Plantation, FL — Two of the best teams that elected to compete for a Florida high school state championship met Friday night in a quarterfinal playoff game. Many consider American Heritage (Plantation) and Miami Northwestern the best teams in the 5A class, and the winner of the game would be considered the favorite to bring home another state title to South Florida. Both teams are loaded with talent and unfortunately one of the team’s seasons had to come to an end.
Miami Northwestern’s season has ended.
The Bull’s run of three straight state championships ended with a 12-3 loss to the Patriots Friday night. Heritage caused four turnovers and protected the football throughout the game to earn a quarterfinal victory.
“We balled,” said Head Coach Pat Surtain. “I feel like we have the best defense in the country. They’ve been doing it all year for us. We lean on them to make plays, we lean on them to win games. To hold a team like that to three points is phenomenal. We know if we held on to the ball and got some turnovers that we could win.”
The two schools combine for 15 (Five-star to three-star players) D-1 caliber players in the 2021 and 2022 classes:
American Heritage
Five-star, James Williams, Safety, Committed to Miami
Four-star, Marvin Jones, Jr., Defensive End, Uncommitted
Four-star, Earl Little, Jr., Cornerback, Uncommitted
Four-star, Jacolby Spells, Cornerback, Uncommitted
Three-star, Oronde Gadsden, Jr., Wide Receiver, Committed to Syracuse
Three-star, Brian Blades, Jr., Cornerback, Uncommitted
Three-star, Boogsie Silvera, Safety, Uncommitted
Three-star, Richard Thomas, Defensive End, Uncommitted
Miami Northwestern
Four-star, Patrick Payton, Defensive End, Committed to Nebraska
Four-star, Romello Brinson, Wide Receiver, Committed to Miami
Four-star, Kamren Kinchens, Safety, Committed to Miami
Three-star, Kahlil Brantley, Tight End/Punter, Committed to Miami
Three-star, Tim Burns, Jr., Cornerback, Uncommitted
Three-star, Ja’Corey Hammett, Linebacker, Committed to West Virginia (DNP-Injury)
Three-star, Tellek Lockette, Guard, Uncommitted
It was an unlikely hero in junior linebacker Jaeden Kinlock that would make two critical plays to help his team advance to the next playoff round. Kinlock’s fumble recovery deep in Bulls territory led to a field goal, and an interception in the fourth quarter at the goal line kept Northwestern from scoring a touchdown.
Fourth Quarter: Jaedon Kinlock of @AH__Athletics gets his second takeaway of the game as he nabs this interception in scoring territory. Patriots lead Northwestern 9-3. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/W8SN2E27sT
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 21, 2020
“(Coach) told me to get the running back, I got the running back,” said Kinlock. “He threw it straight to me.”
Heritage, a winner of four state championships, has not won a state title since 2017 and suffered a 23-20 loss to Miami Northwestern (The West) in the playoffs last season. The two teams have developed a new rivalry as both teams began playing in the same class of 5A last year.
“Unfortunately last year we turned the ball over too much, redemption feels so sweet and I’m so proud of my boys,” said Coach Surtain after the win. “We hang banners around here. We haven’t been able to do that the last two years and our kids were ready for it. We knew we would have to play the three-time defending state champs again. We knew the exact date when we were going to play them. We wanted that challenge man. We didn’t want any other team. We wanted the West.”
The Northwestern offense struggled to score all game but held a 3-0 lead into halftime. The Bulls were in the red zone just before the half, and were looking to add to their lead, but junior cornerback Jacolby Spells caught an errant pass in the end zone and nearly returned it for a score.
HALFTIME: The junior cornerback @drippy4k_ makes this interception for @AH__Athletics in the end zone right before the half to stop Northwestern. Score remains 3-0 Bulls leading. @FlaHSFootball @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/O6x3nNvxRO
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 21, 2020
In the second half, Heritage would score the only touchdown of the game on a quarterback sneak by Blake Murphy. The sophomore punched it in with 8:24 left in the third quarter but the extra point was blocked to keep it a three-point game. The Pats would add another field goal after a Heritage sack of the quarterback dislodged the football and Kinlock recovered. Heritage would add another Chris Maron field goal with about three minutes left, the drive executed by a variety of runs from senior wide receiver and part-time quarterback Vinson Davis, would prove to be vital.
“He’s a dog,” said Surtain. “He’s a football player. People have been sleeping on that kid. He’s a hell of a football player and I’m glad he’s on our team.”
Northwestern hoped to win its fourth straight state title in a row and ninth overall. The Bulls lead Miami-Dade County in state titles and will hope to bring another trophy to the town of Liberty City next year. Sophomore quarterback Taron “Tyga” Dickson‘s interceptions would ultimately lead to the Bulls’ demise. Dickson’s fourth turnover, an interception to junior Earl Little Jr. with 1:50 left in the game.
“We gotta win a state championship now,” it’s not over, said Kinlock. “We came out with the win and that’s all that matters.”
Both teams also came into the matchup with losses on their 2020 record. Heritage fell to 3A state title contender Jacksonville Trinity Christian 3-0 and 7A title contender Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 33-23. Northwestern’s only blemish on the season before this game, a 49-14 loss to Bradenton IMG Academy. IMG is considered the best team in the nation.
Northwestern continues their championship run at Rockledge out of Brevard County next week.
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