Ennio Yapoor’s 5 TDs lead Miami Norland to crucial victory over American Heritage
Miami Norland knows it needs more than just Ennio Yapoor to achieve its goal of winning that elusive state championship.
The Vikings are confident, though, their senior starting quarterback will deliver when things get tough.
On Monday night in a pivotal district matchup against Plantation American Heritage, Yapoor came through once again, accounting for five touchdowns to lead Norland to a 32-27 comeback win over the Patriots at Traz Powell Stadium.
Yapoor, Miami-Dade County’s all-time leader in passing yards, added to that total with 247 yards on 13 of 22 passing. Yapoor was sacked six times, but also ran for three touchdowns.
“I bowed my head and prayed to God and that’s the only reason I had confidence to do what I did out there today,” Yapoor said. “I used to try to extend plays, but I did the smart thing, threw the ball away or took the sack. It was a great team effort win. I see my guys running routes now, remembering plays and making plays. To see the young cats start to do that, I appreciate it.”
The Vikings (6-1, 2-0 in District 15-4A), who face Miami Central on Friday in the GMAC championship game at Traz, can clinch a district title with a win the following week against Plantation. With the victory Monday - in a game that was played two days after it was originally scheduled due to the threat of Hurricane Milton - Norland secured potential home field advantage should it play Heritage (3-4, 1-1) again in the postseason.
“We’re rounding into form. Our first three or four games the defense outscored the offense,” Norland coach Daryle Heidelburg said. “But now we’re rounding into form through the running game and (Yapoor) is gonna do what he’s going to do.”
Yapoor’s two touchdown tosses were both crucial and spectacular.
His second, a 14-yard toss into the back of the end zone, was hauled in by senior receiver Jade Card despite tight coverage to put Norland ahead for good with 24.5 seconds remaining.
The first came with 4:01 left in the first half and with the Vikings trailing 10-6. On fourth and 18, Yapoor picked up a low snap off the ground, broke a tackle and rolled out to the far sideline. Just before he was hit by a Heritage defender, he heaved the ball more than halfway across the field to a wide open Maurice Clark, who caught it and fell into the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown pass.
“It was resilience from our whole team,” Heidelburg said. “A couple of players stepped up and that’s what we preach. Ennio is the leader and we needed him to step up. But others ran the ball well too. Jade Card, welcome to the party. This is a game we knew we needed him to show up and he came up big.”
The first touchdown pass was a play Yapoor said he had practiced a lot before, but never executed in a game.
“That was ‘Pat Mahomes-ish.’ When I saw him throw it, I said, ‘(Heck) nah, that ain’t gonna make it.’” Heidelburg said. “And he took a hit. He’s tough. It’s hard when your head coach is a former quarterback. I’m his biggest critic. That play was a game-changer for us. It was a special play by a special player.”
Norland’s defense made the big plays late, but had its hands full the entire game with American Heritage running back Byron Louis.
The senior and Florida State commit ran for 214 yards on 17 carries and scored two long touchdowns including a 68-yard run on the first play of the second half to cut Norland’s lead to 20-17.
Heritage kicker Gavin Harvey’s second of two field goals tied the game at 20, heading into the fourth quarter. There it would stay until a time-consuming drive by Norland ended with Yapoor scoring from 3 yards out with 3:52 left. The Patriots blocked the extra point to keep the deficit at 26-20.
Heritage quarterback Dia Bell, a Texas commit, nearly rallied the Patriots when he avoided the rush, sprinted up the middle, turned to the sideline and sped 67 yards for a go-ahead touchdown to put Heritage ahead 27-26 with 2:44 left.
Bell completed 9 of 18 passes for 120 yards and ran for 100 yards on six attempts.
But Yapoor wasn’t done.
He again led another methodical drive aided by multiple Heritage penalties, leading to his winning touchdown pass.
Heritage’s final attempt to come back fell short on a multi-lateral pass play that was stopped at midfield after time expired.
“It’s very important to get that home field advantage,” Yapoor said. “We don’t have to go to that hostile environment. We’ll have that Norland family backing us up. And they have to come back to ‘the Mecca’ and that’s where it goes down.”
THANKING THE DOLPHINS
The Vikings wore Miami Dolphins-themed alternate jerseys during Monday night’s game, which Heidelburg said was meant in gratitude for the Dolphins contributing to improving Norland’s practice field at the school recently.
“They do a lot for the community, all high schools,” Heidelburg said. “We teach the kids to pay homage through action. We created these jerseys as a thank you to them.”
