It's a Showdown: Let's Get Ready To Rumble
By Rudy Rodriguez-Chomat
October 21, 2003

What a battle we have on our hands this Saturday night at 7:30pm at the stadium formerly known as Joe Robbie.

 

It is top-ranked Carol City facing off against second ranked Northwestern in what may go down as one of the biggest games in the history of South Florida high school football during the regular season.

 

Last season, this game would have been the season opener and would have had meaning simply because it was a rivalry, but when the district were realigned this summer, many at Northwestern and Carol City were unhappy that they could no longer play the opener.

 

How the feelings have changed in such a short period of time. With both teams coming in at 7-0, and ranked first and second in the state, instead of it simply being a rivalry game, it is a rivalry-game that is more than likely going to determine the district champion for District 9-6A and which team will have the easier road to Gainesville for the state championship. Carol City lead the all-time series 11-10, but Northwestern has won four of the last five times these two football powers have met.

 

Carol City is the team that came into the season with the bad boys who could not be touched. The Chiefs star-studded cast includes offensive tackle Akeem Robinson, defensive backs Kenneth Phillips, Chris Williams and Greg Redding, linebackers Maurice Peterson and Vernon Wilder, defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francios, running backs Chris Strothers and Terry Jones and more. This does not even begin to mention the addition of the #1 player in the state, linebacker Willie Williams. But while 7-0, this team has not been very impressive in winning. They have seemingly suffered from the University of Miami syndrome, but now that they are backed into a corner, will they come out like enraged madmen? The question looms. It will be answered Saturday.

 

Although the Chiefs got all the hype, since the season opener, the most dominant team in Dade County has been the mighty Bulls. Northwestern’s domination though has not come through the air with the departure of former offensive coordinator, Tim Harris, Sr., to Booker T. Washington. It has come primarily on the ground behind the running attack of Terry Perry, Miami-Dade's leading rusher, carrying the ball behind the biggest high school offensive line on the planet, led by Christopher Barney, a mammoth junior standing at 6'5", 300 pounds who pancakes opponents like most of us drink water, a line that makes big enough holes for a Mack truck to drive through according to Perry.

 

That does not even begin to mention the Northwestern defense that has been absolutely awesome. Teams simply cannot run the ball on Northwestern, especially east to west. If someone can, it has not been proven possible so far this season. Any and all running plays must be run north and south between the tackles because there is no team, not even Carol City, which beat the Bulls to the edges.

 

Behind the play of Northwestern linebackers Heaven Desire, Romeo Davis, and Antwan Allen, Carol City will have a very hard time running the ball, but the Wing T offense that Carol City runs could pose problems for Northwestern because of the misdirection involved in the Wing T offense. The key is to use the Bulls pursuit against them, meaning counters, misdirections, draw plays and screen passes.

 

Let’s also remember the ridiculous pass rush that the Bulls have as well with Dustin Fortson, Leron King, Desire, Davis and Sedrick Alexander combing for 40 sacks between them through the first six games of the season. So what the heck can anyone actually do against that Bulls defense? Big question.

 

With all the accolades going to Northwestern, has Carol City become some type of after thought? No way. The Chiefs are no slouches. The big problem the Chiefs have had this season though is playing down to the level of their competition, as I stated before is the University of Miami syndrome. They trailed Dr. Krop 6-3 at the half. They had trouble with a Central team that is suffering from a down year, particularly offensively. They almost blew it against a poor Dillard team. The only game the Carol City came and simply throttled its opponent was against Norland when the Chiefs led 34-0 to start the fourth quarter before emptying the bench. The Chiefs came out with pride. They felt disrespected looking at the field at Traz Powell Stadium reading "Norland Vikings 2002 Class 6A State Champions". Against Northwestern, that is the attitude the Chiefs have to bring. At the same time, Northwestern is to Carol City what Florida State is to Miami, so there is no doubt Carol City will bring its “A” game. The question is will it be enough.

 

Carol City’s defense is also awesome, but has seemingly not performed to its expectations since it lost Phillips to a hand injury. He will be back for the Northwestern game, but the Chiefs clearly missed his big play ability as he had four interceptions and two returned for touchdowns in just his first four games of the season. His return will be key because he will be expected to support the run defense from his safety position.

 

Peterson has been an absolute animal though for the Chiefs making big-play after big play. He, alongside Wilder and Williams will be responsible for containing Perry. If they can do that and make Northwestern throw the ball, it will make things difficult for the Bulls offensively.

 

There are so many ifs that circulate this game that the list is endless. Can Northwestern stop the Wing T, an offense that have given the Bulls many problems over the years, the same offense that Dr. Krop ran against them in a 17-14 loss, the closest game Northwestern has played all season? Can Williams, Wilder and Peterson contain Perry? Will Northwestern be forced to throw the ball more than it wants to? Will Carol City be forced to throw more than it wants to? How will turnovers play into the game? And you know what happens to a real big one? The KICKERS. Carol City has a clear advantage in the kicking game with place kicker Ramone Russell who has already booted a 38-yard field goal this year while the Bulls counter with a linebacker who is kicking in Edward James.

 

All the question will be answered Saturday night under the lights of the stadium formerly known as Joe Robbie. Tickets are on sale now at Northwestern, Carol City and at the stadium. They are $8. There is a crowd of 35,000 expected, so make sure you get your tickets in advance so you do not have to wait on line because a huge walk-up crowd is expected. Check out the In the Zone prediction on Thursday.