Miami-Dade High Schools

Class 6A State Final | Miami Central vs. Gainesville, 1 p.m., CSS

Miami Central running backs Joseph Yearby, Dalvin Cook launch Rockets offense

 

Joseph Yearby and Dalvin Cook enjoy seeing each other thrive in the same backfield and hope it carries them all the way to another state title.

 

Miami Central High School running back Joseph Yearby, left, fakes a handoff to fellow running back Dalvin Cook during their game against Naples High School at Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium on Dec. 7, 2012.
Miami Central High School running back Joseph Yearby, left, fakes a handoff to fellow running back Dalvin Cook during their game against Naples High School at Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium on Dec. 7, 2012.
Paul Videla / Bradenton Herald

More information

IF YOU GO

What: The 50th annual FHSAA state football finals.

When: Through Saturday.

Where: The Citrus Bowl, 1610 W. Church Street, Orlando.

Admission: $12 per session ($17 reserved seating).

TV: CSS; ESPN3 (online).

Last week’s state results – Class 4A: Miami Booker T. Washington 35, Jacksonville Bolles 7; 3A: Fort Lauderdale University School 24, Madison County 17; 2A: Jacksonville University Christian 28, Miami Dade Christian 10; 1A: Bratt Northview 42, Trenton 21.

Friday’s results – Class 5A: Tallahassee Godby 21, Immokalee 20; Class 7A: Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (12-2) vs. Tallahassee Lincoln (12-1), inc.

Saturday’s schedule – Class 6A: Miami Central (11-2) vs. Gainesville (14-0), 1; Class 8A: Weston Cypress Bay (12-2) vs. Apopka (12-2), 7.

BREAKDOWN

Class 6A final (Central vs. Gainesville)

Coaches – CEN: Telly Lockette (5th year, 46-23); GHS: James Thomson (2nd year, 23-3).

State playoff history – CEN: 22-11 (Third state appearance in a row, won in 2010); GHS: 20-14 (Second state appearance, won in 1980).

Road to state – CEN: d. Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy 59-7; Miami Northwestern 34-7; Melbourne Palm Bay 38-2; Naples 48-33; GHS: d. Brooksville Hernando 60-3; Ocala Vanguard 21-10; Seffner Armwood 42-10; Navarre 62-26.

Probable offensive starters – CEN: WR Roderick Carter (5-8, 170, Sr.); LT Reginald Bain (6-4, 215, Jr.); LG Michael Smith (6-3, 294, Jr.); C Raul Diaz (6-1, 265, Jr.); RG Joshua Addison (6-4, 281, Jr.); RT Trevor Darling (6-4, 294, Jr.); WR Tavius Brown (5-8, 162, Jr.); QB Keith Reed (5-11, 185, Jr.); HB Joseph Yearby (5-10, 195, Jr.); HB Dalvin Cook (5-11, 195, Jr.); WR Da’Vante Phillips (6-1, 189, So.); K/P Emilio Nadelman (5-9, 185, Sr.); GHS: TE Nick McGriff (5-10, 200, Jr.); LT Byers Hickman (6-5, 240, Jr.); LG Jared Jerrells (6-0, 230, Sr.); C Jalen Wesley (5-8, 210, Sr.); RG Marquis Richards (5-10, 250, Sr.); RT Colton Bates (6-4, 240, Sr.); WR Larry Prunty (5-7, 150, Sr.); QB Mark Cato (6-1, 195, Sr.); HB Raphael Webb (5-10, 190, Sr.); FB Case Harrison (6-0, 170, Sr.); WR Chris Thomson (6-0, 170, Sr.); K Alex Holloway (5-9, 165, Jr.).

