There will be no repeat FHSAA Football state champions in Classes 2A & 6A.
On Saturday night, Miami Northwestern defeated Armwood (Seffner), 21-16, to win the Class 6A state title at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The Bulls (13-2) overcame a 9-0 deficit at the end of the first quarter to knock off the previously unbeaten Hawks (14-1) to win their first state title in 10 years.
Dual-threat quarterback Chatarius Atwell, a Louisville commit, threw for 152 yards and a touchdown, and he ran for 106 yards and a score. His 51-yard TD run with 3:41 to play in the third broke a 9-9 tie, and his 46-yard scoring toss to Kiaryn Davis (Offers from Illinois, Temple & Valdosta State) just 2:30 later proved to be the decisive score.
It was the first state football title for Miami Northwestern since going back-to-back in 6A in 2006 and 2007. The Bulls also knocked off defending state champion Miami Carol City in the Regional Finals and top-ranked Miami Central in the Regional Semifinals in this year’s playoffs..
University Christian (Jacksonville) had won the last two Class 2A state titles.
But on Saturday afternoon, Champagnat Catholic (Hollywood) got revenge from last year’s state title game with an almost identical flip-flop of the previous score. Last year, University Christian won 24-8, but this year Champagnat Catholic won 24-7 against the top-ranked Christians.
Champagnat Catholic (9-2) held University Christian (10-3) to 233 total yards and finished the game with 24 unanswered points after the two-time defending champs had taken a 7-0 first quarter lead.
It was the second state title in the past five years for the Lions (2013).
