Behind its senior running back, Miramar beats Southridge to reach regional final
Nate Henry knew the game — and the chance to extend his high school career by at least another game — was likely going to fall on his shoulders. The senior running back had been the engine for Miramar’s offense basically all night Friday in the Patriots’ Region 4-3M semifinal against Southridge, so why would it be any different on their final drive with the game on the line?
“I knew my team needed me to make a play,” Henry said.
In a game that featured five lead changes and came down to the wire, Henry made one final play.
His 8-yard rushing touchdown with 1:20 left in regulation put Miramar up for good in its 29-24 win over Southridge. Miramar (10-1) advances to the regional final for the first time since 2013 and will face Homestead for a spot in the state semifinal.
“It means everything,” Henry said. “Everybody wants to be the guy for their team to showcase their talent.”
Henry certainly showcased his talent Friday.
He ran for three touchdowns to give Miramar’s offense a needed jolt. His other two scores came from 45 and 6 yards out to give the Patriots a 12-7 lead after the first quarter.
“Just growth,” Miramar coach Antwan Scott said of Henry. “He came early in the summer and busted his tail. He had a slow start at the beginning of the season. We always knew we were going to need him down the line. Just to see what he has done, I’m proud of him.”
Quarterback Kael Alexander also threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to put Miramar up 20-14 at halftime.
Southridge (7-5) took the lead each of the three times it scored a touchdown only for Miramar to ultimately respond each time.
The Spartans took an early 7-0 lead when they marched 73 yards down the field on their opening drive, capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass from Damari Charlton to Glenn Smith III before Henry scored his first two touchdowns on back-to-back drives.
Southridge then went back up 14-12 with 5:40 left in the first half when running back Alton Smith scooped up a blocked field goal attempt and ran into the end zone unopposed. Miramar responded with Alexander’s passing touchdown.
Both teams exchanged field goals to start the second half before Southridge once again took the lead, this time 24-23, with 7:14 left to play on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Charlton to Darius Clements. Two drives later, Henry put Miramar back up for good with his final touchdown run and Miramar got a final stop to keep its season alive.
“I’m just glad my team really, really believed,” Scott said. “We were knocked down. They punched us first in the stomach, but my team fought back.”
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