Palmetto loses heartbreaker to Miami Central. Here’s how it happened.
The players dropped to the turf inside Harllee Stadium, hands either over their helmet or holding their helmet that they just ripped off as emotions engulfed many on the 2019 Palmetto High football team.
The Tigers had just taken Miami Central, a five-time state championship program, to the brink of defeat.
A final two-minute drill drive was all that separated Palmetto High from scoring the biggest touchdown in program history in more than 30 years.
Instead, the drive ended rather quickly. Xavier Williams’ pass to Kobe Mays turned into a fumble when Central’s Rickey Wright jarred the ball loose.
Rather than celebrating a victory that propelled Palmetto into the FHSAA Class 6A state title game on Dec. 12, the Tigers were left to wonder what could have been after a 34-30 loss to the Rockets.
“This group was special,” Palmetto head coach Dave Marino said. “This group was state championship special. And we let this one get away, and that’s going to hurt.”
The Rockets face Pensacola Escambia, which defeated Tampa Gaither 45-21 in the other semifinal, for the 6A title in less than two weeks.
“I just wanted it more,” said Wright, one of Central’s senior defensive backs, about the pivotal play. “Just for my team.”
Central (11-3) controlled the line of scrimmage in the first half with their patented running game, while the Tigers (12-2) capitalized on big plays to stay close, down just 21-16 at halftime.
After scoring on the second-half’s opening possession, Palmetto extended its lead to 30-21 before Central (11-3) scored the final 14 points.
The game, which had several momentum-swinging plays, took its final turn in Central’s favor with Palmetto’s final two possessions.
The Tigers had the ball in Central territory following Eddravian Butler’s big kick return. Xavier Williams then threw an apparent 35-yard touchdown pass to Sagel Hickson to put Palmetto back in front, but it was negated by a holding penalty.
Multiple false start penalties on the drive also stunted the Tigers’progress, and they turned the ball over on downs in the final minutes.
But Palmetto’s defense forced Central into a quick three-and-out to get the ball back with less than two minutes remaining. But the fumble ended their chances at victory.
Central chewed off the remaining clock to secure the program’s first state championship game appearance since 2015.
“Palmetto, they have a great team, great coaching staff, great environment,” Central head coach Roland Smith said. “Our kids withstand all they had to fight (Friday) and were lucky to come out of here with a victory.”
Central scored on drives of 11, 14 and 14 plays during the first half. The Rockets’ long scoring drives, where they pounded the ball on the ground, limited Palmetto to only 13 offensive plays — minus punts — in the first two quarters.
Central led by only five points, though, because of a bad snap on a punt that resulted in a safety and Palmetto’s Daemon Hill returning an interception 103 yards for a touchdown.
“When I grabbed it, I knew it was a big game so big-time players make big-time plays,” Hill said. “So I had to take it home and put some points on the board for the defense.”
Smith said the Rockets were battle-tested, having played nationally-ranked St. Frances (Baltimore, Maryland), Booker T. Washington, Northwestern and other top schools in South Florida. He credited the tough schedule for preparing his players against a difficult Palmetto team..
Smith said Palmetto had one of the better offenses they’ve faced this year and the best they’ve encountered in the playoffs so far.
“We wanted to keep up the tradition of winning,” Smith said. “The last time we had a team that won a state championship came from Miami through here in 2011 was Miami Norland with Duke Johnson. I told my guys, ‘We need to be that next team to do the same thing.’ Because we like to represent our county and our league year-in and year-out.”
Following last week’s region victory over Punta Gorda Charlotte, Marino said his players were hungry, and he could still hear the screams and cries from that 2011 loss to Norland.
“We had no business being on the field with Norland,” Marino said. “We’re a better football team (than Central). What are you going to cry about? You lost focus. ... You’ve got to learn to be a little more focused and hungry and disciplined.”
Marino said he hopes the underclassmen learn from the game. Specifically, the self-inflicted penalties that hurt the Tigers in the pivotal fourth-quarter moments.
“As coaches, we’ve got to do a better job of emphasizing it and the players have to do a better job of embracing it,” Marino said.
The Tigers have 25 seniors on their roster, many that played key roles on this year’s team.
Hill was one of them, but he also has several colleges after his talents. For many others, it was their final high school football game.
“A lot of people on this team don’t got offers,” Hill said. “I knew it hurt.”
This story was originally published November 30, 2019 at 5:30 AM.
