Go ahead and take a deep breath Miramar.

Open those lungs and take it all in, football has never tasted this good, never this sweet and it's never been this breathless.

''I finally feel like I can breath,'' said Miramar quarterback Eugene Smith. ``I felt like I was holding my breath during [the last drive by Deerfield Beach]. And when we won it, I just took a long, deep breath.''

If you have been paying attention, you know what happened.

Of course, Miramar survived Friday in the 6A quarterfinals. Of course, Miramar staged a dramatic comeback, and of course, it came down to the final seconds.

Only this time, Miramar, which staged two last-second victories in the playoffs to get here, stopped the miracle finish to hang on and beat Deerfield Beach 34-30 at Coral Springs High.

Now Miracle-mar takes on Miami -- and the defending national champs from Northwestern on Friday night at Lockhart Stadium in the semifinals.

''One more game. One more game,'' said Ivan 'Sticks' McCartney, who made the 33-yard TD winning catch for Miramar with 3:57 left to lead the Patriots to the 34-30 lead.

It was McCartney who had set up Deerfield's final field goal. He also punts, and bolted from the end zone only to be stopped for a one-yard gain at the Miramar 15.

Deerfield took advantage and Deigo Ramos kicked in a 30-27 lead with six minutes left.

No problem.

Smith and the miracle kids came right back, and McCartney caught his second TD of the night.

I felt bad about and I wanted to make up for it,'' he said. When I caught he ball it just felt great, great.

It's not a miracle. It's hard work,'' he said. It's about this team being a team and working hard, and believing. We believe.''

It might not be a miracle, but consider this: after the TD, Deerfield drove to the Miramar 42, and on fourth and 18, Denard Robinson, who threw three TD passes and 235 yards, launched what would have been the game winner toward the end zone.

That's where Joshua Nelson made his leaping interception with 30 seconds left. It might not have been a miracle, but consider this; Nelson hadn't had an interception all year. He doesn't even start.

I put him in the game in the third quarter because one of my players was getting too many penalties,'' said Miramar coach Damon Cogdell. What a play.

I am speechless,'' he said. I have nothing to say. We'll see you and Northwestern at Lockhart.''

Nelson shouted over and over.

That was the best one, the only one. That's my first interception and my best,'' he said.

Smith, who was sacked 10 times and harassed all night, finished with another drama-filled, tossing his fourth TD of the night. He finished with 353 yards, and he finished in pain.

I got hit hard in the chest on the last play of the first half, and got poked in the eye, and they just kept pounding me,'' said Smith, who was sacked six times in the second half.

I have never played in so much pain, but we won. We won, and that's all that counts.''

Robinson threw for 172 yards and three TDs, and that was just in the first half. But he couldn't get Deerfield in the end zone after halftime. Diego Ramos kicked in his second and third field goals of the night -- a 32-yarder to open the third quarter and give the Bucks a 27-20 lead, and then he kicked the one that was supposed to be the coffin sealer with six minutes left, a 33-yarder that gave the Bucks a 30-27 lead.

But it wasn't enough.

Smith threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns -- in the first half alone.

He opened up with a 61-yard Bailey, who scored on the third play of the game, and then threw two TDs in the second quarter..

Smith hit Ivan Sticks McCartney with a 20-yard pass, and McCartney pulled off the move of the night, spinning out of the hands of two Deerfield defenders before racing down the left sideline for the 42-yard TD to lift Miramar to a 13-7 lead with 9:44 left in the first half.

Robinson and Deerfield came right back and closed to 13-10 a Diego Ramos 34-yard field goal and Robinson pulled the Bucks ahead again with a quick slant to Mikey Monmbranche, who raced untouched for a 55-yard TD. Ramos added the extra point for a 17-13 lead to cap off a drive that was kept alive with a long count on a fourth and five that drew Miramar offside. Robinson found Monmbranche on the n ext play.

Then came Smith (again). He took the snap on the very next play and went deep to Dante Chambers, who scored on a 62-yard TD to bring Miramar right back. Garcia, whose extra point was blocked after Miramar's second TD, kicked in a 20-17 Miramar lead with 4:40 left.

Deerfield, which was held on downs twice in the first half, was stopped at the Miramar 32 with 1:55 left, but got the ball right back on a botched punt. It took three plays and a 28-yard TD pass to Travis McDonald to give the Bucks the lead again -- 24-20.

Smith made a last-ditch try, driving Miramar to the 30 before he was sacked on the final play of the half.

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