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Hialeah, FL — Dade and Broward County are coming off a record-breaking year when it comes to high school football. The two Florida Counties combined for seven state championships out of a possible eight last month with Broward taking home two titles in 7A (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale) and 3A (Chaminade-Madonna, Hollywood) while Dade took home titles in 8A (Columbus, Miami), 6A (Miami Central), 5A (Miami Northwestern), 4A (Miami Booker T. Washington) and 2A (Champagnat Catholic, Hialeah).
On Friday night the two counties met for their annual all-star game which is a collection of graduating seniors of the 2020 class. Dade would come out on top 21-12 behind three touchdown passes from the University of South Florida commit Katravis Marsh. Marsh played in his second all-star game this month and will miss competing on the high school level.
“I just came out here to have fun,” said Marsh. “To get another game in high school, I just missed it.”
Many of the players in this game are highly underrated players that deserve a chance at playing college football. There were only two players committed to colleges in the game. Running back Pat Bowen (Dillard, Fort Lauderdale) was the other with Marsh with at least a verbal commitment. Bowen signed with Tennessee-Martin last month.
Marsh seemed to be out to prove that he can be a proficient passer on the next level. The Miami Central quarterback opened the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown to Charles Roberts III (Miami Norland). Roberts was clearly Marsh’s favorite target in this game as he connected with him on several occasions throughout the contest on short passes. Roberts is reliable player not afraid to make tough catches Marsh was also able to elude pass rushers and run of the pocket to move the chains for his team.
Dade County leads Broward County 7-0 in the 1st quarter as @USFFootball commit @trill_kav finds @MiamiNorlandSHS’s Charles Roberts III on the inside slant. #dadevsbroward @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/UqRv3kIETh
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) January 25, 2020
“I’ve been trying to work on my feet,” said Marsh after receiving the offensive MVP trophy. “I’m not a dual-threat quarterback, I’m a pocket passer.”
On the opposing side, it was Zamir Jones (Dillard, Fort Lauderdale) at the controls at quarterback. Jones found Fort Lauderdale High athlete Kevin Larkins Jr. for a 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter. A mishandled extra point would make it a 7-6 game but Jones was limited for most of the game after suffering what appeared to be a leg injury.
Broward gets their first score of the game here as @high_dillard QB Zamir Jones finds @FlyinglsFB athlete @KevinLarkinsJr1 for the touchdown. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/UDsDZEG9w5
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) January 25, 2020
Broward would take the lead capitalizing on a turnover in the first quarter. Isaiah Brown of Coral Glades High School stepped in front of a Marsh pass at about the 25-yard line and strolled into the end zone for a Broward touchdown. Brown would take home defensive MVP honors.
Marsh would shake off the turnover quickly and bounce back with another touchdown throw. In the second quarter, the Dade QB fought his way out of the grasp of a defender, rolled to his right and found D’andre Stafford (Miami Carol City) for a 32-yard touchdown.
Dade takes back the lead on Broward as @USFFootball commit @trill_kav avoids the tackle and finds D’andre Stafford in the corner of the end zone. Dade leads Broward 14-12. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/NY2h1yKh5P
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) January 25, 2020
“I was like wow, he’s going to actually play in this game,” said winning head coach Gary Sanchez (Hialeah High). “He’s a competitor. USF’s got a stud. He’s a great kid and a great leader.”
Perhaps Marsh’s best ball happened just before the end of the first half. The future South Florida Bull lofted the ball to the corner of the end zone and Miami Northwestern Bull Kemani “Showtime” Brown ran under it for an over the shoulder touchdown. Brown, who has mostly played quarterback for his high school career was one of the primary offensive threats for the Dade team and may have a bright future at the receiver position. Showtime had another deep over the should catch in the game where he displayed his speed and body control for a big gain.
Other Notable Players:
Dade
Wati Huggins, DE, Miami Northwestern – The 5A state champion harrassed Broward quarterbacks all night. The senior had a sack, a tackle for loss and four hurries.
Dimitris Biambi, LB, Coral Gables – The 2020 defender was always around the football. He had several tackles and a fumble recovery in the win.
Jermain Witherspoon, DB, Miami Killian – Played two ways for the contest. Made catches on offense and was a presence in the defensive backfield.
Terrell Battle, DE, South Dade – The big D-Lineman made his presence felt disrupting the line of scrimmage. Battle would recover a fumble in the first half.
Najeh Fisher, DB, Hialeah – Fisher outwrestled a receiver for the football in the end zone for an interception and also had a forced fumble.
Was this a touchdown or an interception? You be the judge. Interception credited to Najeh Fisher from @HialeahTBreds. #dadevsbroward game @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/SPOfLanN6n
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) January 25, 2020
Broward
Derrick Hall, DL, Miramar – Hall was consistently around the football and was in on several tackles.
Reggie Wallace, WR, Taravella – The senior made some big plays catching the football including a 33-yard catch and run.
All Photo Credits: SLF Photography. Reggie Wallace WR, Taravella
C’quan Jnopierre, WR, Fort Lauderdale – Consistently open with reliable hands. The 2020 pass catcher will help his team move the chains on the next level as he can make people miss in open space.
Omilio Savage, DL, Plantation – Savage was just that in this game as he was constantly in the backfield pressuring the quarterback and registered a sack and tackles for losses.
Martavious Davis, LB, Deerfield Beach – The defender seemed to strike fear in the hearts of many coming across his path. Davis also got the edge to block a field goal.
Martavius Davis of @DB_BucksFB with the menacing hit in the #DadevsBroward game. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/eNuOUJyDCj
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) January 25, 2020
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