Brandon Odoi

feature December 10, 20250

Cardinal Mooney Blows Past Bolles to Claim 2A FHSAA Crown

Follow Miami– In Wednesday night’s 2A Florida High School Football Association final, Sarasota Cardinal Mooney’s offensive explosion led to their second state championship crown since 2023. They topped Jacksonville Bolles 52-28 behind three rushing touchdowns by Connail Jackson (26 carries for 160 yards) aided by three receiving touchdowns by Bo Odaniel (7 catches for 107 yards). That 2023 championship was Cardinal Mooney’s first state football title since 1972, ending a 51-year drought. Cardinal Mooney won the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1S state championship on December 8, 2023. The Cougars defeated Trinity Catholic High School (Ocala) by a score of 31–27 in that title game Bo Odaniel, 2026 WR

feature December 7, 20250

History: Miami Hurricanes Make the College Football Playoff

Follow This Sunday, Selection Sunday delivered a historic moment for the Miami Hurricanes: the program is making its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. The Hurricanes claimed the final at-large berth, slotting in as the No. 10 seed and drawing a first-round matchup against the No. 7 seeded Texas A&M Aggies. For a program that has chased playoff relevance for years, the opportunity is a milestone — and a long-awaited chance to prove themselves on the sport’s biggest postseason stage.Why Miami Got the Nod — And Notre Dame Got Passed Over Head-to-Head Win MattersMiami beat Notre Dame early in the season — a 27–24 victory in Week 1 — a result that ultimately played a decisive role when the final CFP field was revealed. Many analysts and even some coaches argued that the head-to-head result should have long ago been enough to place Miami ahead. Comparable Records — But Better Margins & ResumeBoth teams finished the season at 10–2 overall, yet Miami’s performance against shared opponents gave them an edge. Against common games, the Hurricanes often beat those teams by larger margins than Notre Dame did. Despite not playing in the conference championship (and Notre Dame having no conference championship opportunity as an independent), the selection committee evidently weighed Miami’s overall résumé — head-to-head win, strength of victories, and body of work — as enough to grant them the final spot. The Controversy — Why Many Question the DecisionThe decision sparked major debate: many felt the final four or five teams on the bubble had nearly identical resumes, making any choice feel arbitrary. Critics highlight the lack of transparency and consistency in the selection process. As one analysis puts it: “that’s why Miami can beat Notre Dame … and yet still be ranked behind them.” Others note that because both teams didn’t play in a conference championship game — Notre Dame is independent, Miami failed to qualify for the ACC title game — the committee had only regular-season data to go on, making the decision particularly subjective. In the end, the head-to-head result appears to have been the tiebreaker that pushed Miami over Notre Dame — a decision that many believe was both fair and overdue, though some still question the broader rationale of the playoff selection system.What This Means for Miami — And What’s Next vs. Texas A&MWith their spot secured, Miami now has a shot to make noise in the first CFP under the expanded 12-team format. The opening-round game against Texas A&M promises to be a high-stakes affair — the Aggies bring their own strong résumé, and the matchup gives Miami a chance to show the NCAA and the broader college-football world that their bid was justified.For fans, it’s more than just a game: it’s a chance for Miami to start what could be a new era of relevance and credibility in the playoff era. For the players and coaches, it’s validation — that after seasons of building, the Hurricanes have finally broken through.

Brandon Odoi College Football Division II feature October 25, 20250

Miami Hurricanes 42-7 over the Stanford Cardinal

Follow Miami Gardens, FL– The No. 9 Miami Hurricanes beat the Standford Cardinal 42-7 at home trying to rebound from last week’s disappointing home loss to the Louisville Cardinals. The Cardinal are fresh off an upset win over the Hurricanes rival, Florida State and had an upset mindset tonight scoring on their first offensive drive after forcing a Miami punt. Those 74 yards and a score were most of the offensive output of the game for Stanford however. They would go on to only amass 70 yards on the final 10 possessions of the game. Mark Fletcher led the Hurricanes offensively with 106 yards on 23 carries and 3 rushing touchdowns. Carson Beck was an efficient 21-28 passing for 189 yards and a touchdown toss to CJ Daniels who made a fantastic catch over his defender in the endzone. Miami’s defense played lights out after the first drive forcing two turnovers and limiting Stanford to 144 total yards. what went right? The Hurricanes defense swarmed completely stuffed Stanford’s run game. The quarterback was placed under heavy duress all game. Giving up less than 200 yards for the game is a big win for this defense given last week’s performance versus Louisville. What went wrong? The Hurricanes are still struggling to throw the ball down field. Carson Beck was more of a game manager during this win, fresh off a four-interception performance last week. He’s still working to get his confidence back as the offense was aided by great field position off of great punt returns by true freshman Malichi Toney. The all-American candidate finished with 139 yards total offense. Canes Walk Game changer: Malachi toney- true freshman

