Marcus Benjamin
Miami, FL – Miami Carol City (9-3) for the first time all season looked vulnerable. With 4:52 left in the game, the Chiefs found themselves down 24-21 to district rival Miami Central (11-2) facing elimination in the regional 6A semifinals. It was a historic night at Traz Powell Stadium for senior Carol City quarterback Daniel Richardson who set the all-time career passing record for yards surpassing former Rocket quarterback Rakeem Cato.
Richardson had a chance to lead his team on a game-winning drive that would cement his name in Dade County lure. On the drive, he converted first downs passing the ball and also ran for yardage exposing his body like John Elway did in winning his first Super Bowl.
Then it happened.
Senior defensive captain Tatum Bethune dropped back into coverage and stepped in front of Richardson’s pass for an interception.
“It was basically cover three and I was reading his eyes and I saw the ball coming straight to me,” said the UCF commit. “To make a play for my team to seal the game, it was amazing.”
Central was not quite out of the woods yet, as the Rockets needed to convert first downs to run out the clock with about two minutes to go. Central’s offensive captain Lexington “Flex” Joseph, put game away as he exploded for a 79-yard run for a touchdown to officially end Carol City’s season.
“I gotta put the team on my back, I’m the senior back,” said the FIU commit. “I learned from great backs like Anthony Jones, Devonta Freeman, Dalvin Cook, all week I’ve been studying their technique, they’ve been talking to me. I saw daylight on that play and it was just me and the endzone.”
Joseph had 28 carries for 270 yards and two touchdowns.
There was clear commitment to the running game compared to the first meeting where the Rockets had a pass heavy approach three weeks ago. Central’s massive offensive line imposed their will on a Chief defensive line that had been stout all season. Carol City attempted to counter with a workhorse of their own, with Nay’Quan Wright, but the senior was not able to break big gains.
“They made a comment on social media that they dominate the line of scrimmage,” said Head Coach Roland Smith. “We felt like we could dominate the line of scrimmage and win in the trenches.”
This game was much like a heavyweight title fight as punches and counter punches continued to be thrown. Every score was matched by each team until the last two knockout blows by the two senior Rocket captains.
Wright did score the first touchdown on a one-yard run, but Joseph matched with a five-yard touchdown run to knot the game at seven. Central got into the red zone late second quarter, but Maurice Underwood’s pass was intercepted in the endzone by junior Marcel Williams as the half expired.
The Marshall commit Underwood bounced back in the second half executing on his first drive and finding Anthony Frederick for a 17-yard touchdown.
.@Roc__Nation comes out of the lockeroom firing as @MauriceJr_D1 finds Anthony Frederick on the corner route. Score 14-7 early 3rd quarter. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/bM71sjoyFM
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 17, 2018
Underwood would finish with 13 of 17 passing for 151 yards and a touchdown.
Richardson would counter with a 35-yard run to again tie the game at fourteen.
Just before the end of the third quarter Underwood would score again, this time on the ground from one yard out to take a 21-14 lead. Wright would score his second touchdown from one yard out to tie game once again at 21. Joseph took it to another level bolting for 61 yards that would set up a John Jayden field goal.
Central will play other district rival Miami Northwestern (7-5) on that same Traz Powell field next week in the regional final.
“Our season’s not done. We’re moving on and we are happy about that,” said Coach Smith. “We did a good job tonight but it starts in practice and have to continue to have an awesome week in practice. In the first game we made too many mistakes to beat a team like Carol City, they have a potent offense they do a tremendous job over there, but all season long we’ve played in big time games.”
Central has now beaten Carol City, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), and Miami Northwestern this season who have a combined record of 37-11 with of the eleven losses, two losses were forfeited and three were to Central, so really 37-6. Central has also beaten playoff teams Miami Booker T. Washington, Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) and Miami Norland. Battle tested, they are.
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