Sophomore running back Shemar Paul rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns, and senior running back Kalonji Hill added a 58-yard touchdown run to help the Doral Firebirds win their first playoff game, defeating the Nova Titans 36-26 at Doral Academy.
Doral led at the half, 14-12, but it started the second half with a failed onside kick. The Titans (8-3) then put together a 12-play, 60-yard drive, culminating with an 8-yard touchdown by Nova senior running back Devontae Harris. After a successful two-point conversion, the Titans took a 20-14 lead midway through the third quarter.
The Firebirds (9-2), who rushed for 192 yards, went to work by marching 80 yards in nine plays with the help of a 30-yard reception by junior Breion Fuller. Senior quarterback Miles Hayes went 6 for 6 on that drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by Paul.
After a 22-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter by Paul, Firebirds coach Jase Stewart went for the two-point conversion to put the game out of reach.
▪ Region 4-4A semifinal — Monsignor Pace 31, Key West 7: Making their first playoff appearance since 2010 and hosting the conchs in what was many thought might be a close tightly-fought contest, the Spartans pulled off some old school Pace style football, rushing for 285 yards.
Pace (8-1) will travel to University School next week for a much-anticipated showdown.
“We pounded it from the start and it really felt like the good old days tonight,” said Pace coach Joe Zaccheo. “We’re catching our stride at the right time and looking forward to next week.”
Bill Daley
▪ Region 4-5A quarterfinal - American Heritage 42, Merritt Island 0: Miles Jones and Tyler Jones each ran for two touchdowns to lead the Patriots (9-0) to their 23rd consecutive win. Nesta Silvera finished with 11 tackles and two sacks. Heritage will host Orlando Bishop Moore in the regional semifinals next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
▪ Region 4-6A quarterfinal – Miami Central 42, Palm Bay Heritage 6: Amari Daniels finished with 105 yards and a touchdown on only four carries as Central scored four rushing touchdowns. Maurice Underwood completed 8 of 9 passes for 116 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The Rockets defense recorded eight sacks led by Andre Auguste, who had three.
▪ Region 4-6A quarterfinal – Miami Carol City 23, Dillard 0: Cam’ron Davis ran for 181 yards and a touchdown to lead the Chiefs (7-3), the defending Class 6A state champions, who will travel to Daytona Beach next Friday to play Mainland at 7:30 p.m. Carol City beat Mainland last year in the regional final round.
▪ Thursday — Region 4-8A quarterfinal — South Dade 21, North Miami 3: The Bucs found a way to grind their way the victory at Traz Powell Stadium.
South Dade, the No. 5 seed, advances to next week’s regional semifinal round and will either host No. 8 seed Homestead or travel to top-seeded Columbus next Friday night.
▪ Region 3-8A quarterfinal - Delray Atlantic 29, Plantation 14
▪ Region 4-7A quarterfinal - St. Thomas Aquinas 56, South Miami 0
▪ Region 4-7A quarterfinal – Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer 43, Mater Academy 13
▪ Region 4-5A quarterfinal - Cardinal Gibbons 43, Orlando Jones 30
▪ Region 4-3A semifinal – Palm Beach Benjamin 43, Everglades Prep 6
GIRLS’ SOCCER
▪ Miami Beach 5, Braddock 1: Julia Silva 2 goals; Katherine Mark, 1 goal, 2 assists; Isabella Pirela 1 goal; Maite Sanchez, 1 goal, 1 assist.
▪ Lourdes 5, Gulliver 1: Nikki Molina 2 goals, Mia Atrio 2 goals, Mila Kuylenstiernia 1 goal. L 1-0.
▪ Lourdes 9, Southwest 1: Alyssa Granda 3 goals; Mia Briones 3 goals; Kat Molina 1 goal; Niki Molina 1 goal, 1 assist; Mila Kuylenstierna 1 goal.
▪ Westminster Christian 8, SLAM 0: Madison Precht 3 goals 1 assist, Sophia Vilar 1 goal 2 assists, Madison Bracci and Julia Bracci 1 goal 1 assist each, Alejandra Silva and Elizabeth Figg 1 goal each, Sofia Lopez and Meagan Diaz 1 assist each; Priscilla Hernandez shutout.
