Northwestern’s Defense Stifles Central, Bulls Clear Rockets 21-14

Posted on October 24, 2020 by Marcus Benjamin

Miami, FL — Every year the best team in Miami-Dade County can make a case for the best team in the state and perhaps the country. Perennial powers Miami Northwestern and Miami Central opened their season at Traz Powell Stadium after weeks of speculation surrounding if a season would be played in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Both teams opted-in for the state championship tournament giving both the opportunity to repeat as state champions. Traz Powell was near capacity Friday night as each team member was given four tickets to give to family and friends. 

“We knew it was going to be tough playing Miami Central,” said Head Coach Max Edwards.  “I’m happy for Bull Nation, we got an opportunity to play football, so back to normal for a minute.” 

Northwestern is one step ahead of Central in winning another state championship in 2020 after a 21-14 victory over their cross-town rivals.  ‘The West’ claims ‘The Commissioner’s Cup,’ which is awarded to the winning team in the rivalry for the second year in a row. 


“It’s a rival, these kids played optimist with each other,” said Edwards. “They’re happy with the win and that makes me feel good but we still have a lot of room to improve.” 

The Miami Central Rockets, the defending 6A state champions matched up with the Miami Northwestern Bulls, the defending 5A state champions in an epic season-opening battle that of course came down to the final moments.  Four-star running back Amari Daniels, who was expected to commit between Texas A&M and Georgia this week, gave his team a chance to win when he broke a 75-yard run with under three minutes to go in the game.  Daniels made it to the 11-yard line and was pushed out of bounds by Miami Hurricanes commit Kamren Kinchens. 


Kinchens also had an impressive interception during the game.


Daniels would not touch the football for the rest of the game.

The Northwestern defense stood tall sacking sophomore Miami Central quarterback Keyone “Lights Out” Jenkins on consecutive plays and stopped the Rockets quarterback on fourth down as he tried to scramble for a first down.  On the ensuing play, a fumbled center-quarterback exchange by Northwestern would give Central one last shot to tie or win the game with just over one minute to play.  The Bulls defensive front once again stopped the Rocket’s offense from gaining enough yardage to make a first down as a Jenkin’s pass to senior Yulkeith Brown was short of the first down marker. The Bulls defense had ten sacks in the game. 

The two schools are nationally recognized as two of the best in high school football. The USA Today poll had the Rockets ranked #9 coming into this game while the Bulls were ranked #25.  MaxPreps ranked the Bulls at #9 and the Rockets at #10 in the nation.  The Bulls have won three straight state championships and lead Dade County with seven state titles.  Central officially has six state titles. 

Fireworks started early in this game as the first four touchdowns were scored in the first quarter.  Northwestern received the football to start the game and before the team in gold earned a first down, the Bulls were already running toward the end zone.  Sophomore quarterback Taron “Tyga” Dickens scrambled to buy time and found a streaking Romello Brinson for a 78-yard touchdown on the second play of the game.  The senior and Miami Hurricanes commit Brinson, had three catches for 97 yards with one touchdown.  Brinson also played safety during the contest due to injuries in the defensive backfield. Dickens went 12 for 19 for 146 yards with one score and zero interceptions.  

Central’s first possessions did not go as planned as Jenkins fumbled the football and Patrick Payton scooped up the football charged to the goal for a touchdown.  

“It’s not often that you call a play and it happens,” said Edwards of the scoop and score by Payton.  “We knew were going to overload one side and blitz them. The quarterback was kind of careless with the ball and it came out.”  

Central however would match Northwestern on the scoreboard.  

Jenkins, the transfer from Miami Carol City, would help march his team down the field and threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Northwestern senior transfer Zaylan Reese. 


Later in the quarter, Jenkins would throw his second touchdown of the night to Norland transfer Robert “Flash” McMinn.  Jenkins went 18 of 26 for 185 yards with two scores and one interception.  The senior McMinn had four catches for 78 yards and the touchdown.  The score remained tied at 14 at halftime.


“We told them we had to make a few adjustments and they had to play better,” was Edward’s message to the team at halftime.  “They had to give it all they got and they came out and gave it all they got.”

The second half was controlled by the defenses with both offenses struggling to score.  Senior running back Siddiq Jackson did break loose for a big run in the third quarter that ultimately would prove to be the game-winning score.  Jackson took the corner and used his speed to get down the sideline for a 37-yard run. Jackson had six carries for 48 yards and the score.


“Last year Siddiq was fourth string and he ended up being the MVP in the state championship game,” said Edwards.  “That was an impressive run by him…I’m happy for Siddiq.”

Miami Hosts the number one team in the nation IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fl.) next week at Traz.  Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas was upset Friday night by Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 17-10 so the matchup could potentially be a matchup of the #1 Vs. #2 teams in Florida next week, that likely would broadcast live by ESPN.  Central hosts Miami Edison next week. 

About Marcus Benjamin

Marcus Benjamin works as the senior writer and editor for FootballHotbed.com. He attended Florida A&M and Florida Memorial University completing a bachelors degree in communications in 2010. He's covered high school football in the South Florida area since 2010 for the Miami Herald, Miami Sports Tribune and ShawSports.net. He is married and lives in Fort, Lauderdale, FL.
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