Homestead should be dangerous in first trip to state flag football final four

Edison’s flag football team has been to the state semifinals before.

Palmetto has been there, too. In fact, the Panthers won their first flag football state championship last year.

Then there’s the Homestead Broncos.

Coached by Jamahr Carter, the Class 3A Broncos (16-4) will be making their first-ever appearance at the state semifinals on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. in Tampa, which is the site for all of Florida’s final four flag football games.

Homestead will face Tallahassee Chiles (14-4) with the hopes of advancing to the 3A final on Saturday at 4:45 p.m.

“We’re making history,” Carter said when asked about Homestead’s season.

Indeed, Carter, 37, is 33-7 in his two years coaching Homestead.

This is Carter’s alma mater – he played basketball for the Broncos, graduating in 2006.

Now he’s coaching a veteran team that returned all but one starter from the 2024 Broncos squad that reached the state quarterfinals.

The core of the team includes three seniors who made All-State last year: quarterback Jerniyah Fowles; wide receiver/linebacker Kelis Durham; and wide receiver/safety Caitylyn Gibson.

Carter said his quarterback is the niece of retired basketball superstar Sylvia Fowles. Jerniyah, at 5-6, is one foot shorter than Sylvia Fowles.

Jerniyah, who has signed to play flag football next year at Life University, throws a “pretty” ball, according to Carter.

“She’s in full control of our offense,” Carter said. “As a four-year starter, she understands where the ball needs to go.”

Fowles has completed 72.1 percent of her passes this season for 4,407 yards, 47 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 18 games.

Durham, who has signed to play for two-time national champion junior-college team Florida Gateway College, has caught 84 passes for 869 yards and 10 TDs.

“She’s one of the best flag-pullers in Florida,” Carter said. “Not much she can’t do.”

Gibson, who has signed to play for Andrew College, is a game-breaker with 82 receptions, 1,112 yards and 24 TDs.

“She has hands like Jerry Rice,” Carter said.

The Broncos also have a talented junior in Zakieria Cobb, who has leads Homestead in rushing yards (561) and rushing average (8.8). From scrimmage, she has 1,506 yards and 13 TDs from scrimmage.

“She may be the best junior running back in the nation,” Carter said.

With all that offensive talent, Homestead should not be disregarded. In fact, the Broncos went 2-1 against the other Miami teams who made it to the state semifinals in flag football this year, splitting two games against Palmetto and beating Edison.

Since a 12-6 overtime loss to Palmetto in the GMAC final, Homestead has won seven straight games.

In the other two games involving Miami teams at state:

▪ In Class 4A, Palmetto (16-3) will play Alonso (18-2) on Friday night at 8:30. Palmetto is led by senior quarterback Ashley Alvarado, who has completed 58.1 percent of her passes for 2,249 yards, 30 TDs and 10 interceptions.

▪ In Class 1A, Edison (17-1) will play Florida State University High School (15-3) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Edison is led by junior quarterback Rakyia Louis (73.2 completion rate, 4,705 yards, 78 TDs, nine interceptions); senior wide receiver Poetry Auguste (72 catches, 1,189 yards, 21 TDs) and junior wide receiver Malayisa David (73 catches, 1,002 yards, 18 TDs).