Defense Keys Jackson Win
By Ernesto Zaldivar
Sept. 5, 2002 

            A 68-yard interception return for touchdown by Antonio McKnight at the end of the 1st quarter keyed the Jackson defense that had three interceptions overall in leading them to a hard-fought 16-7 win over Columbus.

            Mcknight's play was an allegory of the General's amazing defense that held the Explorers to only 96 yards rushing. If not for the Columbus special teams, it would have been a shut out.

            Late in the third quarter, the Explorers tried to make a game of it. Because of a sloppy snap to Jackson's punter, and a recovered fumble, the Columbus offense was able to score on a 29-yard drive that was capped by a Lebaron Lawrence touchdown.

            Even in defeat, Columbus showed to have an offense that could move the ball with quarterback Lawrence and running back Demetrice Wiggins. Columbus had 12 first downsthan Jackson. With a young, inexperienced team they do have talent that could make their district very interesting.

            However, Jackson was too strong defensively for Columbus and showed why they are a contender this year after a disappointing 2001 campaign. Jardin’s Yardage

Belen Routs Marathon
By Ernesto Zaldivar
Sept. 7, 2002

            With the loss of 1st Team All-Dade quarterback Joaquin Sanchez to graduation, one may have expected that Belen would not have the same first power as they did last season, but it surely didn’t seem to phase the Wolverines as they plastered Marathon 39-6 in their opener.

            Marathon provided little challenge to Belen as the Wolverines dominated in all phases of the game.

            Friday's game showed how many different ways that the Wolverines can hurt you. On special teams Alex Munilla had a 60-yard punt return with enough moves to make Michael Jackson nervous.

            Belen’s defense was solid with interceptions from defensive tackles Rene Veliz and Eric Blanco and was a stone wall shutting down any form of offensive attack attempted by the Dolphins allowing only 5 first downs.

In the air, Chris Gueits had several Dorsey-like passes, including an amazing touchdown pass to Anthony Torrente. He scrambled well and his offensive line provided great blocking for the running game. The line helped Alex Sosa have a 35-yard touchdown run.

Explosion Leads Hi-Tides to Victory
By Armando Alvarez
Sept. 13, 2002

Quarterback Mike Jardin rushed for 320 yards on 22 carries, scoring four touchdowns to lead the Miami Beach Hi-Tides to a 41-26 win over the Miami Springs Golden Hawks in front of a crowd of 500 at Memorial Field Friday night.

The Hi-Tides (1-1) capitalized on big plays by their quarterback all night. Jardin broke a 76 yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter. In the second quarter he ran 33 yards for his second score. He struck again in the third quarter running one down the sideline from 56 yards out, and he put the exclamation point on one of the greatest rushing performances by a quarterback with 4:24 left in the game running it up the gut for a 63 yard score.

"We worked so hard in practice and it paid off tonight for my team and me," said Jardin. "My offensive line played an excellent game and I couldn't have done this without them."

Jardin also did some decent work throwing the ball completing 6-12 passes for 56 yards, but it was his overall talent that got him praise from head coach Rick Divita. "He's a special kid," Divita said. "I've been here five years and he has the most talent of anyone I've had here. He knows what he's doing, takes control of this offense, and he showed it tonight."

Jardin already plays quarterback, he wears number 7 on his jersey, and his name is Mike. Any chance after a performance like this that he'd change his last name to Vick?

"Michael Vick is a great player, but I want to be known as the one and only Mike Jardin," Jardin said.

Running back Gartell Shavers had 121 yards on 23 carries a two touchdowns for Miami Springs (0-2).

Southridge Defense Shines Over Jackson
By Rudy Rodriguez-Chomat
Sept. 13, 2002

American and Jackson down. Killian is next, and the Southridge defense is responsible for this as it stymied the Generals at Traz Powell. Southridge is proving all the experts wrong as they knocked of Jackson 9-6 to improve to 2-0.

''I couldn't be happier starting 2-0, because we have played two excellent teams, ''first-year coach Stu Rogers said. "The defensive played fabulous and really saved us on several occasions.”

The Spartans opened up early with a touchdown on three plays, two that were runs by Kalum Harris of 5 and 16 yards to set up a touchdown pass by Keandric Smith to Eric Johnson for 27 yards and a 7-0 lead.

Jackson charged right down the field on its first possession, but a Spartans defender ended that when Lorenzo Ferguson stepped in front of an Ahmad Mitchell pass to thwart the drive.

Ferguson proceeded to pick off another Mitchell pass to end Jackson’s next drive.

Mitchell’s long night continued right before halftime as he threw a third interception, this time picked off by Damaso Munoz at the 11-yard line. Munoz fumbled the interception, but was able to secure his fumble and the Southridge defense took care of the Generals in the second half.

Carol City Stuns Palm Bay
By Rudy Rodriguez-Chomat
Sept. 13, 2002

If Carol City head coach Walt Frazier told you he was opening his season against the Class 6A state runner-up in Northwestern and then traveling to 4A power Palm Bay, who started the season ranked #2 in the nation, the week after, you may have wanted to take his temperature to see if he was ill.

And after getting smothered by the Northwestern defense, you may have been in your right to check for a fever.

Well, his Chiefs showed the state that they are a team to be reckoned with after clipping the Pirates at Palm Bay 20-19 when a group of Carol City tacklers stopped Palm Bay star running back Joe Cohen inches from the goal line on a last-gasp, two-point conversion try. And this came after Carol City came back from an early 13-0 deficit.

The Chiefs offensive line paved holes for a rushing attack that amassed 145 yards and two quick touchdowns by Chris Strothers early in the 4th quarter, but without the defense that forced five turnovers and held Cohen way under a typical Cohen-like game.

“'I held my breath every time that guy touched the ball,'' Carol City coach Walt Frazier said of Cohen. ``This team was very deserving of that ranking. We're very fortunate and happy to come out with a victory.''

Calling for the two-point conversion to win wasn’t even a thought for Palm Bay head coach Dan Burke.

“I didn't think about it twice,'' Burke said. "These guys were pushing us all over the field in the second half. I didn't want to give them a chance to win the game when all we needed was two yards."