feature October 16, 20250

Miami Northwestern Holds of Miami Central 30-21

Follow Miami- Miami Northwestern knocked off Miami Central High School 30-21 in a highly anticipated varsity football matchup on October 4, 2025, at Traz Powell Stadium, bringing to an end Miami Central’s recent dominance in the rivalry.The Bulls, ranked No. 7 in South Florida, overcame the No. 4-ranked Rockets in a game that lived up to its billing as one of the state’s top contests. Northwestern’s defense was the story of the game, responding to an opening kickoff return for a touchdown by Miami Central’s Jayden Ford, they returned a fumble for a game tying touchdown and maintained momentum, building a 17-14 lead by halftime on the strength of precise passing and key defensive stops. Miami Central answered back with big plays—including a touchdown by Brandon Kinsey—but Northwestern’s defense stiffened in the second half led by 2027 wide receiver Nick Lennear who lined up at safety for much of the game for the Bulls, limiting the Rockets’ scoring as the Bulls pulled away.Lennear is the top prospect in the 2027 recruiting class.Both teams entered the year with new head coaches—Jaquatin Victrum for Northwestern and Derrick Gibson for Central—adding extra intrigue to the 56th annual Soul Bowl meeting. The win was especially significant for Northwestern, ending Central’s six-game winning streak in the rivalry and confirming the Bulls’ status as a state title contender.Northwestern’s victory was powered by a balanced attack and a disciplined defensive performance, ultimately sealing a 30-21 win over their crosstown rivals.

Florida High School Football September 23, 20250

GAME TIME ANNOUNCED: Miami Central v. Miami Northwestern

Brandon Odoi College Football Division II feature September 20, 20250

Hurricanes 26-7 Over the Florida Gators

Follow Miami Gardens, FL– The No. 4 Miami Hurricanes beat the Florida Gators 26-7 at home in a nationally televised match up aired on ABC. The Gators desperately needed to win in order to bounce back from a 1-2 record and keep head coach Billy Napier off the hot seat in Gainesville. However, the Hurricanes defense combined with a stout running attack ultimately helped Miami to a comfortable victory at home in front of a sold-out crowd at Hard Rock Stadium. what went right? The Hurricanes defense swarmed all game. They held the Florida Gators to just 32 yards in the first half of the game and a total of only 141 yards all game. Carson Beck struggled at the QB spot but the run game was solid as Mark Fletcher rushed for over 100 yards and a TD and Marty Brown 80 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Carter Davis added a 53-yard field goal along with several touchbacks. The Gators defense gave up more yards but played terrible on offense and still kept their team in the ball game by only giving up 13 points. What went wrong? The Hurricanes third quarter offense. Miami figured things out in the fourth quarter and ultimately put things away but the game was 13-7 after Carson Beck, who had a forgettable day, continued to struggle hitting open targets. The Gators were never able to establish a reliable pass game. Quarterback DJ Lagway was 12 for 23 for only 61 yards. Miami’s total defense held the Gators to just 141 yards total. Canes Walk dj lagway, qb, florida gators

