Goenaga (5 TDs) leads Miami Palmetto to district title-clinching win over South Dade
Miami Palmetto’s defense has been among the stingiest in Miami-Dade County so far this season.
But if the Panthers are going to make a serious run at the Class 4M state title, they know their offense must improve.
On Thursday afternoon at Tropical Park, Palmetto’s offense responded when it found itself in a shootout with rival South Dade.
Led by senior quarterback Lucas Goenaga, who accounted for a career-high five touchdowns, the Panthers held off the Bucs for a 42-34 victory and clinched the District 16-4M championship.
“This was a great win,” Goenaga said. “We didn’t expect this game to go like this so we needed the offense to score some big points and we did. I don’t think I’ve had a game like that in my career. It was the district championship and it was great to do in a game like this.”
Palmetto (6-1, 2-0 in district) held the No. 2 seed in Region 4-4M entering the week according to the FHSAA’s power rankings, and will finish the regular season with games against Miami Dr. Krop and Miami Beach.
South Dade (5-2, 0-1) entered the week as the sixth seed in the region and can solidify its chances of earning an at-large playoff berth if it can win any or all of its remaining games against Miami Booker T. Washington, Coral Gables and Miami Southridge.
Goenaga completed 17 of 23 passes for 283 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for two touchdowns and totaled 50 yards on 10 carries.
Fadrelle Andrus caught seven of his passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
“From where we were last year, we’re doing a lot better this year and I’ve been feeling a lot better,” Goenaga said. “Fadrelle is my guy. I played with him when I was younger and just all my receivers, I love them. They’re great.”
Goenaga’s two TD runs came in the fourth quarter and helped hold off South Dade, which countered with its own big play offense led by Demetrius Williams, who ran for 100 yards and three touchdowns on only six carries.
Kymani Corbett entered the game at quarterback for South Dade and completed 7 of 9 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
After falling behind 28-6, the Bucs pulled within a touchdown in the third quarter on Corbett’s 40-yard touchdown to Mark Brandt. But Goenaga answered with a 10-yard touchdown run on Palmetto’s next drive.
Williams’ third touchdown from 10 yards out with 8:09 left in the fourth cut South Dade’s deficit to 35-27. But again, Goenaga led a touchdown drive that he capped with a 4-yard score with 4:30 left.“It was a big statement game for our offense,” Goenaga said. “We hadn’t been scoring a lot of points so this was big, very positive.”
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