Belen Jesuit coach Rich Stuart has only once been able to savor the thrill of winning a district football championship.

Stuart got a second chance Friday afternoon.

Behind a strong running game that totaled 296 yards, the Wolverines secured the second district crown in school history by defeating Norland 27-17 at home to clinch the District 15-3A title.

Stuart was doused with ice water by his players after the game as they celebrated, jumping in a huddle near midfield much like the players from the 2005 team did when they won the school's first district crown.

``We've had the good fortune of having a lot of the same coaching staff together for many years, and they deserve a lot of credit,'' said Stuart, who is in his 29th season at Belen, and has the second-longest tenure among active coaches in Miami-Dade County. ``We start working the kids hard from day one, and they seem to always rise to the challenge.''

Belen (5-3, 3-0) will host the runner-up of District 16-3A, which will be the winner of next week's game between Jackson and Key West, in the first round of the playoffs.

Norland (4-4, 2-1) can still advance to the playoffs if it beats Mater Academy next week.

Junior Manny Sicre led the Wolverines' rushing attack with 12 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown, and senior Sergio Fernandez-Soto had five rushes for 98 yards and a touchdown.

Belen did not attempt a pass in the game.

Belen's defense also contained Norland sophomore running back Duke Johnson, who entered the game leading Dade overall in rushing, to 71 yards on 14 carries.

After falling behind 10-7 in the second quarter, Belen responded when junior Miguel Maseda capped a touchdown drive with a 3-yard plunge.

Fernandez-Soto scored on the next drive when he broke a 63-yard touchdown run.

``We put this tougher schedule together on purpose to get wins like this,'' Stuart said. ``Wins like these are special.''

• Hialeah 21, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 7: Led by running back Jerron Seymour, the T-Breds (5-3) surged to the win over rival Hialeah-Miami Lakes. Seymour, a junior, rushed for a game-high 179 yards on eight carries with two scores.

T-bred quarterback Juan Soto helped his team to a 14-7 lead just before the half after connecting with Craig Wilkins for a 48-yard reception, setting up a 23-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Spence.

Seymour sealed the win as time expired in the third quarter with an electrifying 45-yard touchdown run. The standout junior put his team on the board on the unit's first play of the game with a 79-yard touchdown run.

-- JAMES OYOLA

• Thursday -- Palmetto 13, Homestead 10 (3 OT): Dylan Dunlop hit a 27-yard field goal in the third overtime to lead Palmetto past Homestead 13-10 at Harris Field.

-- ALEX OPPENHEIMER

• Thursday -- Carol City 34, Goleman 6: Carol City won its fourth consecutive game and clinched the District 12-6A title at Traz Powell Stadium. Carol City (5-3, 4-0) has one district game remaining -- against American next Friday. Goleman is 2-6 and 0-3.

-- J.T. WILCOX

GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL

• District 16-1A -- Final -- Miami Christian d. Redland 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20: Andrea Garcia had 18 kills, five aces. Alexandra Marchese had 34 assists, four aces. Nicole Beckelheimer had 23 kills, 10 blocks, MC 19-3.

• District 16-6A -- Final -- Ferguson d. Lourdes 25-14, 16-25, 25-21, 25-22: Kristin Walewski had 54 assists, two aces. Daniel Pohl had 22 kills, two blocks. Valerie Mejia had six aces, five kills. Fer 19-5.

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