Miami Edison @ Miami Palmetto
WEEK 9 | 2024 SEASON
October 21, 2024
by Jake Lazar
Miami, Fla. | “Panthers Pounce Red Raiders”
Florida Man Sports is back with some Week 9 South Florida high school football action! A Thursday night game between the Edison Red Raiders and the Palmetto Panthers. The Red Raiders were coming off a deflating 40-8 loss against Southridge, while Palmetto was hot beating their last three opponents by 28 or more while allowing less than 7 points in each of those games. Both teams aimed to get their fifth win at a windy Tropical Park during Palmetto’s “Pink-Out” game.
Palmetto won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half, which gave the Red Raiders the ball to start. After a short and uneventful drive, Edison punted, and Palmetto’s offense took the field for the first time. The Panthers offense looked good on its first drive, moving the ball effectively and connecting over the middle on some nice passes. However, they came up short after a missed field goal.
Edison’s offense came back onto the field and 2025 QB/ATH Emmanuel “MJ” Poitier converted two first downs in a row using his legs. Another first down from 2025 RB and FIU commit Sterling “Juice” Joseph put the Red Raiders in the redzone. Then, a bold decision by Edison head coach Luther Campbell to run a QB sneak on 4th & 2 paid off, giving them another first down. This ultimately resulted in a 3-yard receiving touchdown by 2025 ATH Jaylen Moore on a fade route in the back-left corner of the endzone. The score was 7-0 Red Raiders, but not for long.
On the kick return following the touchdown, 2026 RB Varian “Scary” Terry took it to the house to give the Panthers a much-needed spark in a back-and-forth ball game. That was his first touchdown of the night, and the game was tied, 7-7.
On the following drive, something amazing happened: 2025 DB Corey Pruitt had an interception and ran it back to the Edison 20-yard line, but a valiant effort to chase him down by 2026 ATH John “Curley” Jones saved Edison’s drive after he stripped away the ball. Even though he made an amazing play, Edison still had to punt, and the Panthers were back on offense.
Palmetto was set up very close to the endzone after a couple of large chunk runs by 2025 RB Ethan Lopez and a pass interference call. The drive was capped off after the Palmer Trinity transfer 2026 QB Andre Bailey connected with 2025 WR Cameron Sapp in the back-left corner of the endzone for six. Palmetto took the lead. Panthers 13, Red Raiders 7.
The Red Raiders offense returned to the field, needing to go score before half considering Palmetto was set to receive for the second half. Poitier continued to use his legs, gaining 18 yards and a first down for his offense. Edison got the flame they needed after Sterling “Juice” Joseph blazed by the defense for a 55-yard rushing touchdown. This was the last act before the half, and the score at halftime was 14-13 Edison.
After halftime, Palmetto received the kick and was able to drive down the field after two receptions in a row for Sapp and a couple of nice runs by RBs Terry and Lopez. The drive resulted in a touchdown by Terry off a 15-yard rush. Palmetto now had the lead, 20-14.
When Edison got the ball back, “Juice” continued to dominate. He had a 20-yard run as well as a 23-yard run which helped earn the Red Raiders slim the margin with a field goal. 20-17, Palmetto up by three.
The following Panthers drive lasted very short after a bad exchange on the handoff between Bailey and Terry. Two-way ATH Poitier recovered from the LB position, and it was Edison’s ball. The Red Raiders cashed in on the turnover when Joseph rushed for 15 yards earning his second touchdown of the game. Another lead change resulted in Edison going up 24-20.
Palmetto took over with great field position after “Scary” Terry returned the kickoff to midfield. Lopez rushed four straight times for a combination of 36 yards, and the Panthers were in the red zone. Then, it was 4th & and inches and Lopez’s number was called again. He scored a touchdown on a wildcat QB sneak to put the Panthers up by three. 27-24.
Edison could not catch a break. On the first play of their redemption drive, they fumbled, and it was recovered by Notre Dame commit 2025 DL Davion Dixon. Palmetto had great field position and set up just 24 yards away from the endzone. Ethan Lopez was called upon once again on a 4th & inches close to the goal line and it worked. The wildcat play gave the Panthers a 1st & Goal at the two-yard line. What looked like an easy six-point drive for Palmetto quickly turned difficult after many penalties against the offense. The Edison defense was able to back them up all the way to the 22 for a 4th & very long. Coach Michael Manasco decided to keep the offense out there and it worked. A magical 22-yard passing touchdown from Andre Bailey to Cameron Sapp put the Panthers up two scores with just under six minutes to go. 34-24 Palmetto.
Underwhelming drives from Edison and a third touchdown from eventual Florida Man Player of the Game Terry brought the game to a close. The final score, Palmetto 41, Edison 24.
The Panthers advanced to 5-2 and look to keep their win streak going against Miami High for Palmetto’s Senior Night game. Edison drops to an even 4-4 and looks to bounce back against Homestead this Thursday at 3:30.
FINAL SCORE:
Miami Palmetto beats Miami Edison 41-24
About Jake Lazar:
Jake Lazar is a beat writer covering high school football for Florida Man Sports. Lazar is a sophomore at Miami Palmetto Senior High, involved in TV Production, and has previously written for sports blog FL Teams.
