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Marcus Benjamin @_BenjaminReport
Miami, FL – There is never a shortage of talent in South Florida when it comes to high school football. The entire country recruits Dade and Broward County and after many signed or committed on various platforms within the last month, many talented players in tonight’s game are not offered by any FBS schools.
Broward dominated Dade 35-0 in the battle of South Florida counties at Traz Powell Stadium Friday night ending a two-game winning streak for Dade County. Western (Davie) quarterback Jesse Rivera and Fort Lauderdale High defensive back DJ Crawford took home the offensive and defensive MVPs. The three-star quarterback Rivera is looking to gain some major offers going into signing day February 6th.
“I’m just waiting for some big options to come through,” said Rivera. “I would like to get a good education and play some good football because I feel I can play anywhere that I go.”
.@UKFootball signee @N11KOLAS catches the easy touchdown from @WHSFball QB @jesserivera_1. Broward extends lead 14-0. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/TwEkcvxmWE
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) January 12, 2019
Rivera led his team to a 2018 first-round playoff victory over two seeded Atlantic (Delray) and scored and threw for two touchdowns in tonight’s all-star game. He connected with Kentucky signee Nikolas Ogenovic (Cardinal Gibbons) over the middle for his first TD pass and scored again hitting Jonathan Solomon (Stranahan) on an inside slant. The 6 foot 3 inch 190-pound pro-style quarterback has a nice touch on the deep ball and zipped the ball to his receivers for first downs. He would also extend drives with his legs and consistently made good decisions with the football.
Also playing well in the game was co-MVP Flying L DJ Crawford. Crawford scored on a pick-six in the game outrunning Dade tacklers to extend the lead 21-0. He would wrestle the ball away from a Dade receiver in the air to get a second interception. Head Coach Richard Dunbar coached Crawford at Fort Lauderdale and led them to their first playoff win in decades this season. Dunbar coached Broward to a surprising shutout of Dade County and loved how motivated his team was going into the game.
“This is what we preached all week in practice,” said Dunbar. “Don’t even look at the scoreboard just dominate the man in front of you and let’s see what happens at the end of the 48 minutes. It was a challenge getting everybody to buy-in coming from all the different places but we came out victorious.”
Dunbar coaches Football Hotbed’s 15u 7vs7 team this season.
Running backs Lavelton Williams and Tyler Jones from American Heritage (Plantation) was a problem to bring down all game. Williams is a downhill runner who broke free for a 10-yard touchdown and had a long run to set up the score. Williams at 5’11” and 220 pounds feels confident that he can find a good school that is right for him.
.@LW1_ERA of @AH__Athletics waltzes into the endzone for a 10-yard touchdown run. Broward leads 7-0. Had a nice run on the drive to setup the score. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/3wHEFhrLWN
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) January 12, 2019
“I feel I am definitely overlooked,” said Williams. “I feel confident I’ll find a school because you can’t find a running back like me.”
Williams plans to visit with Central Michigan where former Florida Gators coach Jim McElwain is now the head coach.
Broward still trails in the all-time series (7-2).
.@Nwhite_1 from @STA_Football scores here in the fourth quarter to extend the lead 28-0. Broward simulating a relay race with the celebration on the track here in Dade County. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/yqMC7RPi3H
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) January 12, 2019
Other Players In the Game That Should Be Playing In FBS:
Antwon Brinson, WR, Miami Jackson
Brieon Fuller, WR, Miami Jackson
Cecil Powell, DB Piper (Sunrise)
Daton Montiel, K/P, Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale)
Demetrius Dorceus, DL, Fort Lauderdale
Desmond Dorceus, DL, Fort Lauderdale
Ernest Balkman, WR, Miami Northwestern
Isaiah Velez, QB, Miami Northwestern
Jamal Cooney, WR, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
James Darr, OL, West Broward
Jayson Contreras, LB, South Miami
Keyon Phillips, OL, Northeast (Oakland Park)
Nigel White, RB, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) –
Robert Boyd, OL, Deerfield Beach
Trevis Robinson, LB, Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale)
Tyler Larco, K, Miami Palmetto
TJ Smith, QB, McArthur
The Miami-Dade versus Broward All-Star Game was presented by the Miami Dolphins Junior Dolphins Program. The Junior Dolphins program encourages youth players and coaches to learn, teach and play football in a fun and safe environment. The Junior Dolphins program is designed to give kids access to learn the fundamentals of football using the NFL’s top resources. To grow the game, the Junior Dolphins program will work to educate coaches, parents and youth on the health and safety of football with a strong emphasis on character development. Junior Dolphins is building the next generation of Dolphins Fans.
