Coral Gables outplays sloppy Miami High

Coral Gables’ state-title hopes are still alive, thanks to quarterback Voshon Waiters, an opportunistic defense, and some big catches by Kemore Gamble and Jaylin Clark-McNatte.

Gables defeated Miami High 22-12 on Friday night at Curtis Park, winning the annual battle between District 14-8A rivals.

Miami High (5-2, 2-1) had four first-half turnovers but still trailed just 16-12 in the fourth quarter when Waiters hit Clark-McNatte with a crucial 35-yard pass play. Clark-McNatte caught the ball just before he went out of bounds on the right sideline.

That set up Waiters’ 24-yard run with 6:12 left, which virtually put the game away for Gables (5-2, 2-1), which started the season as a team that was considered a serious contender in Class 8A.

Gables opened the scoring on a one-play first-quarter drive — an eight-yard run off left tackle by running back Mike Keino.

The touchdown was set up by the Gables defense, which pressured quarterback Murphy Theodore into a hurried pass that was intercepted by Miguel Moore.

Gables made it 14-0 with a 75-yard second-quarter drive, which was capped by Waiters’ 41-yard touchdown pass to Gamble. Waiters rolled to his right, escaped three defenders and lofted a high pass that Gamble went up and grabbed.

Miami waited until the last play of the first half to score. Theodore threw a lateral to Pie Young, who fired a 38-yard touchdown strike to Desmond Fairell. But an excessive-celebration penalty on Miami High moved the Stings back for the extra point, which missed wide right.

With 6:18 left in the third quarter, Young scored on a 60-yard run down the right sideline. But he was called for excessive celebration – Miami High’s second such penalty on the night – and the Stings missed on a two-point-conversion try from the 23.

Gables stretched its lead to 16-12 with a third-quarter safety. Miami High, pinned in on its own five, had a bad snap and recovered in its own end zone.

Both teams were sloppy throughout.

Gables lost three fumbles and had 140 yards in penalties.

Miami High had eight fumbles, lost three, and had 125 yards worth of penalties, plus one pass intercepted.

This story was originally published October 18, 2014 at 12:52 AM with the headline "Coral Gables outplays sloppy Miami High."