Probable defensive starters – CEN: LE Marquez Hodge (6-0, 215, Sr.); LT Twan Adams (5-11, 245, Jr.); RT Keon Burgess (5-11, 235, Jr.); RE Devyn Reid (6-3, 217, Sr.); LB Rasheed Blatch (5-11, 203, Jr.); LB Ahmad Thomas (6-0, 205, Sr.); LB Brandon Diaz (6-3, 215, Sr.); DB Deatrick Nichols (5-10, 185, Jr.); DB Trevon Nottage (5-8, 175, Jr.); S Dalvin Cook (5-11, 195, Jr.); S Da’Wan Hunte (5-10, 185, Sr.); GHS: LE Blair Armagost (6-3, 200, Sr.); NG Boise Jackson (5-9, 220, Sr.); RE Josh Moore (5-9, 210, Sr.); LB Keon Jenkins (6-0, 230, Sr.); LB Keith Kelsey (6-2, 210, Sr.); LB Matt Solt (6-1, 200, Jr.); LB Alex Gonzalez (5-9, 180, Sr.); DB Freddie Holmes (5-8, 160, Sr.); DB Chris Thompson (6-0, 170, Sr.); FS Daron Brown (5-9, 190, Jr.); S Juan Jenkins (6-0, 200, Jr.); P Jack Cornell (5-11, 160, Jr.).


a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com

Teammates call Dalvin Cook “Do It Again.”

They call Joseph Yearby “Joystick.”

But when it comes to nicknames, Miami Central’s phenomenal running back tandem chose the same one for each other.

“We call each other, ‘Main Man,’ ” Yearby said.

There hasn’t been a main individual to stop in Central’s backfield the past two seasons.

Yearby and Cook have collectively taken apart opponents on the football field, leading the Rockets to their third consecutive state final appearance, tying the Miami-Dade County record.

And they have taken joy in rooting for each other while doing it.

“If I get a big run, it motivates him to get one,” Yearby said. “We have fun with sharing the ball. Every time he gets the ball, I throw my hands up for six points. When both of us are back there together, I feel like no one can stop us.”

The talented juniors — arguably one of the best backfield duos in county history — have one more obstacle to overcome Saturday when they lead Central against undefeated Gainesville (14-0) in the Class 6A state final at the Citrus Bowl.

Central (11-2) is seeking its second state title in three seasons.

“They are fast and real good,” Gainesville coach James Thomson said. “Cook is an incredible player, and Yearby is so fast. We played against [Yulee High running back] Derrick Henry [the nation’s leader in rushing]. I would put both of those guys right up there with him in terms of talent.”

Yearby earned USA Today Preseason All-America honors before the season and already has committed to Florida State. Cook gave an early commitment to Clemson.

The two have drawn comparisons to some of the county’s historically great running back tandems such as former Southridge stars Troy and Darren Davis.

The siblings ran together for three seasons from 1991 to ’93 and became the first county running backs to post individual 2,000-yard seasons. During that span, they led Southridge to a pair of state titles, highlighted by one of the biggest blowout wins in state finals history in 1993 when Southridge beat Bradenton Manatee 69-36.

Darren Davis’ 2,401 yards in his senior year in 1994 surpassed the county single-season record set the prior season by Troy Davis (2,211 yards) during his senior season. Those records stood until former Coral Gables tailback Frank Gore smashed the record with 2,953 yards in 2000.

Yearby became the first underclassman in Dade history to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark with 2,160 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore. Cook ran for 876 yards and nine touchdowns last year in their first season splitting time in the Rockets backfield.

Yearby and Cook mirror each other physically, with Yearby measuring 5-10 and weighing 195 pounds and Cook listed at 5-11, 195 pounds.

This season, their statistics and contributions have become much more alike, too.

Cook has run for a Class 8A-6A county-high 1,373 yards and 19 touchdowns on 111 carries, and Yearby is close behind him with 1,323 yards and 18 touchdowns on 189 attempts.

“It’s been fun for us to be able to do a lot of things on the field,” Cook said. “It’s great to share the ball with a back that can do the same things you can.”

About the only place Cook and Yearby become really competitive against each other is the virtual world.

Read more Miami-Dade High Schools stories from the Miami Herald

Get your Miami Heat Fan Gear!

Join the
Discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere on the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

The Miami Herald uses Facebook's commenting system. You need to log in with a Facebook account in order to comment. If you have questions about commenting with your Facebook account, click here.

Have a news tip? You can send it anonymously. Click here to send us your tip - or - consider joining the Public Insight Network and become a source for The Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald.

Hide Comments

This affects comments on all stories.

Cancel OK

  • Videos

  • Quick Job Search

Enter Keyword(s) Enter City Select a State Select a Category