Four-star receiver Mills aiming to push Homestead over final hurdle to first state title
Homestead’s Cortez Mills doesn’t want any more state runner-up medals.
For two years, Mills, a four-star senior wide receiver who recently committed to Oklahoma, has had to settle for second-place as the Broncos were twice denied a state title by national powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas.
“I don’t like that feeling of losing our last game,” Mills said. “It’s my senior year so I have to step up and get all of us a ring.”
Mills and the Broncos began working on that goal back in January.
The next step in their preparation begins Monday as high school football teams around the state of Florida start fall practices.
And for the first time in three seasons, the Broncos would not have to face Aquinas at state should they return to the finals this season after the Florida High School Athletic Association shifted its district alignment back to seven classifications.
Homestead is in a challenging Class 6A, however, that includes a number of strong opponents including Coconut Creek Monarch, which was a state semifinalist last season.
Mills (6-1, 175 pounds), who has drawn comparisons to Philadelphia Eagles receiver Devonta Smith, enters the season ranked as the No. 26 overall prospect in the state and No. 21 among wide receivers.
He is coming off a spectacular junior season in which he set Miami-Dade County single-season receiving marks with 79 catches for 1,640 yards and scored 18 touchdowns.
But Mills, who has been spending the offseason training and mentoring the team’s younger receivers, can’t wait to make his final opportunity to secure a state championship count before he heads off to play for the Sooners in the revamped SEC.
“I just teach them what I learn and make sure they get things right,” Mills said. “I’m just a dog and I just work and grind day in and day out.”
But while Mills is a familiar face around the Homestead football program, several of the names on the roster have changed.
Mills will be catching passes from a new quarterback this season.
The Broncos graduated multiple key players with none bigger than three-year starter and two-time Miami Herald Offensive Player of the Year Joshua Townsend.
Enter 6-3, 195-pound senior Malachi “Bubba” Lewis, a transfer from Montclair High in New Jersey, who shined all summer on the 7-on-7 circuit and the Broncos expect to emerge as one of the top quarterbacks in the state this season.
“We’ve been bonding with our new quarterback and building that timing every day,” Mills said. “As soon as he got here, you could tell he is a great quarterback and has great technique. He fit in perfectly with our program and play style. We’ve just been building our bond and creating a connection.”
Lewis, who committed to Youngstown State earlier this month, led Montclair to a state final last season, but came up short in that game.
That shared hunger for a championship with his new teammates is something he hopes will create even more motivation.
“It’s something we have in common and we want to accomplish the mission together,” Lewis said. “One of the reasons I came down here is because it’s different. It’s all about football and that’s what I wanted. I got lucky. I have a great coaching staff and one of the best receiving corps in the country.”
Mills, senior Kevin Cascuda, who had 52 catches for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and Darriel Harper, who is coming off injury, headline a strong group of receivers.
Homestead lost standout running back Isaac Brown to graduation. But coach Ron Thornton has a strong group, which includes junior Kemari Morrison, sophomore Cecil Smith and Jocarian Garrett, a transfer from Cottondale, that he expects to collectively pick up the slack in the backfield.
On defense, Homestead lost some stalwarts including linebacker Eduardo Nunez, but returned five starters including defensive back Semaj Smith and Thornton’s son, Ronnie Thornton III, who saw numerous snaps during Homestead’s playoff run.
“It’s exciting times,” Thornton said. “Joshua Townsend was a heckuva guy. But it’s working out for us. Bubba has fit right in with the guys.
“It was really important to get back to it early to identify the leaders and deal with any issues you get when you lose such a big group. We’ve been at it since January and finding out who our leaders are going to be and finding out who’s ready to maintain the standard.”
