CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: American Heritage seeks sixth state championship while Jones looks for their first state championship in a battle of high-powered offenses

#2 JONES (ORLANDO) (14-0) VS. #1 AMERICAN HERITAGE (PLANTATION) (11-2)

When: Fri. Dec. 13th

Where: South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium, Miami

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EST

Live Broadcast: NFHS Network – Click To Watch Here

JONES FIGHTIN’ TIGERS (ORLANDO) (14-0)

• Head Coach: Elijah Williams (9th year, 96-19 overall; 16th year as head coach, 139-24 overall)
• State Finals Appearances: 2 – 2019 (5A), 2024 (4A)

KEY PLAYERS

• #4 QB Dereon Coleman (Jr.): Coleman has thrown for 3,238 yards and 28 touchdowns this season while only throwing four interceptions. He is committed to Miami, and also has offers from Oklahoma, Texas A&M, USF, and South Carolina.
• #5 ATH Jaquail Smith (Sr.): Smith is a dynamic athlete who leads the Tigers in rushing, with 1,727 yards and 21 touchdowns this season.
• #1 Vernell Brown III (Sr.): Brown leads the Tigers in receiving yards this season with 1,405. He has 11 receiving touchdowns and has signed with Florida. He also has offers from Ohio State, Miami, FSU, and Tennessee.
• #18 Quimaine Myers (Sr): Myers leads the Tigers with 127 tackles this season.
• #7 LB/DE Quinton Evans (Jr.): Evans is a force on the Tigers’ defense, recording 14 tackles for loss and four sacks on the season.

2024 RESULTS – HOW THEY GOT HERE

*– District Game
*** – Playoff Game

• 8/23 – BYE
• 8/30 – Timber Creek (Orlando), 48-3 (W)
• 9/7 – at Evans (Orlando), 28-21 (W)
• 9/14 – Edgewater (Orlando), 31-21 (W)
• 9/19 – at Osceola (Kissimmee), 34-28 (OT) (W)
• 9/24 – Winter Park, 22-0 (W)
• 9/28 – at Auburndale, 49-7 (W)*
• 10/4 – BYE
• 10/11 – BYE
• 10/18 – Lake Wales, 31-19 (W)*
• 10/25 – at Lake Region (Eagle Lake), 77-0 (W)*
• 11/1 – at Ocoee, 14-0 (W)
• 11/7 – Wekiva (Apopka), 28-6 (W)
• 11/15 – Lecanto, 42-7 (W)***
• 11/22 – Zephyrhills, 41-19 (W)***
• 11/29 – Vanguard (Ocala), 27-13 (W)***
• 12/6 – Naples, 18-7 (W)***

TEAM STATS

• Passing Yards: 3168
• Passing Yards per Game: 225.9
• Rushing Yards: 2354
• Rushing Yards per Game: 168.1
• Rushing Yards per Carry: 9.0
• Receiving Yards per Catch: 16.8
• Yards per Game: 394.1
• Sacks: 15.0
• Interceptions: 19
• Fumble Recoveries: 0
• Caused Fumbles: 6
• Average Score: 34.6

AMERICAN HERITAGE PATRIOTS (PLANTATION) (11-2)

• Head Coach: Mike Smith (3rd year, 34-6 overall)
• State Finals Appearances: 8 – 1998 (2A), 2013 (5A)*, 2014 (5A)*, 2016 (5A)*, 2017 (5A)*, 2020 (5A)*, 2022 (2M), 2024 (4A)

KEY PLAYERS

• #3 QB Dia Bell (Jr.): Bell threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns on the season while throwing for six interceptions. He is committed to Texas and also has offers from Ohio State, Penn State, LSU, and Miami. However, he will be helping the team from the sideline after sustaining a season-ending injury several weeks ago in their playoff game against Dillard.
• #7 RB Byron Louis (Sr.): Louis rushed for 1,496 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season and has signed to play at Florida. He also has offers from Miami, FSU, Georgia, and Wisconsin.
• #1 Malachi Toney (Jr.): Toney leads the Patriots with 1,008 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns this season. He is committed to Miami. He also has offers from FSU, Ohio State, Alabama, and Auburn.
• #2 Gregory Thomas (Sr.): Thomas is a leader on the Patriots’ defense at safety and has signed with Florida State. He also has offers from Clemson, Miami, LSU, and Texas A&M.
• #16 DE/OLB Rodarion Tellez (Jr.): Tellez is a disruptive force on the Patriots’ defense. He leads the team in sacks with 11 and has an offer from Kentucky, Bowling Green, and Western Michigan.

2024 RESULTS – HOW THEY GOT HERE

* – District Game
*** – Playoff Game

• 8/23 – Milton (GA), 37-28 (L)
• 8/30 – Western (Davie), 51-12 (W)
• 9/6 – at Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood), 48-45 (L)
• 9/13 – at Naples, 23-3 (W)
• 9/20 – at Miami Central, 1-0 (W)
• 9/28 – at Plantation, 35-0 (W)*
• 10/4 – BYE
• 10/14 – Miami Norland, 1-0 (W/F)*
• 10/18 – Archbishop McCarthy (Southwest Ranches), 35-0 (W)*
• 10/25 – at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 42-38 (W)
• 11/1 – BYE
• 11/7 – BYE
• 11/15 – Jensen Beach, 40-7 (W)***
• 11/22 – Dillard (Fort Lauderdale), 24-14 (W)***
• 11/29 – Miami Norland, 35-14 (W)***
• 12/6 – St. Augustine, 38-28 (W)***

TEAM STATS

• Passing Yards: 2945
• Passing Yards per Game: 226.5
• Rushing Yards: 2505
• Rushing Yards per Game: 192.7
• Rushing Yards per Carry: 7.3
• Receiving Yards per Catch: 16.3
• Yards per Game: 419.2
• Sacks: 53.0
• Interceptions: 8
• Fumble Recoveries: 4
• Caused Fumbles: 2
• Average Score: 36.0

THOUGHTS ON THE GAME

This Class 4A state championship game is a matchup between two of the most explosive offenses in the state. Both Jones and American Heritage have averaged over 30 points a game this season. Jones comes into the game undefeated while American Heritage has two losses, but both teams are loaded with talent.

Jones has a potent rushing attack led by senior Jaquail Smith. Smith has been a touchdown machine this season. The Tigers will also look for big contributions from junior quarterback Dereon Coleman, who has shown the ability to make big plays. Senior wide receiver Vernell Brown is also a key target for Coleman. He has the size and speed to be a real difference-maker in this game.

American Heritage will counter with their own explosive offense, but it will come a bit differently with junior quarterback Dia Bell out for the game. Senior Byron Louis is a workhorse running back who can wear down defenses. Junior wide receiver Malachi Toney is also a big-play threat.

Both teams will have their hands full on defense. Jones will need to find a way to slow down Bell and Louis. They will need big games from their leading tackler, Quimaine Myers, as well as Quinton Evans.

American Heritage will need to stop Smith and contain Coleman. The Patriots have a talented secondary but they have not faced an offense as explosive as Jones’s this season. Key players for the Patriots’ defense will be Gregory Thomas, who leads the secondary, and Rodarion Tellez, who has been a force rushing the passer all year.

This game has the potential to be a shootout. The team that can make the most stops on defense could come away with a state championship.

PREDICTIONS

• Josh’s Pick: American Heritage
• Chris’s Pick: American Heritage
• Reno’s Pick: American Heritage
• Massey Ratings (via On3): American Heritage 31, Jones 26

An asterisk (*) next to a year in the State Finals Appearances section indicates the team was the state champion that year