TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – It had been a perfect season so far for Miami Norland as the entered Saturday’s Class 2M State Championship Game ranked No. 11 nationally by MaxPreps and No. 15 High School Football American with 14-0 record as they had outscored their opponents 606-176 through the 14 games played.
None of this fazed the Berkeley Prep (Tampa) Buccaneers.
And from early on it showed that Berkeley Prep came ready to play against Norland as the first play of the first was intercepted by the Buccaneers after they had went nowhere on their first drive offensively.
WOW! First drive comes to end quick for Norland as Josh Herman picks it off for Berkeley! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/NEwWAr43FX
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Berkeley Prep held the ball twice as long as Norland
Berkeley Prep held the ball almost 32 minutes and never trailed in knocking off Norland 28-20 at Bragg Memorial Stadium and Ken Riley Field on the Florida A&M campus in Tallahassee.
It’s the first state title for Berkeley Prep (13-2) who had had previously played for the Class 3A title in 2021, losing 21-0 to Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) in a game played at nearby Gene Cox Stadium two years ago.
Both teams get their offenses going
Both teams threw interceptions on their opening possessions. Norland picked off Berkeley Prep on the next drive and returned the interception 99 yards for a touchdown. But the Vikings touchdown was nullified because of a block in the back penalty.
Berkeley Prep put the first points of the game on the board after an 8 play, 48-yard drive that spanned the first and second periods. On third down and 9, freshman quarterback Cooper Hayes threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Dallas Golden for a 7-0 Buccaneers lead.
CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN BERKELEY PREP!
Bucs strike first as Cooper Hayes finds Dallas Golden for a 26 yard TD reception!
Berkeley Prep 7, Miami Norland 0 – 10:05 2nd Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream… pic.twitter.com/hmHCTsmBFN
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Norland (14-1) answered on the very next drive. Junior quarterback Ennio Yapoor hooked up with senior receiver Ivory Aikens on a 29-yard touchdown which tied the game 7-7.
CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN NORLAND!
29 yard TD pass from Ennio Yapoor to Ivory Akiens has tied the game here!
Berkeley Prep 7, Miami Norland 7 – 6:46 2nd Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @mpallman… pic.twitter.com/vqCaWB6tN9
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Buccaneers defense comes up big
After Berkeley Prep punted on their next possession, Yapoor fumbled for Norland and the Buccaneers recovered at the Vikings 13-yard line. The Buccaneers took a 14-7 lead as junior wide receiver/running back Dallas Golden took it in for a 13-yard score. Berkeley Prep led 14-7 going into the halftime break.
CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN BERKELEY PREP!
Bucs retake the lead thanks to the strip sack as Dallas Golden runs it in from 13 yards out!
Berkeley Prep 14, Miami Norland 7 – 3:10 2nd Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A… pic.twitter.com/DeF82jfYZt
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Norland received the kickoff for the second half, and proceeded to go on an 11-play, 71-yard drive down to the Berkeley Prep four-yard line. But on fourth and goal, Yapoor threw incomplete and the Buccaneers took over at their five-yard line.
Berkeley Prep starts to believe after 95-yard drive
Berkeley Prep then went on a 12-play, 95-yard drive that took over six minutes. The drive culminated with Hayes throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Joseph Troupe and suddenly Berkeley Prep had a 21-7 advantage.
CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
UPSET ALERT IN TALLAHASSEE! TOUCHDOWN BERKELEY PREP!
Cooper Hayes finds Joseph Troupe from five yards out and the Bucs have gone up two scores on the No. 15 team in the nation!
Berkeley Prep 21, Miami Norland 7 – 1:10 3rd Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD… pic.twitter.com/QkoNksxdXi
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Norland’s offense woke up and they put together a quick 4-play, 68-yard drive to get back within a score at 21-13. Yapoor scored from 4 yards out on the final play of the third quarter, bringing Norland back within one score.
CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN NORLAND!
Vikings drive the field fast with Ennio Yappor scoring on a 4 yard TD… however the PAT IS NO GOOD! Berkeley still leads going to the final quarter… BUCKLE UP!
Berkeley Prep 21, Miami Norland 13 – End of 3rd Q… pic.twitter.com/K92fhK6pyP
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
The Buccaneers drove down to the Norland six-yard line, but this time Berkeley Prep went backwards and turned the ball over on downs. But Norland quickly went three-and-out, and the Buccaneers once again had great field possession at the Vikings 41-yard line.
Long drive for the big touchdowns puts the Buccaneers on the cusp of the upset
This time Berkeley Prep turned it into points as Golden’s 38-yard scamper set up a one-yard touchdown by Hayes giving the Buccaneers a 28-13 lead with a little under six minutes to go.
CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
UPSET SPECIAL HAPPENING! TOUCHDOWN BERKELEY PREP!
Cooper Hayes calls his own number from 1 yard out and the Bucs extend their lead back out to two possessions! Norland in massive massive trouble!
Berkeley Prep 28, Miami Norland 13 – 5:37 4th Q… pic.twitter.com/uQJH0oJ0K5
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Norland answered quickly, taking only 1:07 to get back within a score at 28-20. Yapoor threw a 26-yard strike to senior Juan Rodriguez.
CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN NORLAND!
Ennio Yappor finds Juan Rodriguez for a 26 yard TD! Vikings still alive!
Berkeley Prep 28, Miami Norland 20 – 4:30 4th Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @mpallman… pic.twitter.com/vxbrhe9RB0
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Berkeley prep runs out the clock on Norland
But the Vikings defense couldn’t come up with the big stop on the next drive. And as they had most of the day, Berkeley Prep ran the final four minutes and 26 seconds off the clock to seal the state title.
Berkeley converts the 4th down for 1st down! CLUTCH MOMENT! #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @mpallman @Biggamebobby @Prep_Gridiron pic.twitter.com/EU6MxmW7Wd
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Berkeley Prep was outgained by Norland 374-338 but again the Buccaneers held the ball twice as long as the Vikings.
Golden had a huge game, rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown playing mostly out of the wildcat, and Troupe rushed for 128 yards as the Bucs had 274 yards on the ground. Golden also caught two passes for 38 yards and a score. Hayes completed only four passes, but two of them went for touchdowns. He also rushed for a score.
For Norland, Yapoor completed 15-of-20 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 42 yards on 12 carries and another score. Rodriguez had 72 yards on the ground with 11 carries, and Aikens was Norland’s leading receiver with four catches for 111 yards and a score.
But the day belonged to Berkeley Prep coming a week after upsetting nationally-ranked American Heritage (Plantation) in the state semifinals, the Buccaneers came to Tallahassee as a sizable underdog. But after taking out the 11th-ranked team in America in Norland, you can say Berkeley Prep really earned this state championship. The Buccaneers had to play the perfect game to beat the Vikings, and they did just that.
