Northwestern quarterback sets career Miami-Dade County passing mark in rout of La Salle
Miami Northwestern quarterback Taron Dickens didn’t let an injury earlier this season faze him.
Dickens knew there was time for he and his team to bounce back from adversity.
Now, Dickens heads into a postseason Northwestern hopes to turn into a story of redemption as Miami-Dade County’s all-time leading passer.
Dickens made history Saturday night when he broke the Miami-Dade County record for career passing yardage in the first half of the Bulls’ 44-0 victory over Miami La Salle in their regular-season finale at Traz Powell Stadium.
Dickens threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns, setting a new mark of 10,076 yards.
Dickens needed 159 yards entering the game to surpass the previous mark of 9,954 yards held by former Booker T. Washington quarterback Torey Morrison.
Dickens eclipsed that by throwing for 240 yards in the first half as the Bulls (5-4) took a 24-0 halftime lead. The Bulls were able to get Dickens the football after he threw the pass that set the record.
“My mom has the football now,” Dickens said. “She’s probably going to save it.”
Dickens was able to reach the mark before the end of the regular season despite missing two games earlier this season with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder.
The mark has been previously held by a long line of elite Dade quarterbacks such as Northwestern and University of Miami alum Jacory Harris, former Booker T. quarterback Daniel Richardson and former Miami Central and UCF quarterback Jeff Godfrey.
The Bulls, who currently hold the No. 4 seed in Region 4-2M, are off next week and are expected to host a first-round playoff game the following week. Heading into the week, Miami Carol City was the No. 5 seed and paired to face Northwestern in the first round. The playoff pairings will not be finalized until the regular season is complete following next week’s games.
“The records won’t matter after next week,” Dickens said. “We’re 0-0 after next week and that’s the mindset our coaches keep telling us we have to have.”
▪ Booker T. Washington 35, Westland Hialeah 8: The Tornadoes (8-2) have finished their regular season and will host a first-round playoff game as well in two weeks.
