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Daytona Beach, FL — The Rockets of Miami Central returned to the 6A state championship game for the first time since 2015 and seemed to pick up right they left off four years ago. Central clobbered Escambia (Pensacola) 62-27 to win their 6th state title. The Rockets produced a total of 641 yards of total offense at Daytona Stadium.
“Our goal year in and year out is to win a state championship,” Head Coach Roland Smith. “We try to win national championships.”
Traditionally Central has produced stables of running backs and 2019 is a great representation of that. Central has produced NFL running backs like Najeh Davenport, Willis McGahee, Dalvin Cook, and Devontae Freeman over the years and the tradition continues. This season, Amari Daniels, Kejon “KJ” Owens, and Juan Henry are the 2019 version of South Florida’s running back high. The trio and others combined for a championship game record 498 yards rushing.
From Left to Right: KJ Owens, Amari Daniels, Juan Henry
“When you come to Miami Central to play running back in our program you have to be an unselfish guy,” said Smith. “We have some top backs to come out of this program, this is what we do. They came out here tonight and broke the all-time rushing record, its awesome. Hats go off to my offensive coaching staff.”
The Rockets blasted out of the gate with their first play from scrimmage as junior Amari Daniels busted through the line and exploded down the sideline for a 76-yard yard touchdown. On the ensuing possession, junior Yulkeith Brown forced a fumble on Escambia’s first offensive play of the game which was recovered by Wesley Bissainthe. After three incomplete passing plays, the Rockets went for it on fourth down and 10 and Daniels took the handoff for 27 yards for his second touchdown of the game. Daniels would get the hat trick scoring on a 6-yard touchdown on a drive that started on their own ten yard-line to make it 21-0 in the first quarter . Daniels rushed for 190 yards on 16 carries (11.8 per carry) and four touchdowns.
Amari Daniels, RB, Miami Central
“[The offensive line] did a tremendous job of controlling the line of scrimmage,” said Coach Smith as he embraced his offensive line coach Michael “Chop” Ross. “This guy and KC and Coach Wilder did a great job with my offensive line.”
Escambia would get on the board in the first quarter as senior running back Frank Peasant scored on a four-yard touchdown run. The score was set up by a 69-yard catch and run by senior wide receiver DT Gideon.
All three running Rocket running backs rushed for over 100 yards and the team averaged 11.1 yards per carry. The senior Owens got into the endzone in the second quarter on a 4th and goal from the three-yard line and would score again with a one-yard rush after senior Henry busted loose for a 40-yard gainer. Henry had 12 carries for 116 yards.
Juan Henry, RB, Miami Central
The Rockets rushed for 301 yards in the first half alone.
Escambia would not go down easy as quarterback AV Smith hit Peasant for a big gainer and Gideon would finish off the drive with a six-yard rush with 3:59 left in the half. Gideon would get another score before the half as he would use his speed to get to the endzone for a 56-yard touchdown.
HILITES: Miami Central has won their 6th @FHSAA State Championship, this year in 6A. #hotbedworld pic.twitter.com/o8Q9j0Cty7
— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) December 13, 2019
“Escambia’s a great program. It’s hard to go 15-0. We didn’t go 15-0 but I told my kids nobody in America played a tougher schedule than us. Those teams we played in the postseason did not play a tougher schedule than us.”
The Rockets took advantage of one on one coverage just before the half as senior Katravis Marsh hit two-way player Brown for a 30-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left. The Rockets would take a 41-19 lead into halftime.
To start the second half, the Rockets questionably went for it on fourth down at their own 15 yard-line and failed to get one yard on a Daniels run. The Gators would counter with a 14-yard Peasant touchdown and Gideon would make it a 41-27 game. Gideon would register a season-high with 12 catches for 251 yards and a touchdown.
Daniels would go in for his fourth touchdown on the Rockets’ next drive as he would sprint through the middle of the Gator defense for a 29-yard touchdown.
Senior quarterback Marsh would get in on the rushing touchdown action as he would muscle his way in for a 15-yard touchdown later in the fourth quarter. Owens would officially break the record with a 38-yard touchdown run with 5 minutes left in the game. Owens had 10 carries for 165 yards (16.5 yards per carry) scoring three touchdowns.
Kejon “KJ” Owens, RB, Miami Central
“As the game goes we get stronger,” said 2020 back Owens. “It was a very special moment for me.”
The Rockets move into a tie with six titles with Miami Northwestern and Miami Booker T. Washington for Dade County high school football state championships.
