In the semifinals, Booker T. faced the Houston Texans. Booker T. and the Texans were very evenly matched. Booker T. was victorious ending the game with a touchdown that secured a victory 31-24.

Booker T.’s next challenge was against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship game. Booker T. separated itself from the Bengals and won 44-14.

For the national championship, Booker T. faced the Detroit Lions.

Booker T. scored on the opening play and put the Lions on their heels. The Lions answered on a seven-play drive. Booker T. then scored 10 unanswered points to take a 17-7 lead. The Lions continued to battle back, but Booker T.’s defense staved the Lions late charge by intercepting a pass to seal the game.

Booker T. helped the Dolphins become the first ever four-time champion of the NFL’s HSPD National Tournament.

The Miami Dolphins Youth Programs’ mission is to emphasize the importance of education, physical fitness and positive choices for kids in a safe and fun environment. The Miami Dolphins Youth Programs’ vision is to prepare the next generation of leaders in staying physically active through our Junior Training Camps (JTC), Youth Football Clinics and Youth Football Camps.

Visit www.DolphinsAcademy.com to sign up for youth football clinics, youth football camps and school visits.

For information on the Miami Dolphins Youth Football Clinic, Youth Football Camps or school visits, contact the Miami Dolphins Youth and Community Programs Department at 305-943-7272 or youthprograms@dolphins.com.

Gulliver softball

Mark Schusterman, athletic director and softball coach at Gulliver Preparatory School, is the National High School Softball Coach of the Year, an award presented by the National High School Coaches Association.

Schusterman is a 32-year coaching veteran in five sports. During his 26th season directing the Raiders’ girls’ softball program, the team won its third consecutive state championship. Gulliver Prep won 3A state titles in 1998, 2001, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

“In receiving this award, my thanks go out to my outstanding staff and coaches for all their hard work that allows me to devote time to this team of fantastic student athletes,” Schusterman said. “This award also belongs to the softball coaching staff, which has worked so hard to make all this possible.”

This is Schusterman’s second consecutive national award for coaching softball. In 2011, ESPN Rise awarded Schusterman its National Coach of the Year honor.

Schusterman, who began his coaching career with Gulliver Schools in 1985, was named Gulliver Prep athletic director in 2007 after serving 13 years as athletic director of Gulliver’s Middle School. He has coached softball, cross-country, football, boys’ basketball and girls’ basketball. He led Gulliver to its first state title in 1998. In 2009, he was inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

A graduate of Florida International University with a degree in history, he began his coaching career at Miami Killian High in 1980. He became head basketball coach at Miami LaSalle High in 1984. The next year he moved to Gulliver Prep, where he taught history classes for his first 10 years along with coaching. In 2001, The Miami Herald named him Miami-Dade County Male Coach of the Year. He currently serves as Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s state softball chairman and is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association softball advisory committee.