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Plantation, FL – The 5A state champion American Heritage (Plantation) Patriots have been on a tremendous run for the last five years. They are the only team in South Florida to claim four state championships during that time span. Heritage lost a great amount of talent to graduation last season, but the Patriots do not rebuild, they reload. On Friday night, they hosted University School (Davie) in a preseason kickoff classic. ‘Uschool’ is a contender for the state championship in class 4A and gave the home team all they could handle. The Sharks fell to Heritage on Friday by three touchdowns and a field goal, but Head Coach Patrick Surtain ended the game feeling that his team must play better.
“I thought they made too many mistakes,” Coach Surtain said of his players. “Some untimely penalties some unnecessary penalties and after the whistle stuff that we got to correct. I told the kids after the game you can correct the Xs and the Os, the blitz pickups, but when you are undisciplined that’s hard to correct. Hopefully we come in with a new demeanor next week because the team coming in here, they got some dudes so we got to be ready.”
John Sanguinetti of Uschool and Daryl Porter were ejected for fighting well after the whistle in the third quarter. Coach Surtain is looking to eliminate these types of altercations and penalties in the future.
“Football is a comedy of errors and there are probably mistakes on every play but those are things we can fix. I was mostly disappointed with the penalties we had.”
Only ten miles separate the two Broward County schools that met on Friday night on Heritage Field. It was a back in fourth game between the two private schools until the fourth quarter when Heritage pulled away. Jaden McBurrows scooped up a loose ball on the Sharks first drive and scampered into the end zone to put American Heritage up early 7-0. Uschool would bounce back with a score of the their own from four star running back Kenny McIntosh.
.@1_blueprint with easy catch and run into the end zone here as @uschoolfootball knot it up with @AH__Athletics 7-7 1st Qtr. @FootballHotbed #swagger pic.twitter.com/5sdFg8DWto
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) August 17, 2018
After a muffed kick, University converted a field goal to take the lead 10-7. New Heritage quarterback Edwin Rhodes would make his debut on the ensuing possession. It took the young 2020 quarterback a while to get into a rhythm with the offense. Rhodes did get assistance from running backs Tyler Jones and Lavelton Williams, as both had impressive runs to loosen up the opposing defense. Zay Flowers of Uschool was do all player for the Sharks as he played offense defense and special teams and scored two touchdowns. He caught a post over middle and blazed down the field for an 87-yard touchdown to tie the game at 17 in the 2nd quarter. He also lined up on the defensive line, played defensive back and punted for his team.
.@ZayFlowers comes with deflection to prevent Heritage score here. The 3 played offense, defense and special teams tonight along with @1_blueprint. @FootballHotbed #twowayplayers pic.twitter.com/cBwWjBBCV3
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) August 18, 2018
Heritage took a 20-17 into the half and Rhodes started to get it going in the second half. He threw three touchdown passes with his best to Vinson Davis extending the Patriot lead 41-24 in the fourth quarter.
Game could now be out of reach for @uschoolfootball as @edwinrhodes9 finds Vinson Davis for the touchdown, 41-24 with 8:46 left. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/oABbetoblj
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) August 18, 2018
“Thats what happens when you play us. We demoralize you with the run, now you got to cheat guys up and this gives our outside guys one on one opportunities. In the first half he was showing them the post and showing them the goal line play. In the second half, he got it rolling and got confidence and he’s been doing what he’s been doing all camp, taking what the defense gives him and get the ball to his play-makers.”
The Football Hotbed MVP was Oxbridge transfer Dorian Jones. The Indiana commit started the game at linebacker and found himself playing the defensive tackle position per request of the coaches. This seemed to settle the defense and elevate the overall play of the team.
Heritage will play host to Miami-Dade power Carol City next week for their official first game of the season.
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