Game Day Central: Miami hosts Virginia Tech

Follow Miami- Defending state champion Cocoa made it three-straight with a 38-27 win Gadsen County (near Tallahassee) Thursday afternoon in FIU’s Pitbull Stadium.  The 2A FHSAA final match up featured Cocoa’s air attack against Gadsen County’s power run attack.  Texas A&M commit and Cocoa Tiger quarterback Brady Hart led the way through the air to the tune of 259 yards passing and 1 TD on 22 of 31 passing.  His leading wideout was Florida State commit, Jayvan Boggs. He caught 6 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.  The ground game was really the back breaker for Gadsen County, ironically, as the Cocoa Tigers racked up 100 yards on the ground as both Hart and Latrison Lane both rushed for 64 yards a piece.  Hart took sacks that took away 28 team rushing yards but was clutch picking up first downs on scrambles downfield to keep key drives alive.Cocoa began the scoring with a dart from Hart to Boggs, scoring off a Gadsen County turnover. But the Jaguars from Gadsen County would march right back down the field and tie the game on a Kemarrion Battles rushing touchdown.  Battles scored twice, racking up 96 yards on the ground for the Jaguars from the Tallahassee metro area.  The game would go back and forth for the duration until Cocoa broke it wide open on a play in the fourth quarter.  On fouth down, leading by only four, with under two minutes to play, the Coca Tigers tried to draw the Jags off-sides.  It didn’t work. After a time out, they went for it and got not only the two yards needed for a first down, but they also completely iced the game as Lane scored from 42 yards out. It’s the school’s seventh championship, third consecutive and for head coach Ryan Schneider, it cements a legacy.  PLAY CALL OF THE YEAR!!!Cocoa goes for it on 4th and 2 and Latrison Lane scores. That gives the Tigers a 38-27 lead with 1:04 remaining @CocoaFootball @Cocoa_Schneider @LaTrisonLane20 @321preps pic.twitter.com/tdqwPQkgMm— Jon Santucci (@JonSantucci) December 12, 2024

Follow Miami– Chaminade Madonna ran away with their fourth consecutive FHSAA state football title Wednesday night behind a strong ground game and a stingy defense.  Head coach Dameon Jones notched his seventh titles in nine years as he added to the nine titles the school has to date.He’s built quite a legacy at Chaminade, due in part to attracting some of the nation’s best players.  This years crop had to replace legends like Jeremiah Smith and Joshia Trader who are now Division I football players at the Power four level.They did not disappoint.  After two early season losses, Chaminade rolled the remainder of the season. They even knocked off nationally rated, St. Thomas Aquinas along the way. A team they had not played in over 40 years. The star this year for coach Jones? It was undoubtedly Derreck Cooper, a top-rated athlete in the class of 2026. Cooper finished the game with 92 yards rushing on just ten carries and a touchdown.  He also had a tackled on defense, where he played predominately in the two years prior to transferring to Chaminade. The passing game was led by Tyler Chance (15 for 20 196, 3 TDs) and paced by junior Denairius Gray who hauled in five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.  Senior Kyle Washington, the only player on the team with four consecutive state title medals as he played as a freshman, also contributed with 4 catches for 34 yards. He’ll head to Atlanta, GA to play for Georgia State next fall.  Dameon Jones, head coach, Chaminade Madonna Denairius gray's one-hand catch TD @Nadeboyz 21-0 @xklvsive_1 #hotbedworld @FHSAA 3Q pic.twitter.com/wsgdgVl1CK— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) December 12, 2024 derreck cooper proved he's one of the nation's best Brandon Odoi of Football Hotbed interviewing Derreck Cooper

Follow Miami Gardens, FL – Today’s highly anticipated match up between the University of Miami (7-0) and Florida State (1-6) marks the annual installment in one of the greatest and most storied rivalries in all of college football. This fierce competition not only showcases the exceptional talent and skills of both teams but also ignites the passion and loyalty of their dedicated fanbases. Every year, fans eagerly await this showdown, as it often has significant implications for bragging rights and standings within the conference. Miami on a moderately slow offensive night for the Hurricanes, tops FSU 36-14 behind a big rushing night for Damien Martinez.  He rushed for 148 yards on 15 carries, scoring twice.  Cam Ward caught a touchdown pass from Elijah Arroyo and the Hurricanes added three field goals by Andres Borregales. Next up, the Hurricanes host Duke and former Hurricanes head coach, Manny Diaz. Damien Martinez, 148 yards rushing and 2 TDs Preview the game with our podcast: real ones canes