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Marcus Benjamin @_benjaminmoney
Hollywood, FL – American Heritage (Plantation) has it rolling again. The Patriots were able to amass over 200 yards rushing on defending 3A state champion Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) Friday night. Running back Lavelton Williams was a workhorse rushing for over a hundred yards and scoring two touchdowns.
“Those guys ran hard and broke tackles,” said Head Coach Pat Surtain. “They got the tough three, four, five yards and broke some nice runs. We have terrific running backs. Our young quarterback is phenomenal stepping up week by week. We run a complete offense.”
The duo of Williams and Tyler Jones seemed to wear down the Lion defense as the game continued. Williams started the scoring for the Pats with an explosive 24-yard touchdown run to put his team up 7-0 early in the second quarter.
Lavelton Williams @LW1_ERA goes beast mode into the end zone on a 24- yard TD run. @AH__Athletics take a 7-0 lead on Chaminade. 8:52 left in half. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/TMIK6HDiAu
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) September 21, 2018
Chaminade would match a drive of their own with Thaddius Franklin scoring from five yards out. Williams would add his second touchdown of the night reaching for the pylon on an 9-yard run just before the halftime whistle.
Senior Running Back Lavelton Williams
In the second half, Heritage was looking to extend their lead as Jones broke several tackles on runs on the drive.
Rhodes threw a pass to his left into double coverage that Deidrick Stanley, Jr. he would take 90 yards for the pick six.
Pick 6! Deidrick Stanley @greatnezzD of @Nadeboyz takes this 90 yards for the score. Score tied at 14 with 7:20 left in 3rd. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/lTiERRcNjb
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) September 22, 2018
Rhodes however bounced back on the next drive and never seemed rattled.
“That’s how he’s built,” said Surtain. “He doesn’t get flustered and that’s what you want from your quarterback. You make a mistake, on to the next one. He doesn’t complain, he does his job and does it at a high level.”
On the ensuing drive, Rhodes was able to punch it in on a QB keeper to grab the lead again for his team 21-14.
.@AH__Athletics regains the lead on this QB keeper by @edwinrhodes9. Score now 21-14 at 2:54 mark in 3rd quarter. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/KpswQbmXeS
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) September 22, 2018
On their next drive, Rhodes found receiver Douglas Emilien in the middle of the field for a 60-yard touchdown that would extend the Patriot lead by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. This score would ultimately prove to be the game winner. A strong run late by Williams set up a field goal that would put the game out of reach.
“We run the ball a lot, said Williams. “They had two linebackers and I trust my lineman and do what I gotta do.”
The 5A state champion Patriots go into a bye week next week before hosting Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale). The following week they will host district rival Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale).
