Playoff Game Recap - Regional Quarterfinal vs. South Plantation

The first round of the playoffs brought new hope to teams vying to make history by winning a State Championship. Throughout this season, Miramar has been ranked as one of the top teams not only in the State, but in the Country.The Regional Quarterfinal match-up  was against South Plantation. Miramar earned a hard fought 38-0 victory in the game. Let’s take a look at the key factors in the game:

South Plantation:

• Alex Collins was the key for South Plantation keeping the game close for the first half. His tough running style was a challenge for the Darkside Defense. The Paladins tweaked their offensive plan by lining Collins up at fullback. That switch moved him closer to the line, and enabled him to find a hole to run through quickly, before it closed. Collins finished the game with 92 yards on 25 carries, and his heart was shown by never quitting.
• After Alex Collins, the South Plantation offense was non-existant. No other player had more than 20 yards, and that lack of diversity made it easy for the Miramar Defense to key on the star player for South Plantation.
• While South Plantation tried a few passes, even an ingenious wheel route to Collins on a misdirection play, the passing game was largely a non-factor. Miramar Star Cornerback Tracy Howard had a 32 yard interception return for a touchdown, and ballhawk Marrell Jackson had his 11^th interception of the year, a number that leads all of Broward and Miami-Dade counties. With those 2 plays, the Patriots ended any doubt as to who had the advantage when South Plantation attempted to pass.
• South Plantation’s defense was very strong, and did a good job to limit the Miramar offense in the first half. Led by Seniors Chris Morley and Hoy Thompson, the Paladins were a mighty foe in the first half, trailing Miramar by only a touchdown, 7-0. They played solid gap defense, and were physically imposing. The defense also created 2 turnovers, which I thought would be a key to South Plantation keeping the game close.
• Overall, South Plantation’s heart was big, and they played very hard. However, the gap in talent between themselves and Miramar was just too great for them to overcome.

Miramar:

• For the 3^rd game in a row, the Miramar offense started out slowly. Penalties and turnovers plagued this team over and over again in the first half. To be fair, South Plantation’s defense did a great job changing their looks, and bringing intensity and pressure that disrupted what the Patriots were trying to do offensively. However, false starts, fumbled snaps, and other miscues are things that the Patriots have done far too often this season.
• Tracy Howard again proved why he is a 5 star college prospect. South Plantation threw to his side one time, and that pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Howard, a quiet humble kid, once again spoke loudly with his play on Friday night. He’s the ultimate leader, and his great play jumpstarted a lethargic team.
• When they went to it, the Miramar running game was phenomenal. D’Vontis Arnold (139 yards, 2 TDs) and Alex Lee(54 yards on only 8 carries, 1 TD) gashed the defense repeatedly for large gains. Both players scored touchdowns, and turned a close game into a rout with their physical running in the second half. Also contributing late were Sophomore Trevon Rolle, and Senior Michal Moyse, who scored the game’s final touchdown, and put the score to running clock territory.
• Malcolm Lewis continued his stellar season. He made the most out of the opportunities that he had on the night, and occupied South Plantation’s best defender, Senior Hugs Etienne, all night long. The constant attention of 2 and 3 defenders to Lewis’ side of the field opened the game up for the other players on the Miramar offense.
• Miramar’s potent passing attack seemed crippled by slightly sloppy field conditions. Usual contributors Devonte Mathis and Charleston Jenkins were both held without a catch. Sean Avant made a couple good plays to try to pick up the slack. Tanares Robinson played hard in the game, but it seemed as though the spotlight of the playoffs was a little too bright for him on this night. He just seemed as though he was rushing everything and not letting the game come to him. Hopefully the experience he gained will help him be more confident, and slow the game down for him.
• The Darkside Defense, again, was the MVP of the game. They held South Plantation to 120 yards of total offense, and forced 4 Paladin turnovers. With South Plantation looking to run the ball almost exclusively, the interior of the defensive line played a larger role than they have in previous games. D’Quan Williams, Willie Paisley, Mike Fluerinvil, D.J. Wallace, Fary Charles, and Trevon Coley controlled the point of attack all game long, and while they did surrender some yards to the Broward County’s leading rusher in Alex Collins, those yards proved to be empty, as the Paladins were unable to score on the night.
• Still, the Patriots had far too many penalties (Sun-Sentinel says 11 penalties for 101 yards; Herald says 17 penalties for 137 yards) and turnovers (3). Coach Cogdell said that was a key point in practice this past week. I was at practice, and I saw firsthand that they were working on correcting those things. However, the work from this practice week did not manifest itself in the game. I don’t know what new techniques will be tried this week, but these issues have to be corrected soon, with each game being more important, and challenging.
• Overall, the Patriots overcame a very lackluster first half and dominated South Plantation in the second half of the ball game. This game showcased the extremes of performance from Miramar: At times disorganized and sloppy, at others focused and remarkable. To continue this Road to Orlando, the Patriots will have to be more like they were in the second half, and, with the exception of Tracy Howard’s remarkable individual play, less like they were in the first.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports