It’s not easy to gain respect on the 3,200-square-foot high school football field, but Norland certainly earned it Friday night in his game against Northwestern.
In a battle of Miami powers at the start of the season, Norland improved its record to 3-0 with a dramatic 21-17 win over Miami Northwestern and star coach Teddy Bridgewater.
The Vikings, who had struggled with penalties and missed opportunities all night, scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, overcame a 17-8 deficit and won in front of an overjoyed home crowd.
Terrence Honeywood proved to be the biggest hero that night, scoring a dramatic 38-yard punt return for a touchdown that gave the Vikings a 21-17 lead with 5 minutes, 26 seconds left, and intercepting a pass with 24 seconds left as Northwestern was near the end zone and time was running out.
“This was a much-needed win,” said Honeywood, an athletic standout who already has five offers, including Temple and Florida Atlantic. “People still don’t respect us, but we have to show them that they have to respect us. We’re definitely going to keep pushing.”
Here are our 5 takeaways from one of the most exciting games of the year in South Florida:
The defending Class 2M runner-up showed off a balanced offense and fearsome defense in defeating Northwestern. Competing in Class 4A this season, Norland is now 3-0 against South Florida teams and has plenty of time to improve.
The Vikings beat Miramar 27-0 and Carol City 36-10, but their win against Northwestern was their most impressive yet.
If Norland wants to accomplish anything this season, it’s with the arms and legs of senior Ennio Yapoor, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound athlete who runs like a fullback and throws like a veteran. He made several big runs in the game and never let sacks and botched plays stop him from performing at his best.
Yapoor also proved to be a master escape artist, avoiding sacks at the last second with incredible throws and rebounds.
Even when the Vikings were down 17-8 with less than seven minutes left, Northwestern’s defense didn’t let them down. Led by a number of speedy athletes, including linebackers Anthony Ottinot, Darryll Desir and Mandrell Desir, the Vikings made life difficult for the Bulls at times.
Norland pushed Northwestern back to the 3-yard line on a late-game series, forcing a punt and later return for a touchdown by Honeywood. Senior defensive end Michael Smith then stopped a Bulls charge by recovering a fumble.
The Vikings then made another big impact after Northwestern’s star quarterback Leon Strawder drove the Bulls to Norland’s 11-yard line with 32 seconds left, but then threw a pass into the crowded secondary where Honeywood was waiting.
Norland also got a pick-6 from Jerrard Smith in the second quarter.
The Bulls know how to score points with quarterback Leon Strawder and a number of talented receivers, including 6-foot-5 junior Calvin Russell Jr., who uses his size and soft hands to make one big catch after another.
Strawder threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Nicsaint Joseph Jr., a 6-3 junior, and ran to an 8-yard keeper for a score that helped Northwestern take a 14-8 halftime lead. Senior wide receiver Daruis Johnson also played well for the Bulls.
The Norland defense took Northwestern off the field at the crucial moment
The Bulls’ offensive machine was unbalanced for much of the evening by Norland’s relentless defensive work. They had only a few sustained attacks, one early in the second half that ended with a 27-yard field goal by Ethan Silva.
Norland next plays against powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna on Thursday at 7 p.m. Northwestern hosts Miami Columbus the same day.
