Season Ends With A Title For American Heritage

On Friday night at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University, the Plantation American Heritage Patriots captured their sixth state football title when they knocked off previously unbeaten Orlando Jones, 40-31, before over 3,000 supportive fans.

Larry Blustein December 14, 2024 @ 06:44 AM

While University of Miami junior commitment Dereon Coleman Dereon Coleman 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Orlando Jones | 2026 State FL did his best to prevent the Patriots (12-2) from winning the 4A state title – adding 257 total yards and three touchdowns, it was Hurricane 2025 signee Malachi Toney Malachi Toney 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Plantation American Heritage | 2026 FL (188 yards passing) and Florida signee Byron Louis Byron Louis 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Plantation American Heritage | 2025 State FL (223 yards and 2 touchdowns) that sparked this team all evening.

Jones (14-1) opened the scoring at the 7:32 mark of the opening quarter when Coleman ran it in from the 16 for a 7-0 advantage.

When Gavin Henry booted a 31-yard field goal with 2:13 left, it cut the Tigers' lead to 7-3.

American Heritage took the 10-7 lead with 9:09 left in the second quarter when Toney found junior Jamar Denson Jamar Denson 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Plantation American Heritage | 2026 State FL from 26 yards out.

Jones tied the game at 10-10 with 6:36 left when junior Kason Mullis Kason Mullis 6'1" | 175 lbs | K Bartow | 2026 FL connected from 41 yards.

The Patriots took the lead heading into halftime when Toney scored from the 1 and a 17-10 advantage.

American Heritage wasted no time getting the second half under way when junior speedster Brandon Bennett Brandon Bennett 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Plantation American Heritage | 2026 State FL returned the kickoff 97 yards for a 24-10 advantage.

The Tigers would not be denied on the following drive when Coleman took it in from the 1 and made the score 24-17 with 10:07 left in the third quarter.

When Louis carried it in from the three with 2:51 left in the quarter, the Patriots went up 31-17.

The crazy back and forth contest saw Coleman cut the lead to 31-24 in the wild third quarter with 1:09 left in the third quarter when he took it in from the five.

The game was far from over as senior Jaquail Smith tied the game to 31 with 9:07 left in the game.

The Patriots once again took the lead with 8:54 left on an 80-yard run by Louis, but the point after failed and American Heritage led 37-31.

With 4:45 left, the Patriots put it out of reach when Harvey kicked a 28-yard field goal.

“This feeling is amazing,” said Louis. “You look at what this team has gone through this year and finishing it off with a state championship is something you cannot put into words.”

STATISTICS TELL THE STORY

The Patriots had 21 first down to Jones' 18. The Tigers ran for 229 yards and the Patriots had 227.

American Heritage threw the ball for 188 yards while Jones had 152 in this even and competitive matchup.

Defensively, Quinton Evans and Deandre McDaniel Jr. had 10 tackles and Fred Ards added eight for Jones.

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