Two programs with a combined eight state championships and 10 state championship game appearances will meet once again on Saturday night in Miami.
Those two teams are the Miami Central Rockets and the Booker T. Washington Tornadoes.
Things might be slightly down for both programs coming into this year’s game, but don’t tell that to the fans. Really, don’t tell that to the athletes and coaches who pour their hearts out for this game each year, leaving everything out on the field.
If anything, this year’s matchup between two Miami-Dade County’s best programs at Traz Powell Stadium will certainly feel like a state championship atmosphere once again.
The Rockets, however, would like to reverse the trend of the past two seasons by knocking off the Tornadoes. A 21-20 loss last year and a 28-17 loss the year prior should be all the motivation that the Rockets need in order to turn things their way.
Taking A Look Back
Looking back on the historical aspect of the series, things have always been tight between the two teams since the first meeting in 2008 (Booker T. Washington was reestablished as high school in 1999).
Booker T. Washington currently leads the series 4-3 although Miami Central leads the series 4-3 on the field. The 2011 game was won in forfeit by Booker T. Washington after Miami Central was forced to forfeit the entire 2011 season after an ineligible player was found to have played the entire season for the Rockets.
Series Results
2014: Booker T. Washington 21, Miami Central 20
2013: Booker T. Washington 28, Miami Central 17
2012: Miami Central 37, Booker T. Washington 26
2011: Miami Central 29, Booker T. Washington 26*
2010: Miami Central 17, Booker T. Washington 0
2009: Miami Central 18, Booker T. Washington 12
2008: Booker T. Washington 44, Miami Central 39
* – Miami Central later forfeited after the season
Looking At This Year
The atmosphere will once again feel like the entire season is on the line like it has the last few seasons. That is what fans have come to expect after all.
Never mind, that this a non-district contest.
Booker T. Washington enters the game with a 2-2 record, but holding on to a 2-0 record in District 4A-8. Miami Central brings a 3-1 record into the game with a 1-0 record in District 6A-16.
Both teams have shown inconsistency with their offensive units so far this season as Miami Central has started two different quarterbacks, so far in the first four games, while Booker T. Washington is allowing a freshmen to run the show in Daniel Richardson. The Rockets, however, have seen its best game play come from quarterback TiJuane Morten, who is currently a sophomore. He is benefited from having a big target in Darnell Solomon.
Given that both teams have these inconsistency issues, the defense could certainly play a bigger role in the game, giving the series another close result for the record book.
The Predictions
The thought is that this year will be different for the series and that Miami Central will turn the corner and avenge the losses of the last two years. However, if Booker T. Washington comes away wit the win, will certainly put some shock into the system.
Taking a look at three different predictions that includes Joe Pinkos, USA TODAY’s High School Sports Score Predictor and from FloridaHSFootball.com, here is how all see this year’s game playing out.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Miami Central 27 over Booker T. Washington
USA TODAY HSS Prediction: Miami Central 28, Booker T. Washington 14
FHSF Prediction: Miami Central
