Central makes latest claim as ‘Running Back High’ with 3 100-yard rushers in state title
It’s only appropriate that their jersey numbers run right in order because Thursday, like it pretty much has been all season, it was all about Nos. 3, 4 and 5.
It was showtime when the Central Rockets took the field against undefeated Pensacola Escambia on the Class 6A championship game at Daytona Stadium. And did Juan Henry, Amari Daniels and Kejon Owens — Nos. 3, 4 and 5, respectively — ever put on a show.
When it was over, all three crossed over the 100-yard barrier to lead the Rockets to a 62-27 rout of the Gators to wrap up a sixth state title and first since 2015.
But it wasn’t just about clearing the 100-yard barrier because that was actually the third time they’ve done that this year.
What they did on Thursday was turn in a record-breaking performance as they combined for 469 yards on 38 carries. Throw in another 29 yards from quarterback Katravis Marsh and Demon Brown and Central’s 498 yards on the ground set the all-time state championship game record for total team rushing yards.
The old record of 439 set by Venice in 2000 actually fell last week when Blountstown rushed for 453, but the Rockets proudly took that record as they headed back to Miami no their buses.
“This is a blessing from God and a real honor to be going into the record books,” said Daniels, who led the way with 188 yards on 16 carries and four touchdowns, including an 81-yarder for a score on the Rockets’ first play of the game. “We came into the game thinking that we could do this and run on them because we do that to everybody.
“We all know this is ‘Running Back High’ around here with everybody that has come through this program. Nobody is special or above anybody else around here and that’s why we all know that we have to share the ball. I just have a love for my brothers and who’s not going to root for your other teammates.”
Daniels is only a junior and has another year to come back and keep churning out the yards, but Owens and Henry were seniors playing in their last game, and were equally as excited and unselfish about what they accomplished as a threesome.
“We’ve got a three-headed monster in the backfield and play as a brotherhood,” said Henry, who finished with 116 yards on 12 carries. “With us it’s all about sharing the ball and pulling for each other. We all want to be the one’s to make the play, but we’re happy when the others make big plays as well. Tonight was a perfect example of that.”
Owens was at 99 yards late in the game, but exploded on the Rockets’ last drive, rushing for 66 yards to finish with 165 on 10 carries and finished in style, bolting 38 yards up the middle on his last carry to complete Central’s 62-point onslaught.
“Just a lot of hard work,” Owens said. “Our coaches coach us hard every day for a reason, to be great and keep reaching. Just coming into this game, we were prepared for this. The three of us? We motivate each other. Every time one gets going, that gets us all going. We feed off each other.”
Roland Smith certainly was beaming with pride over his ‘”Big 3.”
“When you come to Miami Central to play running back and you think you’re the top dog, you have to pump the brakes a little,” the coach said. “The thing we tell them is that you’re going to get your touches and rush for some yards but that you have to be able to be complement each other because you don’t want to be banged up. That’s why we’re so strong running the ball during the postseason because we have backs who have legs that are fresher thus they’re stronger and faster maybe than other backs.”
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 11:35 PM.
