American Heritage pushes through setbacks to edge Plantation for district win

No one would argue that American Heritage is the same team that put together a Week 1 comeback for the ages on national TV.

A series of crippling injuries to key offensive players made sure of that.

But after a 28-13 gut-it-out win over host Plantation Friday night, the Patriots still look to be the class of District 15-4A -- at the very least.

Transfer quarterback Leon Strawder threw for a touchdown and ran for another during a get-right second half Friday, helping his new team snap a three-game losing streak.

Strawder was a Northwestern Bull the last time Heritage had won, a 31-28 thriller against St. Joseph’s (Pa.) Prep on ESPN 2.

Heritage’s quarterback then was Dia Bell, the five-star Texas recruit who suffered an unspecified season-ending injury that he said required “an unexpected, minor procedure that need[ed] to be addressed.”

That prompted Heritage coach Mike Smith to dip into high school’s version of the transfer portal and lure Strawder, a senior who won a state title with the Bulls in 2024, out of Miami-Dade County.

Why was Strawder the right fit for Heritage?

“Because he’s a winner and he was available and he was looking for a new beginning,” Smith said late Friday. “With Dia going down, we’re lucky to have him. You don’t come across guys like that that are winners. Once he gets comfortable -- he’s only been here two weeks.”

So how is Strawder’s understanding of the offense?

“It’s getting there,” Strawder said with a smile postgame. “It’s getting there.”

He looked like a guy with two weeks’ worth of experience in the offense early on. He threw two first quarter interceptions -- the first to Marlin Johnson, who returned it some 60 yards for a touchdown -- and took a third-down sack inside the 20 to stall another drive.

In all, Plantation held Heritage to just five first downs in the first half.

And yet, the Patriots took an 8-7 lead into the break thanks to field goals of 32 and 41 yards by Kade Bailey and a safety gifted by errant snap on a would-be Plantation punt.

The only productive offensive player on either team in the first half was running back Dylan Bennett, a converted linebacker who got carries due to the absence of ailing star tailback Jonathan Bueno.

So it was fitting that Bennett scored the first offensive touchdown of the game, a two-yard plunge set up by a botched kickoff return by Plantation to start the second half.

The Colonels’ special teams more than atoned for it on the ensuing kickoff. Zakari Johnson broke loose on the return and would have had a touchdown if not for a horse collar tackle by Bailey inside the 10.

Plantation cashed in with a six-yard touchdown pass from Eumarion Beal to Devon Pierre.

Those good vibes lasted all of two plays from scrimmage. Strawder found a streaking Coi Jean-Noel down the left sidelines, and the Georgia Tech commit did the rest, showing off elite speed and outrunning the entire Colonels defense for a 68-yard touchdown.

Plantation’s hope of a comeback effectively ended on the home team’s next possession. Despite driving inside the 5, the Colonels came away scoreless due to a second-and-goal strip sack of Beal.

The result put Heritage no more than two wins away from yet another trip to the FHSAA playoffs. At 1-0 in league play, the Patriots are tied for first atop the 15-4A standings with Archbishop McCarthy, which beat Norland on Thursday in both of those teams’ district opener. Heritage hosts Miami Norland on Oct. 10 before visiting McCarthy the following week.

Based on how the last month has gone, good luck guessing what the Heritage available roster will look like then.

“This is our fifth game of the season,” Smith said. “I feel like we’ve played a complete season already, man.”

This story was originally published September 27, 2025 at 4:28 AM.