CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: American Heritage edges Jones in high-octane offensive shootout to win first state title since 2020

MIAMI – The explosion of offensive points that was expected in the 2024 FHSAA Class 4A State Championship game showed up Friday night at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium.

The game between Jones (Orlando) and American Heritage (Plantation) emerged pretty quickly as one of the most exciting games to have taken place during the 2024 postseason with American Heritage edging Jones 40-31 to bring home their first state championship since 2020.

Here are five takeaways from the game:

MALACHI TONEY ROCKED THE QB POSITION

Say what you want about the Miami Hurricanes signee who had to take over under center after Texas commit Dia Bell went down during the playoffs for American Heritage (12-2). Toney showed he can do a little bit of everything on the offense, which will carry over well to the next level. What might be even more impressive with Toney is that he did not have a pass incompletion until the start of the fourth quarter when Jones (14-1) finally forced the first incompletion on a third-down play that forced the Patriots to punt that would end up leading the game to be tied very briefly at 31-31. Toney finished the game with 188 yards passing on 15-of-18 pass completions and a touchdown.

BRYON LOUIS WENT OFF

The Florida Gator signee had himself a night in the state championship game in a night he had been dreaming of having since the 8th grade. Louis remembers the 2020 American Heritage team that got their rings from winning the Class 5A state championship that season and wanting to get a ring of his own. With the 2022 team falling to Miami Central in the Class 2M state championship, Louis wanted to make sure nothing was left to chance in his final game. To his credit Louis had 221 yards rushing on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns, the second coming on an 80-yard breakaway that would break the tied 31-31 ball game with 8:54 left in the game. Louis’ performance puts him among the top performers seen among running backs in a state championship game, according to the FHSAA state record book.

DEREON COLEMAN HAD JONES LOOKING LIKE FIRE

The junior quarterback for the Jones had an effective night, leading the Tigers down the field and getting points on a majority of their drives. Coleman, who finished the night with 13-of-22 passing completions for 143 yards, did most of his damage with his feet on the ground. Coleman accounted for three of four of Jones’ rushing touchdowns in the game and as such accounted for 110 yards rushing on 13 carries that would help keep the game close with the Patriots for the entire game.

VERNELL BROWN III KEPT IN CHECK

If there was one thing that American Heritage had to do, it was to contain Florida Gator signee Vernell Brown III to under 100 yards receiving and keeping him out of the end zone to have a chance to keep the edge to win the state championship. With that they did as the Patriots limited Brown to 89 yards receiving on five catches with no touchdowns. Limiting of Brown forced Coleman to go elsewhere around the field to move the ball around for Jones.

SPECIAL TEAMS ROCKED FOR AMERICAN HERITAGE

It would be sort of criminal if we did not mention how well the American Heritage special teams unit did in the game, which would be topped off with Brandon Bennett returning the opening kickoff to start the second half 97 yards that would put American Heritage up 24-10 after leading 17-10 at halftime. While the kickoff return is two yards short of the state record for a kickoff return for a touchdown, it marks the first one seen in an FHSAA state championship game this season. Now with all of that said, Gavin Harvey also knocked in three field goals from 31, 41, and 28 respectively that would end up being the biggest difference makers in the game. The only blemish for Harvey? One missed point-after try following Louis’ 80-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

AMERICAN HERITAGE HEAD COACH MIKE SMITH AFTER THE GAME

BOX SCORE

Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | Final
Jones | 7 | 3 | 14 | 7 | — | 31
American Heritage | 3 | 14 | 14 | 9 | — | 40

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST

J – Dereon Coleman 16 rush (Kason Mullis kick), 7:32

AHP – Gavin Harvey 31 FG, 2:13

SECOND

AHP – Jamar Denson 16 pass from Malachi Toney (Harvey kick), 9:09

JONES – Mullis 41 FG, 6:36

AHP – Toney 1 rush (Harvey kick), 1:23

THIRD

AHP – Brandon Bennett 97 kick return (Harvey kick), 11:45

J – Coleman 1 rush (Mullis kick), 10:07

AHP – Byron Louis 3 rush (Harvey kick), 2:51

J – Coleman 5 rush (Mullis kick), 1:09

FOURTH

J – Jaquail Smith 5 rush (Mullis kick), 9:07

AHP – Louis 80 rush (kick missed), 8:54

AHP – Harvey 28 FG, 4:45