Firebirds hit the ground running in 4M semifinal

DAVIE — Doral Academy ran for 361 yards and used a key double-pass trick play to score a touchdown as the Firebirds knocked off Western 32-21, ending the Wildcats season in the

4M Regional Semifinals.

Western cut the lead to a one-score game, heading into the fourth quarter, but Doral went on a 15-play drive capped by Jorge Rodriguez’s 1-yard touchdown run with five minutes remaining.

The Wildcats marched down the field with a chance to cut into the lead again, but Isaac Forbes intercepted backup quarterback Monroe Ingraham’s pass in the end zone to seal the game.

“We made too many mistakes against a good football team,” said Western coach Adam Ratkevich. “Doral played well tonight, they hit on all their gadget plays, hit some big plays on special teams and they deserved to win.”

Doral Academy (8-4) constantly ran its offense out of the Wing T, rushing 61 times and throwing just four passes. But one of the biggest passes of the night came on a trick play.

Clinging to a 20-14 lead and facing a

3rd-and-12 on the Western 30, wide receiver Marcus Antelo took the backward pass and threw a 30-yard touchdown to Jason Demetrius to break the game open.

“Any trick play you hope you can change momentum and execute on it,” said Doral head coach Eddie Delgado. “We’ve done that in the past and it’s always been successful for us, but it has to be the right moment. Tonight was as good of a moment as it could have been.”

Western (7-4), who was playing without quarterback Collin Hurst, who was injured in last week’s game, leaned on running back Matt Wilson, who ran for 160 yards on 17 carries, including a 24-yard touchdown.

“Matt played with a lot heart tonight. We knew there was going to be a lot more on him with Collin injured and he did everything he could do to help us win.”

Mark Wilder Jr. ended up with 207 yards on 37 carries and two scores, while Demetrius added 106 yards rushing on 15 carries, while also returning the opening kickoff for a 97 yard touchdown.

“Our offensive line and backs did a great job. Those kids run hard, I wouldn’t trade them for anybody,” added Delgado. “Mark has been our rock. We’ve battled through a lot of injuries and he’s been the guy that has carried us and has been there every game and as tough as they come.”

Western’s first touchdown came on its first series as Santana Fleming took a reverse and ran it 14 yards for the score. Western scored again right before halftime as Ingraham found Nelson Walker in the back of the end zone for a touchdown with 18 seconds left to cut Doral’s lead to 20-14.

Doral advances to face No. 1 seed Miami Columbus on Friday at 7 p.m.