Heritage Patriots faced off with the Miami Central Rockets at Nathaniel “Traz” Powell stadium, Friday, Sept. 20.

For the last four consecutive years, Miami Central has taken home a state championship title. In these four years, the team has boasted a 50-7 record and is ranked seventh in Fla.

The two teams met at the 2021 regional semifinals, where the Patriots led at halftime 21-20, with two touchdowns by then Miami commit junior Mark Fletcher. But ultimately the team lost 41-28, unable to compete with the Rocket’s three touchdowns to the Patriot’s one in the second half. 

They then met again in the 2022 2M state championship, where the Patriots went down 31-13 at halftime. Within the first half, the Patriots almost lost the ball on downs on two occasions, resulting in two field goal kicks by senior Wylie Shaw. Despite their strong effort in the second half, the Patriots lost 38-31, unable to overcome the 18 point deficit of the first half.

The Patriots began Friday’s game strong, with the opening play being an 80-yard touchdown pass by junior Dia Bell, received by junior Brandon Benett in the first 12 seconds of gameplay.

_{Just after the Rockets kicked off, the Patriots lined up for their first drive from their own 20-yard line. This first drive led to an 80-yard touchdown by junior Brandon Benett, just 12 seconds into the game. (Photo/Jaiden Bomar)}

_{The game’s intensity continued as junior Dia Bell scored on a one-yard sneak and later threw to junior Jamar Denson to secure the team’s third touchdown in the first quarter. (Photo/Kevin Moya)}

Going into the second quarter, the Patriots led 21-6. In the second quarter, the Rockets turned on the pressure, with quarterback junior Dia Bell being sacked three times. Unsuccessful in answering increasing pressure from the Rockets, the game was tied 21-21 at halftime.

_{After leading in the first quarter 21-6, the Patriots had two unsuccessful drives. The Rockets answered with two of their own touchdowns, tying the game at halftime. (Photo/ Jaiden Bomar)}

In the third quarter, the Patriots had a costly fumble, which turned into two unanswered touchdowns completed by the Rockets.

_{During the fourth quarter of the game, players from the defensive line were placed on offense after the ejection of senior running back Byron Louis for unsportsmanlike conduct. One defensive player placed on the offensive line was junior Isaac Tanis. “I didn’t always play defense, I was O line for a little,” junior Isaac Tanis said. (Photo/Jaiden Bomar)}

However, the Patriots never gave up. Losing 35-24 with just six seconds left, the Patriots forced a turnover on downs. Quickly taking advantage, junior Dia Bell completed a touchdown pass to junior Jamar Denson with just two seconds left on the clock. Bell and Denson were successful for a two-point conversion pass, leading to the final score of 35-32.