Booker T. Washington captures championship

AL DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF Booker T. Washington's players celebrate after beating Ponta Vedra Nease 23-15 to win the Class 6A state football championship on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Class 4A State Football Championship High school teams bring back winning feeling At right time, BTW's defense is rock solid Promising future for Booker T.'s Clements Naples wins Class 3A title

Tim Harris didn't run around like a wild man, as he said he would.

He was too busy watching the clock tick down to zero to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

His son Brandon, however, did the running for him seconds after Booker T. Washington secured its first state championship with a 23-15 victory against Ponte Vedra Beach Nease in the Class 4A title game Saturday at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

''I may never be able to explain how good this moment feels right now,'' said Brandon Harris, a senior cornerback. ``I think it will be more real after I hold the trophy for a while.''

UNDEFEATED SEASON

The Tornadoes (14-0), ranked No. 4 in the ESPN National High Elite Top 25 poll, celebrated their first perfect season in front of 6,009 spectators. A sizable portion of the crowd was Northwestern fans clad in blue and gold that made the trip early to support their neighbors from Overtown.

Sophomore running back Eduardo Clements ran for 100 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns and was named the Beef 'O Brady's Player of the Game during the live statewide TV broadcast. He also scored on a 13-yard touchdown reception from junior quarterback Torrance Moise that gave Booker T. its largest lead at 23-7 at halftime.

''We got a lot of young guys and we wanted to send our seniors out with a bang,'' Clements said. ``I told them I got them.''

After the game, the sense of accomplishment among the Booker T. players and coaches was palpable.

Some hugged. Some cried.

Defensive line coach Ben Hanks, who was the portrait of frustration two years ago after a state semifinal loss to Seffner Armwood when he tore chunks of grass from the field, sat on the grass and took in the moment with a big smile.

Harris Sr., his two sons and his wife, Chonita, celebrated the long-awaited accomplishment together on the field after four years of heartbreaking losses in the state semifinals.

Harris' oldest son, Tim Jr. was the quarterback for Booker T. his first season as coach. Harris Jr. is a senior on the University of Miami track and field team and a three-time All-American.

''You look at your family and we've always been close through sports,'' said Harris, who became the coach at Booker T. in July 2003 and has led the Tornadoes to a 57-7 record during his five-year career. ``I loved seeing Tim and Brandon's emotions come out. My mind-set was watching that clock and just making sure it was over before we celebrated.

``My kids have been in this program from the beginning. Our community, our administration and these coaches have touched the lives of these kids for so many years.''

Harris Jr. became a mentor to Moise this season after Moise became the starter following the season-ending injury to senior Sancho McDonald. Moise completed 17 of 26 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown Saturday. But a severe leg cramp forced him out of the game with 9:51 left and Booker T. at its own 7-yard line.

That's when Brandon Harris was called to be a hero one more time.

Harris, the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, replaced Moise as he did two weeks ago in the Region 4-6A final against Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer where he closed out a Booker T. 7-6 win.

Harris converted a pair of first downs, including a 25-yard keeper. Booker T. was forced to punt with 4:02 left.

A LOT OF PRESSURE

Booker T.'s dominant defense, nicknamed ''F-5'' after the Fujita-Pearson Tornado rating scale, sacked Nease quarterback and Wake Forest commitment Ted Stachitas eight times and had 16 tackles for loss.

Nease hurt Booker T. the entire game with screen passes. But on 3rd-and-6 from its own 31, senior linebacker Winston Frasier hit running back Andrew Barnes for a 5-yard loss.

Frasier led the Tornadoes in tackles with 13. But senior Johnathan Jackson led the sack frenzy with 3 ½ for 29 yards, and senior Kambriel Willis had 2 ½ for 19 yards. Senior linebacker Franklin Brown forced the game's lone turnover when he intercepted Stachitas.

The Tornadoes limited the Panthers (13-2) to 13 rushing yards and 191 total. Booker T. had 468 yards.

But a lopsided penalty output contributed to keeping the score close. Booker T. was penalized 17 times for 146 yards, while Nease had five penalties on 30 yards.