UNIVERSITY SCHOOL 25, PINE CREST 22
University School edges Pine Crest; Bozeman leads Dillard
BY EVAN DREXLER
Miami Herald Writer
University School punter Sebastian Amadee ran 40 yards into his own end zone as time expired on Friday night, purposefully draining the last seven seconds off the clock and taking a safety that preserved the Suns' 25-22 win at Pine Crest.
Pine Crest, down 25-7 entering the fourth quarter, scored two touchdowns to bring the game within five points with 1:30 left.
But the Suns ran the ball enough to take the clock down to the final seconds, and Amadee's loss wound up giving University the win.
``We figured that we needed to knock seven seconds off the clock, and if [Amadee] could grab the ball and zig-zag his way back through the end zone, we take the safety and go home with the win,'' Suns coach Roger Harriott said.
Suns running back Justin Cooper had a 1-yard touchdown run and a 47-yard interception return that looked to give University School an insurmountable lead early in the third quarter.
``I read the screen play, and I picked it off and I just did what I had to do to get the touchdown,'' Cooper said. ``The offensive linemen weren't aware that I caught the ball, so they gave me a good chance to just sprint it right off.''
With the District 7-2B victory, the Suns (5-3, 4-1) remain alive for the playoffs, but the Panthers (5-4, 3-3) have been eliminated.
University School would need to beat three-time defending state champion Pahokee next week to make the playoffs.
``It's a do-or-die game, and our guys are capable of playing with just about anybody,'' Harriott said. ``We're ready to take on Pahokee and hopefully win the district championship.''
Dillard 14, Everglades 10: In a game that lacked consistent ball movement on both sides, it was Dillard getting a takeaway deep in its own territory in the game's final minute to preserve the home victory.
Linebacker Desmond Bozeman came up with the clinching play when he stripped the ball from Everglades' Randall Bailey following a 19-yard reception with 1:26 left. Justin Fulcher made the recovery at the Dillard 18 to end the threat.
``We were lucky, we simply found a way to win,'' said Dillard coach Manny Martin, whose 3-4 Panthers will next take on undefeated Blanche Ely (8-0) in next week's annual Soul Bowl at Lockhart Stadium.
Dillard's eventual winning score came when Jazz Moss took the kickoff to open the second half and went 75 yards for a touchdown and a 14-3 lead. Otherwise, the Panthers couldn't move the ball much after that, finishing with just 115 yards in total offense.
The Gators (4-4) came to within four points when Michael Hepburn threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Hernandez on a halfback option early in the fourth quarter.
-- CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Coconut Creek 28, Monarch 10: Coconut Creek overcame 98 yards of penalties and remain undefeated in District 15-5A.
Kadeem Hunt led the Cougars with 66 yard rushing on 15 carries and completed 8 passes for 127 yards. Britton Coffey was Hunt's favorite target with six receptions for 75 yards.
With a win next week against Coral Glades, Coconut Creek will be district champion. If the Cougars lose to the Jaguars next week, a potential three-way tiebreaker could be played between Coconut Creek, Coral Glades and Coral Springs if the Colts can defeat Cooper City.
-- KAMAAL JASON DESOUZA
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