Miami Central @ Miami Norland
2M REGIONAL FINALS | 2023 SEASON
November 24, 2023
by Josh Zedner
Miami, Fla. | “Vikings Outlast Rockets’ Comeback, Advance to Final Four”
This is Florida Man Sports. And this is District Finals Week! Tonight we had the rematch. The massive showdown. The undefeated Miami Norland Vikings vs. the Miami Central Rockets. Norland was coming off of a blowout victory against Monsignor Pace and their record stood at 12-0 going into the game. Central was 8-3, coming off of a blowout victory of their own against rival Booker T. Washington. They also had a streak of 4 straight state championships going into this
game, so the “Drive for Five” was on the line.
This game was an early defensive battle, commanded by 2025 DE Darryll Desir, 2024 DE and Rutgers commit Tycoolhill Luman, 2024 DL and FIU commit Germaine Carter, and 2025 DL Derrick Manke. All of these guys got stops and TFLs to force early punts from each side.
Central got a drive going in the middle of the 1st quarter thanks to 2024 QB and Jacksonville State commit JC Evans. He ran for two first downs, then delivered a dime to 2025 ATH Anjuan “Ace Money” Coleman for another first. They were also assisted by a few Norland defensive miscues. After Evans’ helmet popped off on one of those first down runs, 2024 QB Antonio “The General” Smith came in and delivered a nice slant touchdown to Coleman to get the scoring started at 7-0.
Late in the second quarter, the Vikings finally got their offense going. 2025 QB Ennio Yapoor delivered multiple first-down tosses. Two going to 2024 WR Joaquin Reid. Another going to 2024 WR/DB Isaiah Scott. And another going to 2024 WR Amare Lee. He also got a rushing first down where he trucked a defender. With the assistance of a pass interference, Yapoor then handed off to 2024 RB and Bethune Cookman commit Juan Rodriguez to knot the score at 7-7 going into the half.
Right out of the gates in the second half, 2024 WR and South Dakota commit Ivory Aikens, with Tyreek Hill-like speed, came blazing past the defense and set the Norland offense up nicely to start the half. Yapoor then found Scott again, and then scampered past the RocBlock defense to put Norland up for the first time in the game.
After Luman sacked Evans on the ensuing drive, Scott got a chance on a punt return. After letting the ball take a few bounces, he juked a defender out of his shoes and swash buckled all the way to the endzone to extend the lead out to 21-7. Tycoolhill’s twin brother 2024 DE and Rutgers commit Tyclean Luman forced another Rockets 3-and-out on the next drive. After a first down run by Rodriguez, Yapoor found the most dangerous man on the field: Ivory Aikens. He caught a quick hitch, then absolutely flew to the endzone with ridiculous speed to get the lead out to what seemed to be an insurmountable margin of 21 in the middle of the 3rd.
Evans and the Rockets offense rebounded quickly. 2025 RB Nicholas McCall had a huge run before he was shoved out of bounds on the goal line. Evans then took it in himself to cut the lead back down to 14 very fast.
After 2025 DL Randy Adirika had a tackle for loss, Central got the ball back at the start of the 4th. 2026 star RB Jayden Ford and Evans got a couple of big first-down runs. Then Evans delivered a dime to 3-star 2025 WR Khaleal Sterling in the endzone and the lead was down to 28-21. Just like that we had a game.
After 2026 DB Javari Flowers made a big 3rd down tackle on the hulking Yapoor, it seemed as if the Rockets were getting the ball back again. But then came an absolutely insane play call. Coach Daryle Heidelburg called a direct snap to 2024 LB Anthony Mattison who delivered a ball that was somehow incredibly caught by 2025 WR Terrence Honeywood, and drove the ball down the field. A bold successful fake punt conversion that seemed to ice the game.
But then came a huge stop by Adirika and 2024 DL and Florida State commit Armondo Blount who sacked Yapoor and forced another Norland punt. Evans began to force feed his perceived number 1 target, 2024 ATH and Florida State commit LaWayne McCoy, who got two huge first downs with under 4 minutes left in regulation. Evans then got to the edge and scored to tie the game at 28. An unbelievable comeback by the Rockets, who just never gave in tonight.
The Central defense forced yet another Norland punt. Ford then took a punt, made a couple of absolutely ridiculous moves, and was about to head for glory if not for a game saving tackle by 2026 K/P Noah Sidan. Central had a chance to finish this comeback in regulation, but 2024 K/P Kristian Hodges was blocked by the Norland front and we went to overtime.
Central had the ball first in the extra period, and Evans was sniffing the endzone, but on the diving attempt to cross the goal line, the ball popped out, and the do-it-all Scott was the man underneath the pile. With only a field goal needed for glory, and a Final Four berth, Norland sent on Sidan. The man who beat the Rockets earlier this year had a chance to do it again. And he drilled it.
Norland escapes, 31-28, in a master class of a game. They are still undefeated at 13-0. The Norland Vikings will now face Bolles from Jacksonville in front of their home crowd once again next week. This team is gutsy. They can do it all. So many stars on both ends of the field. We shall see if their undefeated streak will continue as this magical season continues to go on.
As for the Miami Central Rockets, what an effort given by them tonight. They should not hang their heads low as their incredible streak of 4 straight state championships comes to an end. They fought till the very end of this incredible game. And while they are losing Evans, McCoy, and Blount, they have such outstanding talent coming back next year to be right back in the state championship conversation. Sterling, Coleman, Adirika, Ford, and many, many others will be running it back next campaign.
What else is there to say. The absolute game of the year. So many twists and turns. An instant classic for years to be told. Until next year at least, as this rivalry continues to bring it all.
FINAL SCORE:
Miami Norland beats Miami Central 31-28
About Josh Zedner:
Joshua Zedner is a beat writer covering high school football for Florida Man Sports. A native of Miami Beach, he attended Florida International University before finishing his undergraduate Business Administration degree at the University of Florida. Josh is an avid Miami sports fan, and he also writes a music review blog as a passion project under the @AlbumAnalysisWithZ handle on Instagram.
