Berkeley Prep Stuns Unbeaten Norland

TALLAHASSEE – When Tampa Berkeley Prep beat Plantation American Heritage in the 2M state semifinals, 17-14, last week, Miami Norland was warned that they need to go to the state finals and take care of business - early.

With the Buccaneers known as a ball control offense that eats up clock, the last thing the nationally rated Vikings needed to do had turnovers and continue to keep giving the opponents a chance. They didn't!

On Saturday morning, as overwhelming favorites in the state title game at Bragg Memorial Stadium at Florida A&M University, Norland dropped a 28-20 decision to head coach Dominic Ciao and Tampa Berkeley Prep, ending a dream that began with a win over Lakeland in the first game of the season. It was Ciao's first state title in his 17 years at the school.

Coach Daryle Heidelberg and Norland never got in the flow and dropped the game.

The Buccaneers broke on top with 10:05 left in the opening quarter when Cooper Hayes found [player_tooltip player_id='826589' first='Dallas' last='Golden'] for a 26-yard touchdown score and a 7-0 lead.

The Vikings came back to even the contest up at 7 when junior QB [player_tooltip player_id='826621' first='Ennio' last='Yapoor'] found speedy Ivory Aikens from the 29 at the 6:46 mark of the second quarter.

With the help of three Norland turnovers, Berkeley Prep extended their lead to 14-7 with 3:10 left in the first half.

The Buccaneers (13-2) kept the pressure on in the second half when Hayes found Joseph Troupe from seven yards out and a 21-7 advantage with 1:10 left in the third quarter.

The Vikings (14-1) went into scramble mode when Yapoor took it in from the 4 to end the quarter after driving down the field.

Berkeley Prep's lead was extended to 28-13 with when Hayes scored on a one-yard run with 5:37 left.

The Vikings kept things within striking distance when senior running Juan Rodriguez took a 26-yard pass from Yapoor at 4:36 mark, but Berkeley Prep used their ball control offense to wrap the game up.

THE STATS!

On offense Berkeley Prep was headed by Golden who finished with 154 yards on the ground. Troupe finished with 128 yards.

Yapoor finished with 260 yards on 15 completions and 2 scores. Rodriguez (75 yards) and Yapoor (62 yards) kept the team in the game. Aiken caught 4 balls for 111 yards.

On defense, Dion Cooper and Juelz Aurelian finished with 8 tackles, Titus Bullard (1 sack) and Owen Watts had six.

Anthony Mattison sparked the Vikings with 12 tackles, [player_tooltip player_id='1546044' first='Adrian' last='Farrow'] (9 tackles) and [player_tooltip player_id='404258' first='Jamari' last='Howard'] finished with 6.

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