Booker T.’s win over Norland shows state powerhouse status has been quickly restored
Walking down Booker T. Washington’s sideline on Thursday night was like taking a stroll through the school’s rich football history.
Many of the architects of the Tornadoes’ six state championships were on hand including former stars Brandon Harris and Tim Harris Jr. - both of whom now coach in college at FAU and UCF respectively.
Booker T.’s coaching staff is replete with alumni including passing game coordinator Davon Johnson and running backs coach Eduardo Clements.
It’s all part of the tradition that head coach Tim “Ice” Harris’ current team is quickly restoring this season.
The Tornadoes gave another demonstration Thursday night of how far they’ve come in less than a year as they dominated previously unbeaten Miami Norland 41-23 at Traz Powell Stadium.
The victory put Booker T. (6-1) in position to clinch the District 14-2M championship if it can beat Miami Northwestern next Saturday night at Traz.
“We go back to our training in the spring and the summer and what we put our kids through when we play games like this,” Harris said. “We wanted to assemble a team like this that knew how to handle games like this and that’s why we didn’t shy away from this kind of schedule this year…We just continue to take our steps every day and you could tell this team is headed to be pretty good in the future.”
Booker T.’s offensive line helped establish its running game, which rushed for over 200 yards and built a 27-2 lead late in the first half.
“None of those guys have played high school ball before,” Harris said. “We have a bunch of freshmen and (offensive line) coach (Shanton) Crummie has done a great job in terms of getting them to play and keep growing and getting better.”
Senior wide receiver Xavier Irvin made the biggest impact, however, and did so on defense.
Irvin intercepted two passes and secured a fumble by Norland quarterback Ennio Yapoor in the red zone. Despite Irvin then being tackled in the end zone during the fumble return for the Vikings’ first two points, the takeaways set the tone for the Tornadoes.
“He’s doing what you want seniors to do and come in and be that pillar for your team,” Harris said.
Booker T.’s two-headed backfield of juniors Gerald Modest and Antwan Smith each eclipsed the 100-yard mark. Smith scored twice on short-yardage touchdown runs of 5 yards and 1 yard while Modest broke loose through the middle of Norland’s defense for a 24-yard score.
Tornadoes’ speedy sophomore wide receiver Andre Brown Jr. caught a pair of touchdown passes from 23 and 45 yards out from quarterback Claudell Sherman.
Norland (4-1) managed to keep the game competitive in the second half thanks to its own running game led by senior Javin Simpkins, who scored three rushing touchdowns.
Booker T.’s defense, however, frustrated Yapoor throughout the game, sacking him three times and forcing four turnovers overall.
“We just have to continue to grow and get better and we know ‘the West’ is coming,” Harris said. “We have to be perfect to beat a team like that and that’s what we’re fighting to be.”
This story was originally published October 7, 2022 at 8:50 AM.
