Edison, Western chasing state titles in flag football. Plus region boys’ volleyball and softball
Miami Edison and Davie Western’s flag football teams are running it back, again.
For the third consecutive season, the two squads will be the Miami-Dade and Broward County representatives respectively at the state championships, which begin Friday at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville.
Western (16-2) will take on Fleming Island in a Class 2A state semifinal at 2 p.m. while in Class 1A, Edison will face Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee at 5:30 p.m.
Western finally reached the top of the mountain last season, as the Wildcats won their first state championship.
But for the Red Raiders, that state crown remains elusive.
Following an 18-1 season and an 18-6 win over Miami Killian in the regional finals, Edison hopes it will see the end of its drought soon.
This will be the Red Raiders’ third consecutive trip to the state tournament and fifth in the past seven seasons.
A major factor for their optimism is Alexandra Harris, who threw three touchdown passes and for over 150 yards against Killian. Harris, who also ran for over 50 yards, has been prolific this season on offense thanks to a talented group of receivers. Poetry Auguste (three catches for 80 yards and a touchdown vs. Killian) and Keisha Voltaire (four catches for 65 yards and a TD) highlight that group.
Felicia Wright and RaKyia Louis have also complemented the passing game. The two threw for a combined 135 yards against Killian while the Red Raiders’ defense held the Cougars to six points. Camille Candidate and Auguste each had an interception while Jahzara Silvera and Talayah Akhadar each had three sacks.
“We like our chances but so do the other three teams heading up (to Jacksonville),” Edison coach Vince Hall said. “If we don’t turn the ball over we have a really good chance.”
The Wildcats, who are also making their third consecutive appearance, have withstood the loss of quarterback Sydney Ford to graduation, and come back with a potent offense of their own led by a core of juniors.
Receiver Nandi Ramessar has 100 catches for 1,018 yards and 16 touchdowns this season while Tamara Elliott has thrown for 1,600 yards, 26 touchdowns and three interceptions. Kennedy Allen leads the defense with 12 interceptions and 49 flag pulls while dual threat sophomore Kailyn Echevarria has 65 catches for 684 yards and seven touchdowns while picking off two passes on defense.
If Western wins Friday, it will face either top-seeded Tampa Alonso or Westlake Seminole Ridge in the final Saturday at 2. If Edison wins, it will take on either Tampa Robinson or Daytona Beach Mainland. Robinson has won six consecutive state titles and a state-best seven overall.
Region boys’ volleyball
Exciting five-set wins for Calvary Christian and Columbus highlight some area region quarterfinal action in boys’ volleyball on the road to state.
Region Quarterfinal: Calvary Christian d. West Boca Raton 26-24, 25-14, 23-25, 22-25, 15-11: Tyler Stahler 15 kills, 3 blocks, 14 digs, 20 serve rec; William Pincek 10 kills, 2 aces, 1 block, 16 digs, 13 assists; Daniel Vivas 8 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks, 18 digs, 21 assists; Jacob Pasche 6 kills, 11 blocks; Jose Rodriguez 18 digs, 21 serve rec; Caleb Barnes 3 blocks, 1 kill, 1 ace, 5 digs: Justice Croake 1 ace, 7 digs, 29 serve rec. CC (12-6).
Region Quarterfinal: Columbus d. Ferguson 26-24, 11-25, 20-25, 25-17, 15-11: Ignacio Brito 38 kills, 3 blocks, 3 aces, 15 digs, 8 serve rec; Lucas Riva Othon 10 kills, 1 ace, 4 digs, 11 serve rec; John-Paul Zurfluh 3 kills; Brendan Herrholz 3 kills, 1 block, 2 aces, 9 digs, 52 assists; Gabriel Toledo 8 digs, 52 serve rec. Col (17-9).
Region Quarterfinal: Monsignor Pace d. Hialeah 25-21, 25-23, 25-20: Brandon Valdes 18 kills, 4 blocks, 10 digs; Ranier Velasco 7 kills, 3 blocks, 4 digs; Nathan Morisseau 5 kills, 6 blocks, 2 aces; Jason Romero 16 digs; Ariel Urena 1 kill, 1 ace, 11 digs, 28 assists. MP (12-6).
Region Quarterfinal: South Broward d. South Plantation 25-17, 25-17, 25-13: Dagoney Stoudt 9 kills, 2 blocks, 9 digs, 4 serve rec; Malick Tall 7 kills, 5 blocks; Christian Thorne 5 kills, 4 blocks; Jadon Bredwood 5 aces, 8 digs, 25 assists; Ben Aguerre 2 aces, 6 digs, 25 serve rec. SB (15-5).
Other area region quarterfinal results: Belen Jesuit d. Braddock 25-17, 25-16, 21-25, 25-10; Cardinal Gibbons d. Pompano 25-18, 25-10, 25-14; Cypress Bay d. Archbishop McCarthy 25-20, 25-19, 25-22; Flanagan d. West Broward 25-21, 25-21, 25-16; Fort Lauderdale d. Monarch 25-13, 17-25, 26-23, 25-17; Hialeah Gardens d. SLAM 25-19, 25-12, 25-20; Hialeah-Miami Lakes d. Miami Beach 25-21, 25-20, 25-18; Mater Lakes Academy d. St. Thomas Aquinas 25-18, 25-15, 25-11; Miami High d. HEA; Palmetto d. True North 25-13, 25-22, 22-25, 25-15; Southwest d. TERRA 25-14, 25-17, 25-23; Boca Raton d. Coral Glades 25-13, 25-13, 25-13.
Region softball
Region Quarterfinal: Somerset Academy Silver Palms 16, Keys Gate 1: Ava Stevens 4-4, 2B, 3 R, 6 RBI, 2 SB; Taylor Rebhan 2-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, 1 SB; Gessy Hernandez 2-2, R, 2 RBI; Kate Champion 2-2, 3 R, RBI; WP Edan Playa (18-1, 1.36 ERA) Complete Game, 5 K. Som (26-2).
Region Quarterfinal: Westminster Christian 9, American Heritage-Delray 2: WP Kaley Dyer (8th grader) 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K; P Abigail Barboza (8th grader) 1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 K; Brooke Rebhan 3-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 2 SB; Bridget Haller 2-4, RBI; Gigi Khoury 1-3, 2B, Sac Bunt, RBI; Kaley Dyer 1-4, 2B, RBI; Abi Barboza BB, R, 2 SB; Kelsie Kenney 2 BB, 2 R, SB; Jasmine Armenteros 2 BB; Alexa Bender 2 BB, R; Team 0 Errors. WC (12-8-1).
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Badminton, baseball, flag football, lacrosse, sailing, softball, tennis, track & field, volleyball, water polo and more spring sports.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
