Football Playoff Game preview – Regional Quarterfinal vs. South Plantation

After a long and exciting regular season, we have now made it to the Playoffs. This is where champions are made, and the mantra is simple: win, or go home. Now, let’s take a look at the matchup:

South Plantation Paladins (7-3, 4-1 District 11-8A, District Runner-up)

The Miramar Patriots’ first playoff opponent this year will be the South Plantation Paladins. This is a team that Miramar is very familiar with, having been in the same district as the Paladins for the previous 2 years. Miramar was victorious in those games by a combined score of 72-20. But don’t let those scores fool you; South Plantation is a good team, and they have proven that time and again this season.

Led by Coach Doug Gatewood, South Plantation is a team that looks to control the line of scrimmage by running the ball, and play solid defense.  They have had great success with that so far this year, finishing the regular season at 7-3, and runner up in District 11-8A. And while the coach may have the vision, there is one player in particular who has made that vision become a reality.

Junior Running Back Alex “Buddha” Collins enters Friday’s  game as the leading rusher in Broward County. His 1588 yards and 24 touchdowns are remarkable numbers, and his bruising inside-the-tackles running style is the foundation for the entire offense, if not the entire team. Collins, powerfully built at 5’11’’ 190lbs, is in his first year of Varsity football. A transfer from Dillard, he has taken advantage of the opportunities that the offense affords him, and quickly made a name for himself in the record books, and recruiting circles.

Collins is not the only playmaker that South Plantation has on its roster. Quarterback John Franklin is a junior as well, and has had ample starting experience over the past 2 years. His experience playing against Miramar both as a freshman and a sophomore should ease his nerves heading into Friday’s Regional Quarterfinal.

On defense, senior Hugs Etienne is a veteran playmaker. His steady, and sometimes spectacular play in the secondary has allowed his teammates to focus on their own assignments, and also helped cover for their mistakes. Etienne, a 3 star college prospect, is rated as the #30 cornerback in the country by ESPN, and has already committed to continue his playing career at the University of Wisconsin.

Apart from those headliners, South Plantation is largely a team of unknown individuals. However, it’s the name on the front of the jersey that matters, not the back, and this team has proven that while we may not know everyone’s name, they are hard working, talented, and possess the ability to defeat any opponent if they play well.

Miramar Patriots (9-0, 5-0 District 12-8A, District Champion)

Many have called Miramar the best team in the state. After the 2^nd undefeated regular season in school history, and 3^rd consecutive District Championship, it is easy to see where that kind of praise comes from.

Coach Damon Cogdell has an impressive staff, and even more impressive resume. Owner of a 51-10 career record, Cogdell has won State Championships as the coach of Girls Flag Football (2006), and Boys Football (2009). He looks to lead a talented team deep into the playoffs again, with the goal being to add to his burgeoning hardware collection. While that may be the main goal, Cogdell, and the entire team and coaching staff, is focused on taking one game at a time.

Big time players win big time games, and Miramar has a few players who fit this bill. Primary among them is All-American cornerback Tracy Howard. In a number of games this season (St. Thomas, Cypress Bay, and Flanagan come to mind) Howard has made huge plays to help this team swing the tide of momentum, and eventually emerge victorious.

Also among the playmakers that Miramar will look to for big plays are Wide Receivers Malcolm Lewis and Devonte Mathis. Lewis, a 5’11’’ speedster with 4.4 speed, is the go-to player in the Miramar passing game. His knack for big plays has been seen since his sophomore year, when his 58 yard touchdown catch in the State Semi-finals propelled the Patriots into the 2009 6A State Championship game.

Mathis is a matchup nightmare for defenses, standing 6’2’ 210lbs, and blessed with 4.5 speed. He has been used in a number of different ways, and that multi-faceted deployment figures to continue on Friday.

Miramar has an explosive offense, with Lewis and Mathis at receiver, D’Vontis Arnold and Alex Lee at Running Back (each with over 600 yards and 8 touchdowns on the year), and Camren Hudge (1800 yards, 21 touchdowns, 4 interceptions) at Quarterback. Overall, the offense averages 355 yards per game and 30 points per game, and figures to put South Plantation to work early and often.

On defense, the Darkside has lived up to the reputation that they have built over the past decade. This tough, physical, stingy defense has limited even the most talented offenses throughout this season. With Willie Paisley (6’3’’, 315lbs) and Trevon Coley (6’2’’, 245lbs) up front, Mark Rucker (5’9’’, 205lbs) and Jermaine “Country” Grace (6’2’’, 208lbs) at linebacker, and Tracy Howard and Marrell Jackson (6’2’’, 195lbs) in the secondary, this unit has top level talent at every level, each with the ability to stifle the offense, and create turnovers.

I spoke to Coach Cogdell at practice on Wednesday, and asked him what his keys to the game were. “It’s about our discipline, really,” Cogdell said. “We have to maintain focus, and our intensity. Obviously, we have to control their running game, and ease up on the penalties.”

With a focused coach, and talented players, Miramar goes into the playoffs as one of the favorites to win the State Championship. The first test towards that goal comes to Branca Stadium on Friday night, in the form of the South Plantation Paladins.

Why South Plantation might win: This one is simple: Alex Collins. Few teams possess a running back of his caliber, who is able to gain yards after contact, and win the time of possession battle. If Collins has a big game against the Patriots (100+ yards, 1-2 touchdowns), the Paladins may be able to make enough plays to pull off the upset.

Additonally, Miramar has not looked like the well-oiled machine they were in the beginning of the season. Penalties and turnovers have plagued the Patriots throughout the second half of the year, and almost cost them the game vs. Flanagan 2 weeks ago. If South Plantation can force a couple turnovers, and turn those possessions into touchdowns, that could very well lead to a Paladin victory.

Why Miramar might win: The potent spread offense attack reverts back to its old form and puts points on the board. They have performed well over the past few games, but not to the standard that has become the norm for them over the course of this season. If the offense finds its stride early, and uses a balanced attack, the Patriots could be victorious.

Lastly, the Darkside defense has to be the dominant force that they have been for the majority of this season. Many talented players could impact the game, and make it difficult for South Plantation to move the ball or put points on the board.

What to Watch For: Which South Plantation team shows up? The one who beat Stranahan and Deerfield
Beach? Or the one that lost to Hallandale and Plantation?

Does Miramar revert to the form they showed in a dominant start to the year, or do the struggles against Western and Flanagan come back to plague this team again?

In any case, this figures to be a great game in the class 8A playoffs. Be sure to come out to Branca Stadium on the campus of Miramar High School at 7:30pm on Friday night.

The Road to Orlando starts now. Whose trip is just beginning, and whose is ending?

You gotta be there to find out.

Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports