Central changes quarterbacks after season-opening loss to Lakeland, blows out Edison
Jube Joseph’s wardrobe made a statement Saturday when Miami Central pounded Edison, 54-7, at “Traz” Powell Stadium.
A collage of great Central running backs—Dalvin and James Cook, Devonta Freeman, Willis McGahee, Najeh Davenport and more—covered his stomach. The words “Legends Never Die” stretched across his chest. The Rockets began their season with a rare loss last week and their coach wanted to do everything he could to get his players to get back to playing like Central.
“That was very intentional,” Joseph said. “That was to make you understand the brand of football that we play here at Miami Central—physical, ‘Running Back High.’ Legends never die at ‘Running Back High.’”
In Week 2, the Rockets (1-1) looked like themselves again. Central racked up six sacks and five takeaways, and scored once on defense—and came 5 yards away from a second defensive score in the third quarter. Three different Rockets ran for touchdowns. Central never trailed, led 27-7 at halftime and triggered a running clock on the final play of the third quarter when they went up 48-7 on the Red Raiders.
Most importantly, the Rockets put together their rout of a quality opponent by going back to basics.
“We just rededicated ourselves to offensive line work and just executing on offense,” Joseph said. “Defensively, we just play a physical brand of football, and that’s just who we are and the kids showcased that on the field.”
After mustering just eight points in its season-opening loss to Lakeland on Aug. 23, Central made a quarterback change for its second game, sending Penn State commit Bekkem Kritza to the bench and inserting fellow quarterback Anthony McQueen, much more of a rushing threat, into the starting lineup in Miami.
For most of the first half, the quarterback didn’t matter much. Florida Atlantic commit Zion Paret intercepted Edison quarterback Emmanuel Poitier on the second play from scrimmage to set up Rockets running back Nicholas McCall for a 3-yard touchdown and then Central linebacker Karon Maycock returned a fumble for a touchdown later in the first quarter to give the Rockets a quick 13-0 lead. In the second, Paret nabbed another interception to set up star running back Jayden Ford for a 23-yard touchdown run and Central was up 20-0 without completing a single pass.
“We’ve got dogs on defense,” McQueen said. “Whenever we feel like we can’t score, we depend on defense. They’re going to make it happen.”
Early on, McQueen put some pressure on the Red Raiders (1-1) with his legs and helped open lanes with the mere threat of his mobility on option plays. Later, he made plays, too.
In his first start as a Rocket, McQueen went 5 of 8 for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and ran five times for 44 yards and another touchdown. Kritza, who played in the second half, also threw a touchdown pass. Central got touchdown catches from Florida commit Naeshaun Montgomery, Pittsburgh commit Kha’leal Sterling and FCS Wofford commit Anjuan Coleman Jr.
“He gives us a different dynamic, as well,” Joseph said of McQueen. “Kritza is still a great kid. Both those guys are Division I football players, but this week we just felt as if our offense needed a little spunk.
“It’s talent all around at Miami Central and if you can play, you’re going to play.”