Poll: Which Dade high school football player do you think is the Offensive Player of the Year?
The 2022 high school football season is coming to a close and once again Miami-Dade County has had its share of top performers.
This week, the Miami Herald is asking you to vote on who you think was the best of those performers on offense in Miami-Dade County this season.
Below is a look at 10 of the top candidates from this season. Take our poll below to cast your vote. The poll will be open until Monday, Dec. 19, around 10 p.m. We will have a similar poll to cast your vote for the county’s top performer on defense next week.
You may vote as often as you like until then.
Here are the candidates:
▪ Keyone Jenkins, Miami Central: Entering the Class 2M state final, Jenkins had completed 129 of 206 passes for 2,128 yards, 24 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also ran for 278 yards and nine touchdowns to put the Rockets in position to win their fourth consecutive state title.
▪ Ennio Yapoor, Miami Norland: Yapoor was one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the state, completing 159 of 226 passes for 2,924 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing for a team-high 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns.
▪ Alberto Mendoza, Miami Columbus: Entering the Class 4M final, Mendoza completed 186 of 256 passes for 2,470 yards, 34 touchdowns and seven interceptions to lead the Explorers back to the state final for the second time since 2019.
▪ Antwan Smith, Miami Booker T. Washington: Smith ran for 1,530 yards and 21 touchdowns on 180 carries (8.5 yards per carry) to lead the Tornadoes’ revival this season and a Class 2M regional semifinals appearance.
▪ Taron Dickens, Miami Northwestern: Dickens completed 137 of 212 passes for 2,233 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions while also rushing for five touchdowns to lead the Bulls to a district championship and the Class 2M regional semifinals.
▪ Mark Wilder, Doral Academy: Wilder led the county in rushing with 2,169 yards and 24 touchdowns on 255 carries (8.5 yards per carry) while leading the Firebirds to the Class 4M regional finals.
▪ Joshua Townsend, Homestead: Townsend completed 89 of 153 passes for 1,632 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions to lead the Broncos to their first-ever appearance in a state championship game.
▪ Nicholas Lardizabal, Coral Reef: Lardizabal ran for 1,771 yards and 22 touchdowns on 200 carries (8.9 yards per carry) to lead the Barracudas to a 9-2 record and the GMAC Independents championship.
▪ J-Roc Lopez, True North Academy: Lopez caught 70 passes for 1,275 yards and 13 touchdowns to help the Titans advance to the Class 1M state semifinals for the first time.
▪ Alejandro Isaza, Archbishop Carroll: Isaza ran for 1,286 yards and 18 touchdowns on 140 carries to lead the Bulldogs to the Class 1M regional playoffs.
▪ Julius Pascal, Dr. Krop: Pascal ran for 1,466 yards and seven touchdowns and also caught 18 passes for 310 yards to lead the Lightning to the Region 4-3M semifinals.
This story was originally published December 14, 2022 at 10:59 AM.