Miami Norland upends four-time champ Miami Central with thrilling overtime comeback
Miami Norland’s football team knows it has to beat the king if it can claim the crown.
The Vikings took a big step toward their goal of sitting on the throne of Class 2M on Friday night by pulling off a dramatic 29-26 overtime comeback win over four-time reigning state champion Miami Central at Traz Powell Stadium.
After having two potential go-ahead extra points blocked earlier in the game, Norland sophomore kicker Noah Sidan’s 35-yard field goal in overtime lifted the Vikings to their first win over the Rockets in over a decade and secured them the District 13-2M championship.
Sidan showed poise after the Rockets first called a timeout to ice him before what was initially a 30-yard attempt. Then, Norland committed a false start penalty just before Sidan split the uprights. Sidan then reset from five yards further away and split the uprights again, setting off a wild celebration.
“This is my first ever big time kick and after I made that first one, there was no doubt in my mind I would make it. I said this is gonna be the kick that will beat Central,” said Sidan, who grew up playing soccer, plays goalkeeper and only took up place kicking six months ago. “I liked the icing and I made it so I was kind of (ticked), but my coach talked to me and I got my mind off of it. It felt amazing.”
Norland (7-0, 3-0 in district), which loaded up its roster this offseason in an attempt to prove it could truly contend for its first state championship since 2011, made a clear declaration of its legitimacy with comeback wins in back-to-back weeks over Central (3-3, 1-1) and Miami Booker T. Washington.
“I’m so proud of the resilience of this team and that’s a testament to our coaches because we coach these kids hard just for these situations,” Norland coach Daryle Heidelburg said. “To take over the territory you have to kill the king and they’ve been king for a long time. But this isn’t the same old Norland.”
Several players from Norland’s last state title team in 2011 including former University of Miami standout and Miami Dolphins running back Duke Johnson were in attendance. They saw the Vikings, who entered the week as the second-highest ranked team in South Florida per the FHSAA’s power rankings behind only Hollywood Chaminade, erase a 20-0 halftime deficit a week after rallying from a late 18-7 deficit to beat Booker T.
“We really saw it in ourselves that we could come back,” Norland quarterback Ennio Yapoor said. “We will forever be coming and we will keep fighting. We made a statement that we will not lose. And I’m making a statement that I’m the best quarterback in South Florida.”
Central re-took the lead 26-20 with 5:17 left in the third quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Anjuan Coleman. The Rockets missed a two-point try instead of attempting an extra point. Central’s kicking game was limited on Friday after starting kicker Kristian Hobbs was injured this week in practice.
The Vikings would answer in the fourth quarter on Yapoor’s second touchdown pass - a 14-yarder to Jade Card in the back of the end zone. But Sidan’s extra point was blocked as it was earlier in the half following a game-tying 90-yard interception return for a touchdown by Anthony Mattison.
Yapoor completed 11 of 23 passes for 148 yards and was held to 26 yards on the ground as he was sacked six times.
Both teams failed to score on their final two possessions sending the game to overtime.
Central came close to taking the lead on its overtime possession when Coleman made a one-handed catch on a crossing route, but was tackled short of the goal line on fourth down.
“The defense stayed on it and kept getting us the ball back,” Yapoor said. “When I saw how hard they were fighting for us, I know I had to fight just as hard for them.”
The Rockets, who entered the week still ranked 10th nationally by MaxPreps, dominated the first half thanks largely to its defense and quarterback J.C. Evans, who ran for two touchdowns and connected with Khaleal Sterling from 21 yards out for a passing score.
E.J. Marcelin had a dominant game for the Rockets on defense with four sacks and eight tackles for loss.
But Norland opened the second half with a quick score as Juan Rodriguez broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run.
Donovan Philord’s interception off a deflection on Central’s ensuing drive set up a 7-yard touchdown pass from Yapoor to Terrence Honeywood. Yapoor escaped a tackle on the play and found Honeywood just beyond the goal line as he made a diving catch for the score.
Norland can secure another championship next week when it plays for the GMAC title against defending Class 4M state champion Columbus on Friday at 7:30 at Traz. Central will next take on Miami Southridge in the GMAC series.
This story was originally published October 14, 2023 at 12:52 AM.
