Locals In CFP National Championship Game

     The CFP National Championship game will be played tomorrow night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers. Several players in the contest have a local high school connection to South Florida. 

     Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal played high school football with the Columbus Explorers and college football at the University of Miami. Canes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and wide receiver Malachi Toney were with the American Heritage Patriots. 

     Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza spent time with the Columbus Explorers. He faced current Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck one time when the Explorers lost to Mandarin Mustangs for the 2018 FHSAA Class 8A state championship in Orlando. Beck started for the Mustangs in that game while Mendoza was the Explorers backup quarterback and never played one snap. 

     Miami wide receiver Joshisa Trader spent time with the Chaminade-Madonna Lions while defensive lineman Ahmad Moten Sr. was with the Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs. The Hurricanes have representatives from the Miami Central Rockets that includes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr., defensive lineman Armondo Blount, defensive back Amari Wallace and linebacker Wesley Bissainthe. The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders have running back Jordan Lyle, defensive back Ryan Mack and defensive back Isaiah Taylor on the Miami Hurricanes team.