American Heritage uses its speed, physical edge to overpower rival Cardinal Gibbons
Fast and physical.
That’s always been the mantra the Plantation American Heritage football team has lived by while building a program that’s won five state championships.
This year’s younger, yet talented group of Patriots has quickly embraced those qualities.
And on Friday night, it was on full display as American Heritage jumped all over rival Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons in the first quarter on its way to a 48-7 rout at Heritage Field.
Heritage picked up what’s historically been the key victory in its district and the first in what could be two meetings between the teams. In six of the past seven seasons, the ultimate winner of this rivalry has at least played for a state championship.
Patriots’ players and coaches both felt it was very important for their team to start fast two weeks after a competitive yet frustrating 28-16 loss to Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.
“With a loss like that, you don’t wanna lose twice and our guys did a great job refocusing,” American Heritage coach Mike Smith said. “We really focused on using our speed advantage. We wanted to make it into a track meet and felt that was going to be a big part of this game.”
The Patriots (3-1, 1-0 in District 12-2M), ranked No. 22 nationally by MaxPreps, amassed 454 total yards in the first half and led 41-7 by halftime.
They had two rushers with over 100 yards - Byron Louis and Deandre Desinor - by the end of the first quarter.
By the time Heritage quarterback Dia Bell hit receiver Brandon Bennett for a 54-yard touchdown pass with 6:40 left in the second quarter to take a 27-7 lead, the Patriots had produced five plays of over 50 yards.
“We needed to just impose our will,” Louis said. “We felt like we left the Chaminade game on a pretty good run and we just had to enhance what we’ve been working on. This is just a little piece of what we’re working on.”
Desinor, who broke loose down the sideline for a 77-yard touchdown late in the first quarter, finished with 136 yards and two scores on only nine carries. Louis finished with 135 yards on seven carries. Chance Washington totaled 12 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
“Heritage, for years, has been about running the ball and making plays and when we do that, you can’t stop us,” Washington said.
Desinor added: “From the first play, I knew I had to strike and we couldn’t take our foot off the pedal. It was shocking what we could do with just five carries each (in the first quarter). It was impressive.”
Bell completed only 3 of 9 passes for 113 yards, but threw two touchdowns including another 54-yarder early to sophomore Zamarii Sanders. Heritage also blocked a punt just before halftime that Semaj Jackson returned 15 yards for a score.
The rest was up to that “fast and physical” defense led by Omar Thornton, which kept Gibbons (3-2, 0-1 in district) in check for most of the game. Although Patrick Anderson Jr. led the Chiefs with 102 rushing yards on 21 carries, the Patriots defense made drive-ending plays like their four sacks and a fumble recovery by sophomore Aldarius Johnson. Rodarion Tellez, Omarion Abraham and Jackson Klein each had sacks.
“We just came out here and did everything we saw on the film,” Thornton said. “Our defense isn’t really big, but we’re fast and physical and we turn it on for all four quarters.”
