The success of Miramar's football program has not come overnight. The groundwork for the 2008 season began when Rodney Gray was the head coach and current top Patriot, Damon Cogdell, was the assistant a few years back. This was a tremendous defensive football program before the offense ever made it out of the gate.

Throughout the years, the Patriots have always had the talent, and while West Virginia-bound quarterback Eugene Smith and his band of offensive weapons have elevated the team to within one game of playing for the school's first state boys' football title, the true success of this program is the athletes who have poured in from youth programs as far away as Bunche Park and Miami Gardens in Northwest Miami-Dade to the Miramar Wolverines, who have been successful at Forzano Park.

Miramar has long been a place where college coaches have hung around to see what talent they could take back with them, and while Smith and his many capable senior athletes have a chance to step into the largest spotlight ever Friday night at Lockhart Stadium (7:30) against two-time defending state champion Northwestern, there is concern that after this season, things will return to 5-5 and 6-4 instead of dominating the way they have the past two years.

JUST BELIEVE

''We have to believe that what we built here is a program and not just a team,'' said Cogdell, who is bidding to be the first coach in Florida history to win a state title as the head coach of a flag football team (he won two years ago) as well as a boys' squad. ``I have to think that out underclassmen are part of the reason why we are in this position.''

The senior class is the best the school has produced. Not just because of Smith, who has been one of the most productive passers in the history of South Florida, but the role players who have stepped in to make an impact.

Athletes such as receivers Stedman Bailey (West Virginia) and Terrance Gourdine, running backs Orwin Etkins and Cle-Artiss Davis, defensive back Tremaine Shepherd, defensive lineman Mario Archer, and offensive linemen Morrell Pierre, Jacoy Brown, Vincent Westcarr and a number of others.

But as much as the focus is on this one game, many fans are asking if the Patriots can keep things going into the future. Are there enough capable athletes coming back to keep this program that a level where all of Florida has been watching and following?

UNDERCLASSMEN WILL HELP

While much of the focus has fallen on the seniors, there are underclassmen who figure to keep the Patriots at this level for the next year or so.

On offense, there are impressive receivers Ivan ''Sticks'' McCartney, Jason Maxwell, Hagan Anozard, Adrian Taylor, Derius Silas, Rashad Gholston and Dante Chambers, who came up with the huge catch against Cypress Bay. While Trevon Griffin has played receiver, he was viewed as someone who could move into the quarterback position next season.

The line is also deep with Steve Heriveaux, Kevin Magalaman, Troy Gregg, Derick Lloyd, Leeward Brown and 6-4, 285-pound Shakeem Jefferson. Kicker Julian Garcia is also a tremendous prospect.

Defensively, linebacker Jamaal Bass is already being recruited by several colleges. So is fellow linebackers Stephen Blissett, Julian Francis, Andre Hibbert, Jamal Roye and Dominick Bryan, and defensive backs Donald Jackson, Renaoldo Rolle, Mahlik Hunt and Robert Levison. There are also linemen Sir Christian Gordon, Jaquis Tauriac, Victor Cobham, Derrick Connor and Jermaine Archer.

The Patriots have a number of sophomores who will add to the depth next season. Defensive lineman Jordan Burdi is one of those athletes.

''Yes, this senior class is special, but we have to believe that there are players coming back who will keep this program at the level its at right now,'' said Cogdell.

ALL-STAR GAMES

A number of area athletes will be taking part in national all-star games throughout the holidays.

In Orlando, at the Under Armour game in the Citrus Bowl, Palmetto running back Jamaal Berry (Ohio St.), St. Thomas receiver Duron Carter (Ohio St.), Hallandale's Ricardo Dixon and Victor Marc (USF), Pahokee standout Nu'Kese Richardson (Florida) and Gulliver linebacker Frankie Telfort will be on hand for this impressive event.

The annual Army All-American game in San Antonio will also attract some of the nation's elite players with Ely defensive back Michael Carter, Palm Beach Central linebacker Jon Bostic and Plantation standout Brandon McGee (Miami) taking part in this tremendous game.

The Offense-Defense game will move from Miami to Myrtle Beach, S.C., this year and will feature Miramar's Stedman Bailey (West Virginia) and Morrel Pierre, Killian's Lamar Miller (Miami), Deerfield Beach quarterback Denard Robinson and Columbus defensive end Caesar Rodriguez on Jan. 2.

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