Miami Central Continues Dynasty

     The Miami Central Rockets captured their second straight FHSAA Class 6A title and their third in the past four seasons as they beat the Armwood Hawks 52-7 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Saturday afternoon. The Rockets joined Booker T. Washington and Champagnat as the third Dade County school to win a state championship in 2013.
     Miami Central(14-1) jumped out to a 14-point lead during the first quarter. On the first play of their second possession, running back Dalvin Cook sprinted down the right sideline from 37 yards away to give the Rockets a 7-0 lead at 6:46.
     On the following possession, the Rockets extended their margin to 14-0 with 4:01 left in the first as running back Malik Adams went around the right end for a five-yard touchdown to finish a five-play, 45-yard drive.
     In the second quarter, Rockets wide receiver Da'vante Phillips caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Keith Reed in the front of the end zone at 6:12.  It was step up from the ensuing play on a 41-yard punt return by Phillips to the Hawks 19-yard line.
     Armwood(14-1) finally got on the scoreboard with 1:21 left in the first half as quarterback Noah Johnson found Trevor Laurent on a corner route from 11 yards out. It completed a six-play, 37-yard drive as the Hawks trailed 21-7. They got the possession when cornerback Kyle Gibson picked off a pass from Reed at the Armwood 48-yard line.
     The Rockets kept the momentum following the halftime break as they added two touchdowns early in the third quarter and increased their lead to 35-7. Cook rushed in with a five-yard touchdown at 10:32 and ended a five-play, 85-yard drive to begin the second half. Cornerback Tavius Jones intercepted a pass on the left side and ran the ball back 43 yards down the sideline for a score at 9:29.
     Rockets linebacker Donna Thompson made an interception at the Hawks 30-yard line. Kicker Beymar Piraquive extended the lead to 38-7 with 1:59 left in the third as he kicked a 43-yard field goal.
     Cook showed his explosive speed on the first play of the fourth quarter as he sprinted up the middle for an 80-yard touchdown run at 11:48 making it 45-7. He added a five-yard run through the right side of the line for a score with 7:10 left following a punt block by Jamel Cook three play earlier to make it 52-7.