_{October 9th, 2025}
by Josh Zedner
Miami, Fla. | “T-Breds Run Past Patriots”

Florida Man Sports is back with Week 8 coverage of the South Florida high school football season! It is now October, when squads truly lock in and show if they have what it takes to make a run. Tonight we had a matchup between the American Patriots and the Hialeah Thoroughbreds. American came into the game with a 3-3 record and off of back-to-back wins against Belen and Krop. Hialeah, at 5-2, had won 3 games in a row coming into the contest.

The game got off to a fast start. There was a muff on the opening kickoff! After the ball was recovered by 2026 LB Isaiah Davis, 2028 QB Kenneth Duckhart led the Patriot offense onto the field. He delivered a first down pass to 2026 WR Tashorn Lake. Then on the goal-line, he connected with 2027 WR Dorian McCray for the first score of the game. The extra point was blocked.

The T-Breds responded right away. 2027 QB Christopher Leggette delivered a screen to 2028 WR Malachi Mayes, which was nearly taken all the way to the crib, albeit into the redzone. Deservingly, Leggette found Mayes in the endzone to get this game evened up within minutes. With the extra point, Hialeah led 7-6.

After a quality return by 2027 WR Jaylin Thomas, American fumbled away the drive on a muffed snap that was recovered by 2026 DE Devin King. Leggette then connected with 2027 ATH Jamell Johnson for a first down. 2026 RB Jakari Weeks then sped into the endzone to give the T-Breds an 8 point advantage.

Strings of quality defense followed. 2026 DE Terrell Evans Jr. had a sack, a forced fumble and a batted ball on the same drive to force a 3 and out. Hialeah began driving the ball down the field again through the power of Weeks, but through the efforts of 2026 DB Chedell Sanvellus (TFL), 2027 DL/OL Miguel Valdez (TFL), and 2027 DB Abdul Hopkins (PBU), American forced a missed field goal.

2029 LB Makhi Patterson had a sack for the Patriots. Driving the ball down the field for American, Duckhart was sacked by 2026 ATH Noah “Chop” Bell and then threw a pick at the goal-line to 2026 DB Giovanni Morley. Sanvellus forced a fumble on a sack for American. After a poor punt in the endzone by Hialeah, the Patriots were in striking distance. Duckhart found McCray once again in the endzone to cut the lead right back down to 2 points into the half.

With some tangible momentum, American looked to take their lead back. But these efforts were thwarted after an interception by 2026 LB Thomas Trueba. Finally Hialeah’s offense got going again. Leggette connected with 2026 WR Solomon Daugherty for a first down, and on 4th and 7 once again on a bomb that resulted in a touchdown. A true blurr moment, Daugherty snatched the ball out of midair amongst multiple defenders and cruised into the endzone.

American drove the ball down the field with connections between Duckhart and 2027 WR Tyron Woods (twice) and 2026 WR/RB Greg Watts. But with efforts from Trueba (FF) and Johnson (INT after an intentional grounding), the Patriots were left with nothing once again.

The ground game got going for the T-Breds. Weeks got Hialeah out of their own endzone with a huge run. Then the big man 2029 RB/DE Richard Guilbaud Jr. started chugging. He ran for two first downs, and eventually crashed into the endzone to give Hialeah a 16 point lead in the 4th quarter. 

After a TFL by 2026 ATH Zakais Wellons, the Patriots had to punt yet again. And then 2027 RB Edwidge Pierre found a hole, sped past all of the American defenders and iced the game with a long touchdown run. 2028 DB Britain Mitchell had some extra icing with a late-game pick that had the final score at a tally of 35-12.

Hialeah moves to 6-2 on the season. It is fair to say that this wasn’t the most clean performance. But Leggette and the offense got just enough done to make the scoreline look good. The rushing attack is the highlight for the offense. Guilbaud Jr and Weeks are big time backs, making things easy for the QB. They have some ball-hawks on this defense. Led by Trueba, Evans Jr. and Bell, there are a lot of problems that this team can pose for their opponents. They have a huge game next Thursday night against Killian. It should be a litmus test for their team.

Way too many turnovers for American tonight. 5 giveaways. Duckhart has to improve his decision making, because down the line things will prove even more costly if it continues to happen. He is young, so he will very likely improve. With a couple of quality weapons in Woods and McCray, they have plenty of potential in the passing game. The defense was not too shabby in this game either. But they were gashed in the running game. The trenches need to improve. They will likely be in another competitive game against Homestead next Thursday.

FINAL SCORE:
Hialeah beats American 35-12

Florida Man Sports Player of the Game:

2027 QB Christopher Leggette (2 Passing TDs)


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.