Miami Northwestern Wins 3A Title Over Raines

     The Miami Northwestern Bulls knocked off the Raines Vikings 41-0 in the FHSAA Class 3A state championship game from South Dade Kia Field in Pitbull Stadium at Florida International University of Saturday night. The Bulls, who captured their eighth overall state title, were the only Dade County high school that participated for a state title this year. 

     Miami Northwestern(12-2) scored on their first possession and made it 7-0 with 5:23 remaining in the first quarter. Running back Elijah Hardy rushed up the middle on a two-yard touchdown run. 

     In the second quarter, the Bulls increased their lead to 14-0 with 19 seconds to go. Quarterback Leon Strawder connected a six- yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Calvin Russell Jr. on the left side of the end zone. 

     It became 21-0 for Miami Northwestern at the 10:35 mark of the third quarter. Hardy caught a 65-yard touchdown pass on the right side from Strawder.

     Raines(13-1) surrendered another touchdown with 7:10 left in the third and trailed 28-0. Strawder tossed a six-yard pass to Russell in the middle of the end zone. 

     The Bulls expanded it to a 35-point lead 35-0 with 2:20 remaining in the quarter. Strawder fired a 48-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nicholas Lennear on the right hash marks. 

     A running clock was implemented for the fourth quarter. Miami Northwestern made it 41-0 when Strawder plunged up the middle from one yard away with 4:10 to go.