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Westchester, FL — Once upon a time in 2013, South Dade (Homestead) was crowned the 8A state champions of the Florida football world. It was also the last time South Dade ended up on the winning end of a game against their rival Columbus (Miami).
Until Friday night.
The South Dade Buccaneers defeated the 2018 state runner-ups Columbus 21-14 at Tropical Park and after the game, the team celebrated like it was 2013.
“It’s been a long time coming for us,” said Head Coach Nate Hudson. “The last two games, we had a lot of energy going. We started out the game sputtering we just had to figure it out.”
The Bucs found themselves down early as the Explorers went up by two scores early in the first half. Two Henry Parrish, Jr. touchdown runs of one and fifteen yards, were set up by a blocked field goal and a blocked punt. Down 14-0, South Dade needed a score on 4th and goal from the one-yard line to keep up with their opponent. The call was a pass play where senior quarterback Kelvin Durham bought time to find junior wide receiver Jermaine Hawkins for the Bucs first score. It was the first of three touchdown passes from the transfer quarterback from Miami Killian.
“He grew up tonight,” said Coach Hudson. “Tonight he took advantage of some of the key reads [and] keeping his composure using his legs.”
South Dade took the first possession of the second half and executed. The drive that started deep in their own territory ended with a throw from Durham to his go-to receiver for the night senior Trevon Sanders for a 17-yard Buccaneer touchdown.
South Dade @SDSHS has tied this game up with Columbus on the first drive of the second half with this touchdown score by Trevon Sanders. Knotted at 14 early 3rd. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/fJr89zRVyu
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) September 7, 2019
In the fourth quarter with 7:25 left in the game Durham and Sanders would link up once again. This time for a 47-yard score to put South Dade up by a touchdown.
South Dade @SDSHS takes the lead over Columbus with this deep pass by Kelvin Durham to Trevon Sanders. Score 21-14 with 7:25 remaining. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/XlAsNgnjK0
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) September 7, 2019
“We knew a lot of the time it was open, it was just a matter of the timing,” said Hudson. “Once we sat down and we saw that the middle of the field was going to be open it was just a matter of the effort that he was going to put in and the throw had to be timely.”
Although the Bucs defense gave up their first points of the season to Columbus in Friday nights game, this was perhaps South Dade’s best defensive performance. The fast South Dade defenders shutout the Explorers in the second half holding senior running back and Pittsburgh commit Parrish Jr. under 200 yards for the first time this season rushing for a total of 98 yards.
The Explorers of @ColumbusFtball get on the scoreboard first as @DoubleTay_21 gets in from 15 yards. Score 7-0 over South Dade in 1st quarter. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/i9rUMrGuTv
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) September 6, 2019
Parrish broke free for a 59-yard run in the fourth, but Bucs stopped any threat of scoring and ended the drive with a blocked field goal. Columbus had two opportunities to score after trailing late in the fourth quarter only to be forced to punt on the first drive and failing to convert on fourth down on the next.
South Dade now finds themselves in the thick of a competitive 8A state championship race. At some point or another, all of the 8A contenders have looked vulnerable in this 2019 season so there will still be much to be determined in the next month or so. One thing’s for sure is that South Dade is definitely in the discussion.
“Everybody doubted us. We came out here and shocked everybody,” said Durham. “We on top now.”
South Dade travels to the “Mosquito Bowl” (Ronald L. Book Athletic Stadium) in North Miami to take on Miami Norland next week as Columbus hosts Miami Booker T. Washington on their school campus at 5:00 PM next week Friday.
