CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Miami Central crushes Lake Minneola to repeat as State Champions

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Miami Central (8-1) sent Lake Minneola (11-2) packing in the Class 6A State Championship game. While the Hawks were actually projected to win this game on our site, the Rockets’ crispness on both sides of the ball was impossible to overcome.

Game Recap

Lake Minneola actually had the momentum in the first few minutes of the game. CB Kyeaure Magloire picked off Central QB Keywone Jenkins around the 10-yard line and returned the ball to the 30.

Lake Minneola DB Kyeaure Magloire picks off Miami Central to get things started pic.twitter.com/tj2MH4Ua0y

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 18, 2020

After that, the Rockets demanded payback. Central’s offense scored five touchdowns by the end of the first half.

First, by WR Zaylan Reese.

Zaylin Reese gets Miami Central on the board first pic.twitter.com/ohf6T4Dd0j

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 18, 2020

Then, by WR Robert McMinn.

Robert McMinn finds the endzone to extend Central’s lead pic.twitter.com/5mDBQ8rsUO

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 18, 2020

By the time RB Amari Daniels put up the third Central touchdown in the first quarter, he complained that his score was “too easy.”

Amari Daniels puts up a third Miami Central score

“Too easy,” he says as he crosses the line pic.twitter.com/fxxTttzxb3

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 18, 2020

You get the point. To add insult to injury, the Rockets defense allowed just four first downs and 65 yards of total Hawks offense at halftime.

Unfortunately for Lake Minneola, the third quarter was pretty similar. A sixth Central (and second Daniels) score was the only time either team reached the end zone.

Amari Daniels in for six and the running clock has started here in the Class 6A State Championship. pic.twitter.com/AR9b9LriZ8

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 18, 2020

For the final score of the day, Central subbed out Jenkins for QB Dylan Tulloch, who hit receiver Lamar Seymore on a 24-yard bomb.

46-0 was the final score. Lake Minneola played harder than the score reflects, but numbers are numbers, and Miami Central repeats as state champs.

This is the Rockets’ seventh overall state title, which puts them in a three-way tie with Miami Northwestern, Glades Day, and Lakeland for fourth-most titles. Miami Northwestern and Miami Central are tied for the most titles in Miami-Dade County history.

Quotes

Miami Central Head Coach Roland Smith

• “I just want to thank everybody back home who gave us this opportunity to opt-in… We knew what kind of team we had, and we wanted to make sure we had a chance to defend our state championship. The coaching staff and the kids did a tremendous job of doing that today.”
• “[Quarterback] Keywone [Jenkins], the sky is the limit for him. He’s just a sophomore, he’s just a baby, he just got into the offense this year. Two more years in our offense, and he’s going to be scary.

Players of the Game

For Central, Jenkins went 8-of-14 for 160 yards and three touchdowns, and Tulloch added a touchdown and 56 yards, going 2-for-2 on completions. Four receivers caught touchdowns for the Rockets: McMinn, Seymore, Reese, and Yulkeith Brown. Daniels had a 172-yard show out completed by two touchdowns. On the defense, Eddrin Lollar notched a pick, and four defenders registered a sack each.

For Lake Minneola, quarterback Robbie Sanders went 7-of-17 for 63 yards. Also, Hawks CB Magloire intercepted.

College Roundup

For Miami Central, RB Daniels and ATH Brown signed with Texas A&M. OG Laurence Seymour signed with Miami. A smattering of other players will sign in February.

While Lake Minneola will send a contingent of players off to college next season, no seniors have signed to play at the next level yet.