Miami Booker T Washington 2013 National Champs
- Thread starter mcellas
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your 2016 team just defeated the #1 ranked team in the country...young s.florida boyz are ballin and maintaining tradition!
also the county remodeled Traz Powell Stadium this summer. new field, track, and seating repair.
Booker T. Washington takes down top-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas
Led by sophomore quarterback Daniel Richardson’s four touchdown passes, Miami Booker T. Washington defeated Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas — the nation’s top-ranked team — 27-23 on Friday night.
From left: St. Thomas Aquinas' Albert Tucker (27) goes to tackle Booker T. Washington running back Craig Nelson (9) as another Aquinas player tackles Nelson during a game at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami on Aug. 26, 2016. Shannon Kaestle skaestle@MiamiHerald.com
By Andre C. Fernandez
From its first practice, Booker T. Washington has repeated two words over and over — “national champions.”
The Tornadoes did not open the season as the nation’s top-ranked team.
On Friday night, Booker T. took down the team that was.
Led by sophomore quarterback Daniel Richardson’s four touchdown passes, the Tornadoes defeated St. Thomas Aquinas 27-23 at Traz Powell Stadium.
Booker T. (1-0), ranked No. 6 by USA Today and owners of five state championships, defeated a nationally ranked opponent for the second consecutive week after having defeated Plantation American Heritage in a preseason classic.
Richardson threw the last of his four touchdown passes to Sharod Johnson from 18 yards out to give the Tornadoes a 27-23 lead with 2:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.
A lightning strike near the stadium sent the game into a delay that lasted 45 minutes.
When play resumed, Aquinas drove down to the Booker T. 1-yard line after Jake Allen connected with Trevon Grimes on a slant pass that set up first-and-goal.
But Allen dropped back to pass on the next play and lobbed a pass over a heavy blitz.
The rushed throw was intercepted by Dedrick Mackey with 23.9 seconds, sealing the win for the Tornadoes.
Daniel Esptein led Aquinas (0-1), ranked No. 1 in multiple polls, by rushing for 131 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown.
But five turnovers stymied Aquinas as Booker T. turned the miscues into 13 points.
Richardson completed 18 of 32 passes for 269 yards and threw two interceptions.
Johnson caught six passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
The game had seven lead changes with Aquinas leading by as many as eight points before Booker T. tied the game in the second quarter.
Allen threw for 215 yards but his interception with 3:35 remaining, picked off by Richard Dames, led to Booker T.’s winning score.
Guy Thomas recovered two fumbles for Booker T. Washington.
Richardson threw a pair of touchdown passes earlier in the game to Deandre Williams including a 22-yarder that tied the score at 14.
Marco Salani connected on the first of his three field goals to give Aquinas a 17-14 halftime lead.
But trailing 20-14 late in the third quarter, Richardson found Williams open over the middle for a 57-yard touchdown that gave Booker T. a 21-20 lead.
The game was attended by numerous alumni of both schools including two Hall of Famers — University of Miami and Aquinas great Michael Irvin and Booker T. Washington alum and former Miami Dolphin Larry Little.
Read more here: Booker T. Washington takes down top-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas
