(Orlando, FL) Miami Central overcame a 24-14 deficit to defeat Dr. Phillips 42-27 and win the 6A State High School Football Championship Saturday night at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Devonta Freeman ran for 312 yards on 36 carries and scored two touchdowns to power the Rockets to victory.
In a scene reminiscent of the famous “Fog Bowl” game in Soldier Field nearly 22 years ago to the day between the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, the soupy dew engulfed the Citrus Bowl early in the third quarter. That didn’t stop the Miami Central running game led by Freeman who caught an 18 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Rakeem Cato pulling the Rockets within three, 24-21 four minutes into the second half.
Cato connected with Thomas Shuler on a 13 yard touchdown pass giving Miami Central a lead it would not relinquish.
Dr. Phillips drove the ball down to Miami Central’s 14 yard line with three minutes left in the fourth quarter but Durrell Eskridge put an end to any Panther hopes of coming back to win by intercepting quarterback Nick Patti.
Devonta Freeman’s subsequent 80 rush from scrimmage set up his own 4 yard touchdown run putting the capper on the Rockets triumph in Orlando.
Rakeem Cato completed 17 of 25 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns for Miami Central. Dr. Phillips quarterback Nick Patti connected on 9 of his 24 attempts for 203 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Both schools finish 2010 with 14-1 records.
Saturday night’s concluding game in the FHSAA’s championship schedule attracted 10,078 fans to the Citrus Bowl.
A video post-game recap is posted to this article.
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