Brandon Odoi Florida High School Football September 20, 20250

Miami Central Roars Back to Beat American Heritage

Follow Plantation, FL- The Miami Central Rockets remain undefeated after a strong come-from-behind effort, beating American Heritage 31-21 on the road. Senior Rocket quarterback, Anthony McQueen threw two touchdown passes to fellow classmate Joshua Joseph and ran another in for a score to pace Miami Central in their come from behind effort at American Heritage. The host Patriots got a strong effort from Miami Northwestern transfer QB, Leon Strawder, who accounted for three touchdowns in his debut spelling the injured five-star quarterback Dia Bell (out for the season due to injury) but it wasn’t enough. American Heritage got on the board first as a busted coverage allowed Leon Strawder to hit Jeffar Jean-Noel in stride for a touchdown. The Miami Central corner broke on an underneath route and allowed Jean-Noel to run right by him. Strawder had his first passing touchdown as a Patriot and a 7-0 lead.Next, trouble for American Heritage as a punt backed them up deep into their own endzone and a stout rush by the Miami Central Rockets defense netted a safety. Senior defensive lineman Cameron McCrea was credited with the points. The score was now 7-2. On the ensuing punt after safety kickoff, Jayden Ford, the FIU commit to a kick return back for a Rockets touchdown and Central took the lead for the first time, 9-7.That lead was short lived as Strawder began to find his stride and the Rockets offense stalled. The Patriots would score again as Strawder hit Jean-Noel for the second time and the score moved to 14-9 American Heritage. Leon Strawder’s pass was perfectly placed between three defenders and Jean-Noel made a nice arm-extended grab for the score as the game went to halftime.In the third quarter, Strawder would lead a drive down the field and run the ball in for a score, capping his three-touchdown performance (2 in the air and one on the ground). American Heritage took advantage of some Miami Central miscues and capitalized on a low offensive output to gain a two-score lead on the Rockets. But it was short-lived. The Rockets stormed back down 21-9 in the fourth quarter to score 22 points and grab a win. Defensively the Rockets were lead by Karon Maycock, Demetrius Ingram and Damien Harvey. Strong running by senior Omari Hollis helped pace the Rockets scoring drives as Jayden Ford was special all night on both offense and special teams. Jeffar Jean-Noel Runs Away from Defense for the first score of the game UPDATE: Touchdown Miami Central. 9-7 after a Jayden Ford kick return for a touchdown following a Rockets safety. #hotbedworld pic.twitter.com/D496OSJkGM— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) September 20, 2025 HALFTIME: 14-9 American Heritage over Miami Central. Just before the half, Jamar Dylan Denson connected with Leon Strawder for a TD. It was Strawder's second TD pass of the game. #hotbedworld @ahspatfootball pic.twitter.com/X42oUTsiSW— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) September 20, 2025 UPDATE: Leon Strawder with a rushing TD to make it 21-9 @ahspatfootball 6:37 left in 3Q. #hotbedworld @lstrawder12 pic.twitter.com/Zeo6C7rjFL— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) September 20, 2025 TD CENTRAL: 21-16 after Anthony McQueen hooked up with Joshua Joseph for a long TD reception. #hotbedworld pic.twitter.com/GTE4bGS5TU— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) September 20, 2025 TD Miami Central: Anthony McQueen scores on a QB keeper to give the Rockets the lead. 24-21. 5:00 left in 4Q. #hotbedworld pic.twitter.com/vr05oiTQ3L— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) September 20, 2025 TD Rockets: 2026 WR Joshua Joseph with his second TD of the game. Expands the Miami Central lead to 31-21. 4:51 left in the game #hotbedworld pic.twitter.com/9t3yJ7In8Z— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) September 20, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Football Hotbed (@footballhotbed)

Brandon Odoi Florida High School Football September 19, 20250

Atlantic Puts Up 24 Fourth Quarter Points To Beat Miami Norland

Follow Delray Beach, FL- The Atlantic High School Eagles improved to 5-0 after a studding 24-point outpouring at home against Miami Norland (2-3) to win 43-20 Thursday night. Trailing 20-19 at the end of the third quarter, Atlantic turned to their ground game powered by 2027 RB Omari St. Fort and wide out senior Mark Hanniford (who played in the wildcat). The use of these larger runners, both over 6-foot tall, with their combination of size and speed, stymied the Miami Norland Vikings and lead to a blowout victory. Afterwards, we caught up with head coach Jamelle Murray to get his take on his team’s impressive win. UPDATE: Miami Norland retakes the lead off a Kai Moore pass to Jaden Daniels. 20-19 with 4:04 left in 3Q. #hotbedworld pic.twitter.com/xtIvSYQn2H— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) September 19, 2025 UPDATE: @AHS_BALL back ahead off a Mark Hanniford TD run out of the wildcat. They lead Miami Norland 25-20 in the 4Q with 11:04 left in the game. XP was again no good. @Mark7Jr pic.twitter.com/yK5HAzAWkM— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) September 19, 2025 Incredible move by Omari St Fort for a TD. #hotbedworld @Omari_Stfort0 https://t.co/0LfkgAuQfb— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) September 19, 2025

