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Tallahassee, FL — Most public schools in Miami-Dade County decided to opt-out of the Florida Athletic Association State Championship Series because the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the county the hardest among all counties in the state of Florida.
Unfortunately for all the other 6A contenders, Miami Central decided to opt-in.
A loaded Rockets team blasted Lake Minneola Friday afternoon to claim back-to-back 6A state championships. Miami Central now shares the lead with Miami Northwestern for most state titles in Dade County with seven.
“They came out ready to play,” said Head Coach Roland Smith. “Year in and year out when you come to the state finals, when you see all of the games, they know that Miami Central is the best football team in the state of Florida.”
Central has received 42 D-1 scholarship offers amongst the team including signees to ‘power five’ programs. Central outscored their last three 6A playoff opponents 133-20.
HALFTIME: Miami Central @Roc__Nation lead Lake Minneola 32-0 in 6A championship game. @AggieFootball signee @_NoLimitMari already has 158 yards rushing and Rockets have 250 as a team on the ground. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/IHku9Eu6Qo
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 18, 2020
The patented Central running game was alive and well in this matchup. The Rockets did not beat their record for total rushing yards in a championship game, (498) but came close with 312 rushing yards. Senior running back Amari Daniels, a Texas A&M commit, looked as if he was running against middle schoolers as he ran for big chunk yards on almost every carry. Daniels averaged 10.8 yards a carry rushing for 172 on 16 carries. At 9:43, left in the game Daniels scored his second touchdown on a one-yard run that would enforce a running clock.
The Rockets put points on the board early and often at Doak Campbell Stadium with sophomore quarterback Keyone “Lyghts Out” Jenkins throwing for a 208 passer rating in the first half. Jenkins would light it up throwing three touchdown passes to three different receivers in the first two quarters. Jenkins completed 8 of his 14 passes for 160 yards and the three touchdown passes. Jenkins completed a 16-yard touchdown to junior Zaylan Reese, a 24-yard touchdown to Robert McMinn, and a touchdown pass to two-way player Yulkeith Brown.
Miami Central gets on the board first as @LyghtzO finds @Zaylan9Reese for the easy 16-yard touchdown (Extra point blocked). @Roc__Nation lead Lake Minneola 6-0 first quarter. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/wcE16jjnKs
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 18, 2020
Texas A&M signee Brown played both offense and defense in this game and had a kick return for a touchdown called back because of a penalty and also had an interception called back for pass interference. Brown did manage to get into the end zone scoring a touchdown in the second quarter to make it a 24-0 game.
Score is now 24-0 as @Jumpboyyul1 catches this easy one for the easy score. @Roc__Nation is dominating Lake Minneola with 8:31 left in the half. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/vSAtWA5z1c
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 18, 2020
The stout Central defense is led by blue-chip senior linebacker Terrence Lewis, a former Tennessee Commit, senior safety Eddrin Lollar, sophomore Rueben Bain, and leading tackler on the team for the game senior linebacker Rhoody Jean Louis. Jean Louis had four solo tackles, a sack, and two tackles for loss. Lollar would also record an interception in the second half.
“This is the best linebacker corp ever,” said Lewis. “It was easier playing with them. I know if I don’t make the play I got somebody behind my that’s going to make the play.”
Central wins back-to-back state titles for the first time since the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
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