West Broward rallies from 10-point deficit to advance to first state final

The celebratory fourth-quarter playing of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” from the away sideline was probably the sign that things were over. But, as has become tradition at West Broward High School during its current 12-game winning streak, A’mir Sears ensured it.

After falling down 10-0 in the third quarter, West Broward had pulled ahead entering the fourth. Then, facing 3rd-and-14 at its 6-yard line, quarterback Brandin Mincy slung the ball toward the right sideline. For a moment, it almost looked like he’d succumbed to making his punter go to work from deep within Citizens Field’s already well-torn north endzone. Gainesville Buchholz High School’s defense, for whatever it’s worth, had pressured him all night.

Yet as the ball fluttered, Sears, 247Sports’ No. 5 prospect in the Class of 2028, flew. Once on the ground, the 94 yards left before the endzone disappeared.

And, basically, ballgame: No. 3 West Broward 24, Buchholz 17.

For the first time in program history, No. 4 seed West Broward (12-2) is heading to the 6A state championship, just a 20-or-so-minute ride down from Pembroke Pines to FIU’s Pitbull Stadium next Friday.

“This win just cements everything we’ve done to get here,” West Broward coach Brian McCartney said. “We’ve worked hard, and when we went down, I had no doubt this team was going to come back. That’s all they’ve done, no matter the opponent.”

This week’s contender was no slouch, by any means. His band ventured five hours north to face No. 1 seed Buchholz (12-2) on its home field Friday, cementing another tradition along the way. Buchholz has now lost in the state semifinals five consecutive years. The tears that coursed down cheeks as the buses loaded outside the stadium were understandable.

Again, this might just be what Sears and Co. do, though. Facing top-seeded Southridge a week ago, West Broward fell behind 14-0. With another stellar performance from the starring receiver/cornerback, it came back. So when Sears started rolling toward what ultimately became a 138-yard evening, the deficit didn’t really seem to matter.

First came a 27-yard reception, in which he leapt over a defender, quite literally, for the grab. Then a pass interference drawn in the endzone after Buchholz decided two defenders wouldn’t be enough of a tally for No. 1. And a drive later, the touchdown.

“Their defense is good, man, so it took some time for us to adjust,” Sears said. “But when we got into rhythm, this is just what our offense can do.”

Mincy finished with over 200 yards after a shaky first half, though. West Broward’s rushing attack is really what started the stampede.

With Buchholz quarterback Andrew Whittemore playing through a hand injury — resulting in two late-game interceptions as Buchholz turned to the air — the school opted for a wildcat-heavy attack with top-200 University of Florida signee Justin Williams running point. He carried the ball 14 times as Buchholz took its early lead, and the pace of play slowed immensely.

So, in a fistfight, it was only natural that West Broward’s first of four consecutive scoring drives came on the ground, with running back Daquan Adderley rushing for a 70-yard score early in the third quarter. He finished with 128 on the night.

“We just found what we were trying to do,” Adderley said. “Once that one broke, it felt like everything started to roll.”

West Broward will now face the reigning champion, West Boca Raton High School, in the state championship — the appropriate crowning duel. After a rapid ascension to state contention over the last two years, just to start this season 0-2 before its current unprecedented run, taking down the looming beast is the only way this could end.

Not that West Broward would want it any other way.

“We’re the best team in the state,” Sears said. “People are just starting to see what we do.

“And I kinda like teachin’ folks.”

This story was originally published December 6, 2025 at 7:03 AM.