Brandon Odoi Florida High School Football September 6, 20250

Chaminade Climbs Out of 17-6 Hole to Shock American Heritage

Follow Plantation, FL- On Tuesday Chaminade Madonna made an offensive coordinator change and elevated Tyler Tate to run its offense. On Friday, the Lions of Chaminade Madonna raced back from a 17-6 third quarter deficit to outlast nationally rated No. 7 American Heritage 28-24 on the road. Freshman quarterback Malik Leonard went 7 for 13 for 135 yards and threw a TD pass to senior Florida State pledge, Jason Lopez. Overall, the Lions were paced by three (3) Derrick Cooper rushing touchdowns as the five-star All-American back rushed for 72 yards on eleven carries. Cooper is currently committed to the University of Texas, dominated the game, especially in the second half when Chaminade needed him the most.The game did not get off to a great start for Chaminade, especially early, as it was clear the transition to a new coordinator was a process. Nothing was more evident of this fact than the Lions choosing to call a timeout on the very first play of the game on offense. The Patriots took advantage early as quarterback Dia Bell, a five-star Texas commit in his own right threw a touchdown pass to Jeffar ‘Coi’ Jean-Noel. The two would hook up again to push the lead to 14-6 as Chaminade had kicking game issues on its first score by Cooper. Heritage would later add a field goal by Johnathan Matei from 30 yards out to push the lead to 17-6 in the third quarter. Chaminade would then begin to respond. UPDATE: American Heritage lead cut to 17-14 off a Derrick Cooper rushing TD. 2 point conversion by Elijah Hardy is good. pic.twitter.com/gLyDZuEkPA— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) September 6, 2025 After Derrick Cooper’s second touchdown of the day cutting the Heritage lead to 17-14, the Patriots would score again pushing their lead to ten points and seemed to be putting the game away. Bell hooked up with Jeffar ‘Coi’ Jean-Noel for their second touchdown collaboration of the game. Why They Do Bro Like That? @DiaBell3QB1 #kNOwPressure @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/dv7Oi0gT0O— Pressure Athletics (@pressure_athl) September 6, 2025 From there, Chaminade scored 14 straight points. Leonard hooked up with Lopez to bring the score to 24-21 and then Cooper put the game away with a touchdown run out of the wildcat. Heritage had an opportunity to score (and seemingly did) but the Lions had an impressive goal line stand that lead to a 99-yard offensive sequence that ultimately gave Chaminade the victory.

Brandon Odoi feature Florida Florida High School Football August 26, 20250

#TurnONTheTape: 2028 WR Malachi Mayes

Follow Hialeah, FL– In two consecutive weeks, sophomore Malachi Mayes has amazed with his on-field play for the Hialeah Thoroughbreds. Even in losses during week zero (True North) and week one (Carol City) of the Florida High School Football season, Mayes shined. The 5’11, 168-pound wide out has elusive speed and great hands and has notched six touchdowns in two short weeks of play. When asked about his potential, Hialeah head football coach, Tony Smith replied in short “he’s only a sophomore”. An indication that Mays’ best football may be ahead of him. It’s hard to imagine a skill player getting off to a hotter start than Mayes, a relative unknown in the recruiting world who now maybe a prospect coaches need to take a closer look at.South Florida is a known hotbed of football talent. Kids grow up watching neighborhood heroes turn into college and NFL stars. And after playing football on many of the same youth parks with those known legends, the dream is all to real for kids like Mays. Add to that, a bevy of developers of speed, strength and position coaches who have left the college and pro ranks, seeking employment training the next generation and you have a unique recipe for perpetual success. Especially at skill positions in the Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County areas.He’s “explosive, can run any route and works hard,” said Smith. “Once he becomes a better blocker, he will be a five-star.” Mayes and Hialeah lost a close 35-25 game to Miami Carol City on last week. They trailed 21-0 in the first half and with Mayes help, they came back to take a 25-21 lead. They eventually would fall to the Chiefs but not before Mayes made a name for himself, earning this spotlight and recognition by the Portal 305 who named him game MVP. watch Malachi mayes score twice against true North in week o Watch malachi mayes score four times against carol city in week 1 Mayes being presented with post game MVP after scoring 4 TDs against Carol City by the Portal 305