Before Jacory Harris pieced together the magical 99-yard drive, before Tyreese Jones steamrolled his way into the end zone to save the season of the nation's No. 1-ranked high school football team last Friday night, Sean Spence had only a few seconds to react to what his football instincts were telling him.

Deerfield Beach had a fourth-and-goal at the Bulls' 2-yard line and quarterback Denard Robinson was only a dive and a stretch away from ending Northwestern's 28-game winning streak. But like he usually does, Spence, the brains of Northwestern's defense, saw what was coming and told his team what to do to stop it.

''He was looking around for a hole,'' said Spence, a 6-foot, 195-pound senior and University of Miami commitment, who has started 41 consecutive games at weak-side linebacker for Northwestern since his freshman year. ``I saw his eyes and I hollered, sneak, sneak, sneak.''

Defensive tackle Marcus Forston heard his best friend's voice and did the rest.

''We knew what he was doing and we outsmarted them,'' Forston said. ``It was win or go home.''

Northwestern (14-0) will play for the Class 6A state championship Saturday night -- and a potential mythical national title -- when it takes on Orlando Boone (14-0) at the Citrus Bowl. The Bulls know the reason they still have that opportunity is because of the many plays -- including the one last Friday -- their defensive leader has made.

''Sean is the defense,'' said defensive coordinator Rodney Harris, whose son is star quarterback Jacory Harris. ``He's the brains of the entire defense. Without Sean's presence on the field or in the classroom or on the boards, we're a different ball team.

``The kid has a special knack for football. He knows the game. He understands it well. He's always prepared. He's a film freak. He loves to sit down and break down his opponents. He picks little tendencies they may have. Overall, he's just incredible.''

HEATING UP

Spence, one of six current Bulls orally committed to the University of Miami, has made more tackles and big plays for Northwestern's defense in the past three years than any player.

In the past couple of weeks, colleges have turned up their intensity in his recruitment. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, Florida assistant Doc Holliday and North Carolina coach Butch Davis have visited Northwestern in the past week trying to sway him and Forston. But Spence said he is UM-bound.

''There's no place like home,'' Spence said. ``I want to play in front of my fans, my family, my mom and dad. Plus, I want to play with these guys. We're family.''

Larry Blustein, who has followed recruiting in South Florida since 1971, says he believes the Hurricanes are getting a special player in Spence, rated the 15th-best outside linebacker in the country by Rivals.com.

''Sean Spence is a Jesse Armstead clone,'' Blustein said. ``People said Jesse [a former Hurricane] was too skinny at 6-feet, 200 pounds, that he needed to play safety. How many years did he play linebacker in the NFL? Sean is just like him, smart, athletic. He's always two steps ahead of the game.''

REGULAR STANDOUT

Spence has been a football star and exceptional student all his life. Growing up in Opa Locka, he played quarterback, running back and linebacker at Bunche Park Optimist. In the classroom, he has made the honor roll regularly. As a senior at Northwestern, he has a 2.9 GPA and has an impressive score of 24 on the ACT.

Forston said Spence spends so much time studying, he often has to beg him to go out. ''He's a mama's boy,'' Forston said. ``People see the dreads, the [gold teeth in his mouth] and the first thing they probably assume is he's a thug or a hard-headed kid. But he's not. He's a humble guy that you can call for anything. He comes and picks me up everyday for school. He's my alarm clock. He screams at me and wakes me up.''

It didn't take coaches at Northwestern long to discover Spence's talent or his smarts. Spence never got a chance to play for his father, Sam, on the Bulls' JV football team and made his first start against Carol City as a freshman in a playoff game.

A year later as a sophomore, he was eating lunch in the Bulls' locker room and dissecting film with Bulls coaches. Before long, Spence was making audibles and checks and leading the defense. But it's his instincts that make the biggest impression, coach Billy Rolle said.

''I try to make my presnap reads before the play begins,'' Spence said. ``I look at the offensive lineman's hands. Is he pressing hard or is he sitting back? Where are the quarterback's eyes? A lineman will tell you a lot of what's going to happen. By me studying film, I know what's going to happen before it happens.''

Together, Spence and Forston said they have big plans to help UM next season. And there's a chance both could play early. But for now, all that matters is the final game they'll play in blue and gold.

''The first thing I got to do when I get there [UM], is get stronger, learn the defense, the little things,'' Spence said. ``But for now, all I got to worry about is Boone.''

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