Miami, FL — The Bulls three-peat seems well within reach for the back-to-back 6A state champions. Miami Northwestern Head Coach Max Edwards feels his team has plenty to build on from Saturday’s Blue and Gold Game at Traz Powell Stadium. The Bulls will be going for a seventh state title and have reloaded. Northwestern will be a tough test for any team that has them on their schedule. They face the 5A state champions Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) in game one of the season.
For the second straight year, the Bulls will have to replace their championship starting quarterback. Isaiah Velez is off to Eastern Kentucky in the fall, which has put the starting position up for competition. Kemani “Showtime” Brown seems to be the heir apparent choice to be the starter for the 2019 season, but Coach Edwards is undecided.
“I think from last year to this year Showtime showed improvement,” said Edwards. “The other quarterbacks behind him have to get better. So we’re going to keep the competition open until someone decides to lead the team.”
Brown is going into his senior year and was used intermittingly last season. Sincyre Gray (2020) and Mekhi Smith (2022) will also compete for the starting position. All quarterbacks showed flashes of greatness on Saturday, but Brown seems to be the leader taking most of the reps against the first team offense. Gray, formerly at Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens), made plays with his feet scrambling for big gains.
Brown threw plenty of good balls and made the correct reads getting the ball to his playmakers.
That first team offense can be argued is better than last season. Wide receiver Romello Brinson changed his jersey number from #80 to #1 and looks the part as a number one receiver going into his junior season.
The Miami Hurricanes commit scored two touchdowns Saturday and can high-point the ball with the best of them. Both touchdowns came on fade routes to the corner of the end zone.
Brinson although a solid commit to Miami will be taking visits to Florida, Georgia, LSU, Maryland, and Penn State.
Caught the end of @GodChildM3_’s second touchdown. The @CanesFootball commit had a breakout sophomore season and will give @MNW_Bulls1955 a chance to win their third straight title. pic.twitter.com/f3qLsrFO8c
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) May 12, 2019
Brinson will be playing alongside 2020 Miami Southridge transfer and fellow Miami commit Marcus Fleming.
Fleming also had a touchdown on a fade route and has great awareness in locating the ball in the air.
QB @Kbrown_12 hits @CanesFootball commit and new teammate @_humble_3 on this fade route. Should be a lethal combination this fall. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/GItfF4t43m
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) May 11, 2019
“I’m adjusting pretty good,” said Fleming about making the transition to Miami Northwestern. “I definitely wanted to be here. This is where it’s at.”
Other offensive playmakers primed to be major contributors are Coral Gables transfer 2020 running back Andre Stringfield, 2020 running back Nathan Noel and 2021 Miami Hurricanes commit WR/TE Khalil Brantley all made several plays and were targeted at a high clip from the respective quarterbacks. Brantley also scored with an over the shoulder catch streaking down the sideline.
On defense, “The West” has one of the best defensive lines in the state. Wati Huggins, former 2020 Miami Booker T. Washington edge rusher got into the backfield often along with 2020 edge Andre Morgan.
Standout defender Terrence Lewis did not play and continued to ice a knee injury. The 2021 former Florida Gator commit is not sure if he will play next week in the spring game and is looking to make a final decision on college next year.
Making plays in the defensive backfield were 2021 Dorean Williams and 2022 Cameron Sweeting. Tim Burns is also primed to have a solid junior season.
The first test for the 2019 Bulls will be against next week at Atlantic (Delray) at Traz Powell Stadium. Fleming is confident his team will perform.
“I think we’ll dominate them. Everything’s coming together. We’ve been putting in a lot of work [in the off-season] and everything’s coming together.”
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