Friday, December 13, 2024

American Heritage Takes Jones & Class 4A Title

     The American Heritage Patriots held off the Jones Tigers 40-31 on Friday night at Pitbull Stadium in Miami for the FHSAA Class 4A state championship. The Patriots captured their first state title since 2020 and their sixth overall football championship in school history. The Tigers made their first state final appearance since 2019 and attempted to win their first state title. 
     Jones(14-1) scooted out to a 7-0 lead at 7:32 of the first quarter. Quarterback Dereon Coleman sprinted down the field on a 16-yard touchdown run. 
     American Heritage(12-2) responded on their next possession and made it 7-3 with 2:13 left in the first. Gavin Harvey was able to kick a 31-yard field goal. 
     The Patriots took their first lead 10-7 at the 9:09 mark of the second quarter. Quarterback Malachi Toney threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jamar Denson in the middle of the field. 
     The Tigers was able to even it up 10-10 with 6:36 remaining in the second. Kason Mullis booted a 41-yard field goal.  
     The Pats reclaimed the lead 17-10 with 1:23 to go in the second. Toney rushed through the right side from one yard away.  
     In the second half, American Heritage scored on the first play of the third quarter for a 24-10 advantage. Brandon Bennett returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for the score 15 seconds into the half. 
     Jones answered back on their next drive at the 10:07 mark of the third and they were down 24-17. Coleman sneaked the ball in from one yard out. 
     The Patriots moved it back to a 14-point margin 31-17 with 2:51 left in the quarter. Running back Byron Louis raced up the middle for a three-yard touchdown. 
     The Tigers began to mount a comeback with 1:09 remaining in the third and trailed 31-24. Coleman sprinted through the middle from five yards away for his third touchdown run of the contest. 
     In the fourth quarter, Jones tied the game 31-31 at 9:07. Running back Jaquail Smith rumbled through the left side of the line from eight yards out. 
     American Heritage regained the lead 37-31 on their ensuing possession with 8:54 remaining in the fourth. Louis rushed down the left sideline on an 80-yard touchdown run for his second trip into the end zone tonight. Harvey later picked up a 28-yard field goal with 4:45 left in the fourth for a 40-31 lead. 

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