▪ Archbishop McCarthy 2, Western 1: Emily Welch 1 goal, 1 assist; Adriana Duque 1 goal, Nadia Colon 1 assist; AM 2-0.
▪ Archbishop McCarthy 8, Coral Springs Christian 0: Kimmy Cover 2 goals, 1 assist; Eliana Ramirez 2 goals; Riley Balser 1 goal, 2 assists; Emily Somma, Adriana Duque and Cassie Lawson 1 goal each; Jordyn Gifford shutout; AM 3-0.
▪ Miami High 3, South Miami 1: Cristin Lemos 2 goals; Eilyn Salmeron 1 goal, 1 assist.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons 2, Pine Crest 0: Maya Alicea and Ariela Beharry 1 goal each; Alysa Vazquez 2 assists. CG 2-0.
▪ West Broward 6, Coral Springs Charter 0: Desiree Jenkins five saves. CSC 1-1-1.
▪ Carrollton 8, Keys Gate 0: Alexis Diaz Silvera 2 goals, 2 assists; Jackie Reed 2 goals, 1 assist; Sydney Sariol 1 goal, 3 assists; Julia Sariol and Ana Bohorguez 1 goal each; Isa luna 1 goal, 2 assists.
▪ North Broward Prep 3, St. Andrews 0: Morgan Newman 1 goal, 2 assists; Carolina Ameglio, Julia Do Nascimento 1 goal each; Nadia DeMarinis 1 assist; Francesca Velandia 4 saves; NBP 1-1.
▪ Goleman 8, Northwestern 0: Kallista Capdevila 4 goals; Kayla Alonso 3 goals; Jocelyn Piña 1 goal.
▪ Archimedean 6, Somerset Academy 0: Alexa Krochmal 2 goals, assist; Isabella Garcia goal, 2 assists; Emely Acobo goal, assist; Sofia Miliancano and Allison Chang goal each; A 2-0.
▪ La Salle 5, NSU University School 1: Stephanie Cuan 2 goals, 2 assists; Sofia Concepcion 2 goals; Kiki Maribona 1 goal, 1 assist; Anabel Toledo 1 assist; LaS 2-0.
▪ Taravella 8, Miramar 0: Brooke Hinsey 3 goals; Dakota Cimetta and Jhanay Moore 2 goals each; Alicia Victoria one goal and two assists; Madison Gamache two assists; Abigail Budney and Valentina Carvajal one assist each. Tar 1-0-1.
▪ Miami Springs 11, Jackson 0: Ashley Romay 3 goals 2 assists; Elizabeth Vizcanio 1 goal, 2 assists; Jasmine Romay 3 goals 1 assist; MS 3-0.
▪ Ransom Everglades 8, Edison 0: Hunter Matson 3 goals, 1 assist; Noelle Burke 2 goals; Mia Balestra 3 assists; RE 1-0.
BOYS’ SOCCER
▪ Jackson 7, Coral Shores 5: Kevin Caballero 2 goals; Alex Mejia 1 goal; Pablo Medina 4 goals.
▪ Ransom 4, Miami Country Day 3: Carlos Esber and Dany Mendoza 2 goals each; Pablo Gutirrez, Diego Oropeza, and Dre Medici 1 goal each.
▪ Belen 1, Columbus 0: Maximiliano Llorente one goal.
▪ American Heritage 3, Mater Academy 1: Ryan McGowan scored 2 goals; Fernando Chamorro 1 goal. Osvaldo Martinez-Souza, Alex Ducheine & Morris Senior 1 assist each; AH 2-0.
▪ Ferguson 1, MAST 1: Leonardo Perez (Fer) 1 goal, Erikk Ordonez 1 assist.
▪ Palmer Trinity 2, Braddock 1: Klever Rosales and Alberto Franceschi 1 goal each.
▪ Doral 3, St. Thomas Aquinas 0: Francisco Zwanzger shutout, Andoni Garro 2 goals; Christian Ramirez 1 goal.
▪ Doral 6, Varela 0: Andoni Garro 3 goals; Christopher Rodriguez 1 goal; Damian Casanova 2 goals.
This story was originally published November 10, 2017 10:41 PM.