North rallies to top South in Miami-Dade County All-Star game
From the exceptional athletes on the field to the sporadic sloppiness and somebody even showing up late, the 21st annual Miami-Dade County All-Star football game was as Dade County as can be on all accounts.
In the end, several of Dade County’s finest seniors put their talents on display one last time in an exhibition, and behind some clutch Carol City Chiefs, the North All-Stars won 23-16 on Saturday night in windy conditions at Curtis Park with kickoff delayed 45 minutes because the North team arrived late.
The North’s offense also showed up late. After scoring just a safety in the first half, the North came back from a two-touchdown, first-half deficit with the rest of its scoring done after halftime.
Down 16-15 in the fourth quarter, a Carol City combination came through for the North when quarterback Stephen “Buckshot” Calvert drilled a pass to the back of the end zone to receiver Steve Newbold, who stayed inbounds with some impressive footwork. The two then hooked up again on the two-point conversion to go up the decisive seven points.
“Just a Carol City connection,” said Newbold, a Southern Illinois commit who was recently offered by Western Kentucky.
“I ran my route, got open and the rest was just knowing where I was on the field.”
Another pair of Chiefs made key defensive plays on the South’s final drive. Defensive back Brian Lanier recorded the clinching interception, and defensive tackle David Hood had a sack two plays earlier.
Jackson’s Desmond Phillips, who won All-Star Game MVP, took a quarterback keeper 80 yards for a touchdown on the North’s opening play of the second half to ignite the offense.
“I talked to them at half and told them we had to get right, and we got our stuff together,” Phillips said.
Phillips’ play was of particular intrigue because the one-time UM commit being recruited by colleges at receiver was to line up at the position he’d play in college.
Phillips caught a pair of passes and showed solid route-running technique and ability to hold on to a catch upon taking a hit.
Between Phillips and Newbold, the North scored a defensive touchdown when Northwestern’s Steve Henderson picked up a fumble and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown after Champagnat defensive end Thierry Lafortune initially had the defensive fumble recovery and had the ball stripped from him. Henderson also had a fourth-quarter interception.
It was clear the teams were taking a playful approach to the exhibition from the start. When Columbus quarterback Alex Ros hit teammate Jerron Rollins on a 2-yard pass for the exhibition’s opening touchdown, the entire South sideline ran onto the field to celebrate in the end zone. The North team responded by also rushing the field each time it scored in the second half and attempted an onside kick on the opening kickoff and later a fake punt after getting stopped on its first offensive drive.
The Ros-to-Rollins hookup made for an all-Columbus opening score that even saw Explorers kicker Corey Pastor kick the extra point.
“Me and Ros, we’ve got that bond, so you know that’s unbreakable,” Rollins said. “Ros always makes the right decision, and I was just open at the time.”
Added Ros, who threw two first-half touchdowns: “To come out here and play with these guys for one last time is just a great experience.”
Ros later threw a dump-off to Westminster Christian wide receiver Elbre Gaiter and he evaded a few would-be tacklers to dive over the pylon for a 17-yard touchdown that put the South up 14-0.
“It was just fun,” Gaiter said. “I’m out here having fun, trying to make the play exciting.”
South Dade running back and UM commit Jawon Hamilton, who won the South Florida Player of the Year Award presented by Warren Henry Auto Group and Tournament of Champions Inc. on Friday, was active in the first quarter carrying the ball and put the South in position to take the initial lead.
Jackson’s Christian Pinder was recognized as a scholar athlete at halftime for his 4.5 grade point average.
▪ Kreul Classic — Archbishop Carroll 63, McArthur 61: AC (12-2): Anglada 16, Silva 10, Rosario 10, Garcia 8, Villamil 8, Miralles 6, Deribeaux 5. MCA: Johnson 25, Belvin 8, Dawkins 7, Millwood 6, Brown 6, Labastille 4, Deshabor 4. HT: AC 35-28. Rebounds: Silva 7. Assists: Villamil 4. Three-pointers: Villamil 2, Miralles 2, Silva, Rosario, Deribeaux, Johnson 2.
▪ Rock Holiday Tournament Semifinal — Belen 59, Coral Reef 58: BEL (10-2): Torres De Navarra 5, Salazar 4, Cabrera 3, Mejer 3, Rodriguez 12, Bravo 2, Romeu 24, Barnola 2, Carrillo 4. CR (10-1): Ruiz-Cabo 4, Perez 3, Boria 6, Vreones 2, Arabitg 10, Iser 4, Bryan 10, Hoccombe 19. HT: BEL 37-31. Rebound: Rodriguez 9, Romeu 9. Assists: Rodriguez 4.
▪ Falcon Holiday Classic Championship — Archbishop McCarthy 68, Northwest Christian 35: AM: Arocho 2, Diaz 15, Messer 16, Thomas 10, Avila 6, Guelce 6, Jameau 4, Taylor 5, Chary 4. NC: Moncur 3, Valcour 10, Morrisett 2, St. Jean 20. HT: 52-23 AM. Three pointers: Diaz 3, Messer 3. Rebounds: Arocho 10. Assists: Thomas 6. Steals: Arocho 5
▪ Westwood Christian 59, Park Vista 53: WWC: Dowouna 20, Ametepe 8, Monell 15, Guitian 12, Molina 5. Rebounds: Dowuona 15. Steals: Monell 4. Assists: Monell 6. Blocks: Dowuona 6.
▪ Hialeah Educational Academy 49, International School of Broward 44: HEA (7-4): Cedeno 11, Torres 8, Correa 2, Nadal 2, St. Clair 16, Lara 10. ISB: Colson 23, J. Milien 2, Anderson 9, M. Milien 5, Nijah 2, Hassan 1, Colliot 2. Rebounds: St. Clair 14. Blocks: St. Clair 5. Half: 28-19 ISB.
▪ Mater 79, Southridge 65: MA: Mejia 12, Diaz 4, Frye 30, Stern 2, Monsanto 14, Elam 11, Duquesne 6. SH: Dean 6, Chavoler 16, Menalz 6, Figuera 2, Keller 22, Gonzalez 11. HT: 43-31 MA. Assist: Frye 7. Rebounds: Stern 8. Steals: Mejia, Frye 4. Blocks: Diaz, Stern. Three-pointers: Keller 6.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
▪ Bulldogs Holiday Classic — Cypress Bay 77, Miami Christian 32: MC: Porrota 12, Allen 2, Alonso 4, Torres 1, Diaz 13. CB: Alan 23, Lizano 24, McCree 8, Fenster 2, Maldonado 2, Steele 1, Lopez 16, Holbert 1. HT: 50-22 CB.
▪ Bulldogs Holiday Classic — Northwestern 63, Miami Beach 28: MB: Garay 2, Martell 3, Palacios 8, Stubbs 7, Dalphe 8. NW: Delgado 9, Dumas 6, Bell 9, Pratt 18, Everett 13, Mills 6, Walton 2. HT: 25-15 NW.
▪ Bulldogs Holiday Classic — Keys Gate 53, Varela 51: KG: Denis 20, Velez 12, Tyre 8, Calderon 8, Moore 3, Caban 2. VAR: Polanco 22, Iglesias 13, Nieto 6, Mohammad 5, Chirino 3, Chaname 2. HT: KG 34-22.
▪ Pace 66, Kathleen 37: KAT: Thomas 10, Cawady 5, Laster 9, Johnson 10, Inman 1, Hinson 2. MP: Jenkins 15; Wilson 22; Petitcar 5; Johnson 4; Narin 8, Samuels 8, Barber 2. HT: 15-34 MP. Three-pointers: Wilson 6. Rebounds: Narin 8. Assists: Jenkins 5. Steals: Johnson 4.
BOYS’ SOCCER
▪ Ransom Everglades Invitational — Ransom Everglades 4, American 0: Michael Colonna 2 goals, Patrick Geraghty, Jackson Mihm 1 goal each. RE 13-4.
▪ Ransom Everglades Invitational — Ronald Reagan 3, Varela 2.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
▪ Trivalley Classic Final — St Thomas 5, Liberty 2: Chloe O’neill 4 goals. Bella Dorsey goal, 2 assists. STA 15-0-1.
WRESTLING
Ronald Reagan 34 Doral Academy 24.
Ronald Reagan 36 Western 24.
Cooper City 57, Coral Park 21.
Cooper City 52, Coral Gables 30.
Cooper City 48, Coral Springs 27.
Mcarthur 66, Doral Academy 12.
Mcarthur 42, Norland 32.
Mcarthur 48, Coral Park 36.
This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 11:17 PM with the headline "North rallies to top South in Miami-Dade County All-Star game."