The defending FHSAA Class 5A state champion American Heritage Patriots came back to defeat the Immokalee Indians 28-21 at Heritage Field in Plantation on Friday night in a state semifinal. The Patriots advanced to the title game for the fourth time in the last five years and will play Baker County next Friday afternoon at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The Pats had won Class 5A state championships in 2013, 2014 and 2016.
American Heritage(12-0), who expanded their winning streak to 26 games, scored on their first possession at 8:10 of the first quarter. Quarterback Cameron Smith threw up the middle to wide receiver Marcus Lodge for a 67-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.
Shedro Louis intercepted a Smith pass at the Indians 30-yard line. Immokalee(12-1) evened it up at 7-7 on the final play of the first with no time remaining. On a 4th-and-10, quarterback R.J. Rosales found running back Fred Green on the right sideline for a 42-yard pass play.
The Indians got the only score in the second quarter. American Heritage fumbled the ball away on a handoff and linebacker Samuel Edison recovered it at the Patriots 35-yard line. Louis caught a 24-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to give them their first lead 14-7 at the 9:41 mark.
The Patriots tied the contest 14-14 on their first drive of the third quarter. Smith rushed through the middle, broke a couple of tackles and scored from 62 yards away at 10:45.
Ellias Cuervas attempted a 25-yard field goal and the Patriots were called for offside to give Immokalee a first down. On the next play, former American Heritage running back Abraham Alce busted through the middle for a touchdown from four yards out with 1:28 left in the third to give them a 21-14 advantage.
The fourth quarter belonged to American Heritage as they compiled 14 points. Running back Tyler Jones slipped by the left side of the line and scored a five-yard touchdown at 10:09 to tie the game 21-21.
The Indians punted the ball away and the Patriots scored on the first play of their next possession. Running back Miles Jones found a hole through the middle and pulled away from the Immokalee defenders for a 73-yard touchdown run with 8:40 left in the fourth.
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