Antwan Smith’s rushing key once again for Booker T. in rebound victory over Southridge
Booker T. Washington’s deflating loss to Miami Northwestern last week cost it a chance to win the District 14-2M title in what’s been a resurgent season under returning coach Tim “Ice” Harris.
Southridge, coached by former Booker T. assistant Pierre Senatus (in his first season with the Spartans), had the opposite result as it pulled off one of its biggest wins in recent memory, beating Homestead to win its first district title in four years.
But the trends for each team would flip on Friday afternoon at Traz Powell Stadium.
Led by running back Antwan Smith’s 151 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, the Tornadoes rebounded with a 35-21 victory over the Spartans.
“It’s been great for him because we wanted him to turn things up,” Harris said. “We brought his weight down and got it under control and he’s going to run track, which will only help him get faster and get better. We see something every week that impresses us so we just have to keep coaching him hard and keep him going through the process.”
Booker T. (7-2), which is still very much in good shape to reach the postseason as an at-large qualifier, ran for 250 yards overall and built a 28-7 lead before halftime on Gerald Modest’s 63-yard touchdown run.
Tornadoes quarterback Claudell Sherman threw a pair of touchdown passes to Xavier Irvin while Jaquentin Ford and Cordell Roberts each had two sacks on defense. Ford also blocked a punt which led to a first-half score.
“We knew it was going to be tough seeing what coach Pierre is doing over there with his staff, same as us and he’s putting it together the right way,” Harris said. “This win was big for us. There’s a lot of things we have to continue to work on in terms of finishing games.”
Southridge quarterback Damari Charlton threw for 200 yards and three touchdown passes, completing one to Jaquan Reed and the other to Cameron Owens in the first half. Charlton’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Joe Scott pulled the Spartans (4-4) within 14 points with six minutes left in the fourth.
But Smith, who surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season, helped seal the victory by picking up multiple first downs on the Tornadoes’ final drive. Even more impressive and meaningful for Smith is the fact he has scored 18 touchdowns this season, which has been vital to Booker T.’s turnaround this season.
“It’s been great because it helps my team win,” Smith said. “I just wanna bring my guys up every day. I’m a natural born leader.”
MORE SCORES
FRIDAY
No. 1 Central 42, No. 4 Columbus 35
No. 2 Chaminade-Madonna 63, Avant Garde Academy 0
No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas 37, Monarch 6
No. 5 American Heritage 35, Naples 17
No. 6 Cardinal Gibbons 31, Bradenton Manatee 20
No. 15 Coconut Creek 41, McArthur 13
No. 20 Gulliver 17, Belen Jesuit 7
Archbishop Carroll 50, Westminster Christian 15
Archbishop McCarthy 21, Belle Glade Glades Day 14
Benjamin 28, Calvary Christian 21
Boyd Anderson 8, Coral Springs 0
Cypress Bay 39, Cooper City 0
Goleman 35, Miami Beach 8
Hallandale 28, Taravella 7
Jackson 27, Coral Gables 7
Kings Academy 28, True North 23
Marathon 67, Palm Glades Prep 28
Monsignor Pace 25, La Salle 0
Mourning 17, Southwest 16
Palmer Trinity 51, Everglades Prep 0
Pembroke Pines Charter 32, Nova 14
Pine Crest 55, Westminster Academy 14
Ransom Everglades 51, Florida Christian 0
Riviera Beach Inlet Grove 26, Hollywood Hills 14
St. Brendan 42, Somerset Charter Homestead 14
South Plantation 33, Everglades 32 (OT)
Stranahan 21, Coral Glades 0
Sunset 40, Hialeah Gardens 10
SATURDAY
No. 9 Dillard 35, Fort Lauderdale 0
North Miami Beach 32, Killian 8
This story was originally published October 22, 2022 at 12:55 AM.
