Miami Central pulls away from Booker T. to set up regional final rematch with Norland
Central’s football team didn’t look ahead until the job was done on Friday night.
And that’s just how coach Jube Joseph likes it.
“Next!” Joseph shouted less than a second before all his huddled players echoed the word loud and in unison.
The Rockets’ focus helped them dispatch one of their biggest and toughest rivals, Booker T. Washington, 35-13 in a Region 4-2M semifinal at Traz Powell Stadium.
What’s next?
The highly-anticipated rematch with Miami Norland next Friday at the same place in the regional final.
“We’ve had that playoff mentality since our last loss. We program them to fight through adversity,” Joseph said. “Whoever’s next has our undivided attention. That’s who we focus on. Next play, next day. I love their focus and attention to detail.”
Senior wide receiver/defensive back and FSU commit Lawayne McCoy was one of the most intent on the task at hand as he led Central (8-3) scoring two receiving touchdowns, catching five passes for 42 yards and recording a key interception in the second half.
“I always tell Lawayne he could have played in the ‘iron man football’ era,” Joseph said. “He has a gritty personality. He prepares himself throughout the week to put his body through that. And the IQ he possesses to be able to play like that on offense, defense and special teams.”
The Rockets beat Booker T. for the ninth consecutive time and second time this season.
Next, they will try to avenge one of their three losses, and the one that has stung the most since Norland (12-0) beat them 29-26 in overtime.
“It’s just focusing on the next task at hand. It’s going to be us worrying about being more attention to detail and focusing up during practice,” McCoy said about the upcoming Thanksgiving week preparing to face Norland again. “We face a lot of stuff in practice so when it comes to the game we don’t think.”
Central’s focus had it prepared for a dangerous Booker T. squad regardless of who the Tornadoes (9-3) would start at quarterback. Senior Claudell Sherman, who did not play since Oct. 6 when he suffered a collarbone injury against Norland, warmed up pregame.
But sophomore Anthony McQueen started and took every snap for Booker T.
McQueen got off to a good start on the Tornadoes’ second drive, finding Antonio Branch for a 21-yard touchdown pass and Booker T.’s only lead at 7-0.
But Central answered with back-to-back touchdown drives as Jayden Ford scored from 25 yards out to tie the game. McCoy would later catch a sideline pass from Antonio Smith, break a tackle and run 30 yards for a go-ahead score.
Central switched quarterbacks midway through the game and JC Evans helped the Rockets break the game open with a 5-yard touchdown run and two touchdown passes. McCoy caught a beautiful fade route in the corner of the end zone on Evans’ first. On the second, Evans found speedy Khaleal Sterling on a deep route for a 38-yard score.
The Rockets’ defense did the rest, sacking McQueen six times led by Armondo Blount and E.J. Marcelin, who each had two.
