American Heritage Defends Its 4A Title

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Plantation American Heritage Defends Its 4A Title</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MIAMI – </strong>When Plantation American Heritage lost to Miami Central in the fourth game of the season, 31-21, back on September 19, the defending 4A state champions were 1-3, and things were not looking optimistic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Losing the top quarterback in the country (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1247423' first='Dia' last='Bell']</strong>) and several other players to injury, this is a team that had to struggle to stay in contention for a spot in the state playoffs. The didn't even win their district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Saturday afternoon in the 4A title game against Orlando Jones, the program that many had written off, won for the fifth straight time and defended their state title, 33-28, at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University (FIU).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The win for head coach <strong>Mike Smith </strong>and his team gave the Patriots a 9-5 record and a successful defense of a state title they won against Jones a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“When we schedule the teams we do, it is designed to put us in this situation,” said Smith. “Playing tougher opponents get you ready for games like this against quality teams.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a program that used players like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212281' first='Leon' last='Strawder']</strong>, who came in from Miami Northwestern in the fourth game of the season and made his mark right away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strawder ignited this program and got better every week. He won a 3A state title with the Bulls last year and was a part of Miami Central's state championship team as a freshman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also, Troy University signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='929663' first='Jamar' last='Denson']</strong>, who was not talked about much before the year began, turned out to be a gem for the team this season. He was named MVP of the contest on Saturday for once again helping to lead the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was a Jones team that came into the contest 12-2 and winners of 10 straight contests under veteran head coach <strong>Elijah Williams</strong>. But on this day, the Tigers would fall short once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers struck first at the 7:09 in the first quarter when University of Miami signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='405300' first='Dereon' last='Coleman']</strong> found <strong>Daionte Hicks</strong> from 40 yards out for a 7-0 advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After that score, the Patriots started to take over – with Strawder finding Denson at the 5:53 mark of the first half from the 14 and a 7-7 tie.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>American Heritage took the lead at the 8:30 mark of the third quarter on a five-yard run from sophomore <strong>Tremaine Mullen</strong>. The point after was not good and they lead, 13-7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots extended their lead to 19-7 with 5:08 left when Strawder found Denson again. This time from 42 yards out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Strawder called his own number from the 14, the Patriots held a 26-7 lead, heading into the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers started out the fourth quarter with a Coleman to Nebraska signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1368296' first='Larry' last='Miles']</strong> from 16 yards with 11:16 left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers used an interception from senior <strong>Marcellus Reese</strong> to set up a touchdown with 8:33 left in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Coleman, cutting the lead to 26-21.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots once again extended the lead to 12 when Mullen ran it in from the six with 3:22 left in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers wouldn't quit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Miles ran it in from the one with 2:20 remaining, the lead was cut to 33-28, and that would be the end of the Jones' threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BY THE NUMBERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strawder finished the contest 12 of 18 for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mullen carried 17 times for 84 yards and two scores and Strawder carried eight times for 71 yards and score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denson, who was named MVP for the game, caught three balls for 70 yards and two scores, Mullen had three receptions for 38 yards and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1247527' first='Brandon' last='Bennett']</strong> (2-35).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Toledo signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1799773' first='Rodarion' last='Tellez']</strong> finished with nine tackles, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1369100' first='Cory' last='Simon']</strong> (8 tackles), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212264' first='Isaac' last='Tanis'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1143080' first='Dylan' last='Bennett'] </strong>each had five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Jones, Coleman ended the game 13 of 19 for 163 yards and two scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miles led all receivers with 58 yards and a score, Hicks had 49 yards and a score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coleman carried 29 times for 137 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers were led by junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1670964' first='Frederick' last='Ards'] </strong>with seven tackles, and <strong>Quinton Evans</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1626935' first='Ryan' last='Duval']</strong> and <strong>Bertran Derose</strong> with five each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AMERICAN HERITAGE PATRIOTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Philadelphia St. Joseph's Prep, Pennsylvania, W 31-28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, L 28-24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Orleans Edna Karr, Louisiana, L 24-17 (OT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami Central, L 31-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plantation, W 28-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pembroke Pines Flanagan, W 31-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami Norland, W 41-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, L 13-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, L 19-12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Pierce John Carroll, W 50-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plantation, W 48-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Archbishop McCarthy, W 25-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee, W 31-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JONES TIGERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winter Park, W 35-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orlando Timber Creek, W 36-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orlando Evans, L 28-25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orlando Edgewater, L 20-17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kissimmee Osceola, W 28-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Auburndale, W 37-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Wales, W 48-22</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Apopka Wekiva, W 56-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eagle Lake – Lake Region, W 49-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ocoee, W 28-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deltona, W 35-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ocala Vanguard, W 29-18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Wales, W 24-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Port Charlotte, W 35-23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 PREP REDZONE FLORIDA STOCK UP EVENT. <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2137/register/stock-up-showcase-florida ">https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2137/register/stock-up-showcase-florida </a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! <a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->