Miami Central survives test from Northwestern as longstanding rivals deliver a classic
It felt like the old days again on Friday night at Traz Powell Stadium.
The crowd packed the grandstands on both sides of the stadium while the bands from each school provided the soundtrack from the extra bleachers that were brought in.
The voice of longtime announcer Willie Wilcox booming over the loudspeakers of the place he dubbed ‘The Mecca.’
And Miami Central and Miami Northwestern dueling until the waning moments of what was a vintage performance between the two long standing rivals.
In the end, Central escaped with a 34-30 comeback victory over Northwestern in a Region 4-2M semifinal.
A late defensive stand by the Rockets coupled with a gutsy performance from quarterback Keyone Jenkins and their running game helped Central maintain its place atop this series and on course for a potential fourth consecutive state championship.
But Northwestern’s inspired performance reignited Miami-Dade County’s premier rivalry after Central had recorded consecutive blowout wins over the Bulls the past two seasons.
“They fought back. They took a punch and they fought back,” Central coach Jube Joseph said. “I’m big on impact and I know these kids are equipped with the tools where if there’s adversity, they know how to fight through it.”
The Rockets (11-0), ranked No. 3 in the nation by MaxPreps, will next face Miami Norland on Friday at Traz at 7:30. Central’s national title hopes also got a potential boost after a team it beat earlier this season - Bradenton IMG Academy - upset No. 2-ranked St. Frances from Baltimore on Friday night. Central could move up to second behind only California powerhouse Mater Dei.
Northwestern (6-5), which lost to Central 42-7 on Oct. 7 in a game it played without multiple key players including quarterback Taron Dickens and running back Jamari Ford, nearly avoided losing its fourth consecutive game against the Rockets.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, their hopes were dashed after those two were unable to hook up for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown with 3:19 left in the fourth quarter. On fourth and goal from Central’s 5 — after the Rockets had denied the Bulls on three previous plays inside the 10 — Dickens rolled out and threw across his body into the end zone. The throw was just a step behind Ford, who got hands on it but couldn’t corral the pass, turning the ball over on downs.
Central ran out the clock from that point on, with Jenkins completing a pass over the middle to Lawayne McCoy on third and 11 to pick up a first down.
“I live for those types of games,” Jenkins said. “I put the team on my back and handled business. We know how to fight adversity.”
Northwestern struck quickly and often as Dickens found Andy Jean for a 47-yard completion down the sideline to set up a 3-yard touchdown pass to Ford moments later — the first of three Dickens would throw in the game.
The Bulls, who lost their previous two games against the Rockets by a combined score of 91-13, built a 21-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. They got there when Dickens lobbed a perfectly-thrown ball to Jean, who broke away from his defender and completed an 80-yard touchdown catch and run.
Jenkins, who committed to his “dream school” Auburn on Saturday afternoon, led the Rockets back on a long touchdown drive capped with his 1-yard sneak into the end zone.
Central then made a critical play on special teams when Jaizaih Lugo blocked a Northwestern punt to set up Jenkins’ next score from 3 yards away to tie the game at 21 just before halftime.
Jenkins scored three rushing touchdowns while Nicholas McCall led Central’s rushing attack with two touchdowns of his own.
The Rockets ran for over 100 yards.
“A lot of my teammates realized we can’t have another game like that in the playoffs,” Jenkins said. “The running game came through big time for us.”
The lead would change four more times in the second half.
After a 25-yard field goal by Derek Fletes gave the Bulls a 24-21 lead, Central answered on McCall’s 1-yard touchdown run with 5:22 left in the third. Northwestern took a 30-28 lead when Dickens found Adam Moore for a 19-yard touchdown pass on a fade into the corner of the end zone.
Central’s Deandelo Thompson blocked the extra point, which would prove crucial later on after the Rockets re-took the lead by four on McCall’s second touchdown plunge with 8:38 left in the fourth.
Once the Bulls’ drive stalled at Central’s 5, they could have had the option to try a tying field goal had they converted that extra point. Instead, they were forced to go for it on fourth down.
“We embrace games like this,” Joseph said. “It shows character. I always tell my guys, I’d rather have character over talent. Our guys had the will to win.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2022 at 1:34 AM.
