PLANTATION – They are built for this.
The American Heritage (Plantation) Patriots got the most out of sophomores and juniors last night (Aug. 26) in a season-opening 45-20 win over the St. John’s (DC) Cadets.
Here is how they truly dominated their interstate opponent in the Broward National High School Showcase finale.
In a mostly scoreless first quarter, the Patriots (1-0) did their best to contain the potent Cadets three-headed monster of a running back corps, which featured Cinque Blount (‘24), Da’Juan Riggs (‘24), and Breyon Williams (‘26). Though this tandem gain chunks of yardage and netted multiple first downs, the Cadets (0-1) ultimately came away with a missed field goal at the 8:02 mark.
The only scoring play was a defensive one for the Patriots, as defensive lineman Aldarius Johnson (‘26) scooped up a lost fumble at the Cadets 25-yard line and took it to the house for a statement scoring return.
With the extra point by kicker Gavin Harvey (‘26), the Patriots took a 7-0 lead over the Cadets at the 3:07 mark.
Most of the scoring took place in the next two quarters.
To begin the second frame, Riggs used the Cadets offensive line to muscle through for chunks of positive yardage. They included a big fourth-down run that got his team to the Patriots 27-yard line, a 25-yard scamper to the 2-yard line, and a 2-yard touchdown run with 10:54 left in the second quarter.
A missed extra point – which would prove costly for the Cadets – made the score at 7-6 in favor of the Patriots.
From that point on, it was all Patriots – at least until the game was out of reach for the Cadets late in the third quarter.
The Patriots defense was truly alive, focused, and ready for action right after Harvey’s field goal extended their lead to 10-6 at the 6:01 mark of the second quarter. The Patriots forced the Cadets into two key three-and-out drives that resulted in short punts, giving their offense great opportunities to score on each of their next two offensive drives.
It was a coming-out moment for quarterback Dia Bell (‘26), who rolled left to find wide open Malachi Toney (‘26 WR) for a short touchdown pass. The son of former NBA player Raja Bell took advantage of another scoring opportunity, as he found Brandon Bennett (‘26 WR) for a passing score.
As a result of both touchdown passes and two more extra points by Harvey, the Patriots would go up 24-6 over the Cadets with 53 seconds left in the first half.
The Patriots 18-point lead would hold going into halftime.
This three-touchdown margin would stay the same until the 6:46 mark of the third quarter, when running back Deandre Desinor (‘25) powered his way to a 15-yard touchdown run down the middle of the field.
Harvey’s fourth extra point extended the Patriots lead to 31-6 over the Cadets.
This latest score was made possible primarily by an interception catch from Patriots linebacker Omar Thornton (‘24) at the Cadets 44-yard line less than two minutes earlier (8:31 mark).
The exclamation point for the Patriots came at the 3:54 mark of the third quarter, when defensive lineman Omarion Abraham (‘25) scooped up a fumble recovery of 50+ yards for a wide-open touchdown in the middle of the field.
With Harvey’s fifth extra point, the Patriots were up 38-6.
But the Cadets would not come away empty handed to close out the third frame.
Quarterback Isaiah French (‘25) led his team to an offensive score, as he found a wide-open Jason Woods (‘24 WR) on a corner route that helped result in the Cadets cutting into the Patriots lead at 38-13. This happened at the 2:08 mark.
The fourth quarter featured two scores, one each from both teams to wrap it up.
NOTE: American Heritage (Plantation) came into this interstate game as the nation’s No. 20-ranked team by MaxPreps. Both teams came into this one nationally ranked by Flo Sports (No. 19 – American Heritage Plantation; No. 23 – St. John’s (DC)).
PHOTO CREDIT: Deuntay Johnson
