True North finding its balance on offense as it vies for another deep playoff run
Anyone watching the up and coming True North football team the past couple of years knows the Titans can sling it.
The combination of freshman quarterback Zach Katz and sophomore J-Roc Lopez showed that again on Thursday night connecting on three touchdown passes.
But when the Titans can run the ball just as prolifically, they become one of the more dangerous teams in South Florida.
Freshman Jonathon Bueno’s 198 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries complemented True North’s passing attack during a 48-16 lopsided win over Miami Westminster Christian in a Region 4-1M semifinal at Tropical Park.
“In the games we’ve had great success, we’ve run the ball well,” True North coach Greg Laffere said. “It’s no surprise that we can throw and everyone knows our quarterback can make plays, but you have to get them out of the secondary and running it like that helped us do that and Bueno has done a great job for us all year. We have great skill guys but when our big guys (up front) play well, it always gives us a chance.”
True North (9-2) will next host Miami Archbishop Carroll in the Region 4-1M final next Friday at Tropical Park at a time to be determined.
The Titans are trying to advance to the state semifinal for the second consecutive season.
“We lost some super valuable guys from last year and they built our program from scratch,” Laffere said. “That leadership part of it and the mentality we’ve had to find it again this year. When our focus and desire is there, we feel like we can beat anyone.”
Katz completed his first nine passes and went 14 of 17 for 322 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Lopez caught six of those passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns.
But it was the ground attack led by Bueno that helped True North control the game especially in the second half where True North scored 35 of its points.
Westminster Christian (5-6) controlled time of possession in the first half led by Jarvis Johnson, who finished with 121 yards on 17 carries.
Katz, though, capitalized on two True North drives with some precise passes and connected twice with Lopez from 16 yards out.
Johnson appeared ready to put the Warriors on the board and cut True North’s lead to one score when Christian Garcia made the defensive play of the game. As Johnson was stood up by multiple True North defenders at the Titans’ 2-yard line, Garcia ripped the ball from his grasp and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown to push the edge to 20-0.
Westminster quarterback Jason Barket answered with the first of two touchdown passes when he found Connelius Miller open over the middle for a 77-yard score.
“They did a great job in the first half possessing the ball and we didn’t do a good job of tackling and that let them extend drives,” Laffere said. “But we held them down and in the second half it was just a battle of big plays and we got a few more. Our guys responded and it’s playoff time so guys knew they had to get it done or go home.”
Katz counterpunched for True North by hitting Lopez with a slant pass he caught and raced 55 yards to the end zone.
“The connection started building last year,” Lopez said. “We became good friends and our personalities match on and off the field and we’ve built something that will last long after this. Without the o-line and Bueno, what me and Zach do wouldn’t open so I’m really grateful for them.”
Katz then threw his best pass on a deep route down the sideline to Josh Reyes for an 81-yard score.
After Westminster cut the deficit to 34-16, Bueno broke loose on a 52-yard touchdown run. Tight end Reed Ramirez closed the scoring when he lined up at running back and scored from a yard out.
“We’re bigger, faster and stronger and I really feel like we’re going to make a state run this year,” Lopez said.
This story was originally published November 16, 2023 at 11:34 PM.
