no American Heritage without Blake Murphy. It’s simple. I don’t know what we would do without him.
He’s just so, so, so smart. Half of the plays that we score on, he calls them, to be honest. He’s very intelligent and just a playmaker.”
And Inniss: “Just to see the guy still have self confidence and come out and do the things he does and lead this offense, lead this team. I can’t ask for a better quarterback.”
Murphy will lead American Heritage one more time on Friday, with the Patriots’ grand goal in front of them.
“I’m really excited because now I’m finally able to play it,” Murphy said. “I get to show everybody my talent and my team’s talent.”