Booker T. running back’s breakout season continues as Tornadoes advance over Carol City
Devonta Freeman did it. So did Duke Johnson.
Miami Booker T. Washington senior Antwan Smith joined those two Miami-Dade County rushing legends who are among the rare few in county history to run for over 300 yards in a playoff game.
Smith’s performance on Thursday night during a 27-13 victory for the Tornadoes over Miami Carol City in a Region 4-2M quarterfinal at Traz Powell Stadium stirred up memories of past performances by some of the county’s greats.
Smith ran for a school-record 325 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries to help Booker T. (9-2) continue its comeback season and advance to the regional semifinal next week where it will face Miami Norland. The Tornadoes won their first playoff game since winning the school’s sixth state title in 2019.
“I just wanted to bring my team the victory, that’s all,” Smith said. “I just try to get one percent better every day.”
Smith’s mark fell 94 yards short of the county single-game record of 419 yards set by former University of Miami and Coral Gables star and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Frank Gore in 2000.
But Smith did something even Gore was unable to do in his prep career - eclipse 300 yards in a game in the postseason.
The performance wasn’t just impressive, it was needed as the Tornadoes relied even more on their running game after starting quarterback Claudell Sherman exited the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return. Booker T. coach Tim “Ice” Harris said after the game that Sherman could have returned, but was held out for precautionary reasons.
Smith brought his season total to 1,477 yards and now has 21 touchdowns.
“We’ve trained for him to show he can be one of the elite backs not just in the county or the state but in the nation,” Booker T. coach Tim “Ice” Harris said. “We have to keep working with him and continuing to make sure he’s running track in the offseason.”
Booker T.’s defense forced three turnovers as Ronald Beliard, Tristan Ramsey and Lineten Belizaire each had an interception. Xavier Irvin caught four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Carol City (5-6), which was making its first playoff appearance since 2019, tied the game at 7 on Amare Lee’s 16-yard touchdown catch from Max Civil late in the first quarter. On the ensuing drive, Smith broke loose for an 86-yard touchdown run that put the Tornadoes ahead for good.
Smith also had a 57-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and posted four runs of 40 or more yards. But turning short-yardage runs into big gains is how Smith, a 6-foot, 215-pound junior, does some of his best work.
“He’s a wrecking ball,” Booker T. running back Gerald Modest said. “You don’t wanna mess with him.”
Although Modest had only 30 yards in Thursday’s game, he and Smith have formed a solid potent 1-2 punch in Booker T.’s backfield this season, and helped the Tornadoes become more of a rushing team after years of being more of a passing team.
Booker T. has amassed 2,602 yards as a team on the ground.
“I love that for (Smith) because he has been working hard since he got here,” Modest said. “He earned it and some more colleges should start looking at him.”
This story was originally published November 10, 2022 at 11:40 PM.
