Over the past four seasons, a constant in South Florida high school football has been the continued success – and dominance at times – of the Miami Central Rockets. Miami Central has won a state championship four consecutive times since 2019 – two in Class 6A, one in 5A, and most recently, one in 2M.
Playing against elite-level competition, the Rockets boast a 46-6 record in that span. Three of the six losses came at the hands of national out-of-state powerhouses you’ve probably heard of: Maryland’s St. Frances Academy (2019), California’s St. John Bosco (2021), and Nevada’s Bishop Gorman (2021).
In fact, Miami Central hasn’t been defeated by an in-state team since 2020, when the Rockets fell to Miami Northwestern 21-14. The Bulls also handed Miami Central one of the other losses, a 30-20 decision in 2019. The only other team to defeat the Rockets in the past four years was Chaminade-Madonna, also in 2019, by a score of 27-7.
The Rockets’ most impressive single season during that stretch came a year ago, when Miami Central went undefeated at 14-0 to win the 2M state championship under first-year head coach Jube Joseph. They Rockets outscored opponents 566-205 in compiling a season resume that featured a road win at IMG Academy, two wins over Miami Northwestern, a neutral win over eventual 4M state champion Miami Columbus, and a 38-31 state title victory over American Heritage.
The question now facing Miami Central is simple: Can the Rockets do it again and make it five straight in 2023? It’s certainly possible, even with numerous personnel losses from last season’s state championship team.
Few teams across Florida are tasked with replacing a more impactful group of names this fall. The biggest of those is likely Reuben Bain, a four-star prospect on the defensive line who is now playing collegiately at Miami. Bain was one of the state’s top pass rushers the last two seasons, combining for 48.5 sacks and 70 TFL during that span.
Other prominent defensive contributors Miami Central must replace from its 2022 state championship squad include Stanquan Clark and Nathaniel Gibson. Gibson compiled 6 sacks a year ago, while Clark, a four-star now at Louisville, was the Rockets’ leading tackler, and he ranked second behind only Bain with 15 sacks.
Offensively, the Rockets’ most notable loss is quarterback Keyone Jenkins, a three-star prospect who has moved on to FIU. A multi-year starter, Jenkins threw for 2,282 yards with a 27:4 TD:INT ratio and a 61.7 CMP% last season, while also being a key factor in the running game, leading the Rockets with 9 rushing touchdowns.
The Rockets also lost a trio of three-star wide receivers – Lamar Seymore, Cataurus Hicks, and Corey Washington – who will play collegiately at Pittsburgh, Louisville, and Western Carolina, respectively. Those three accounted for a key amount of production at receiver in 2022. Two noteworthy running backs, Jonathan Harris and Ean Pope, also have also moved.
Still, there is reason to believe the South Florida power will be loaded once again. Yes, replacing those losses will be key, but the Rockets have some significant production back, plus some new additions on the both sides of the ball, all of which suggest another powerful squad in 2023.
The defensive side may well be the strength as Miami Central seeks to defend its 2M state championship. The Rockets return some noteworthy contributors, the biggest being Ezekiel Marcelin. A four-star linebacker in the 2025 class, Marcelin was a major factor as a sophomore, compiling 79 tackles, 15 TFL, and 7 sacks.
Another prominent rising junior who’s back in 2023 is defensive back Amari Wallace, a four-star safety who had 44 tackles a year ago. The Rockets’ secondary will also return a four-star rising senior, Earl Kulp, and others such as Derrick Manker, J’vari Flowers, Karon Maycock, and Jalen Labranche.
Miami Central has received multiple transfer players into the program this offseason, from both in and out of state. The biggest is name on that front is five-star defensive lineman Armondo Blount, who is likely Florida’s No. 1 player, as well as a top-five player nationally, in the 2025 class. He comes to Miami Central from Dillard, where he has recorded 29 sacks over the last two seasons.
The Rockets’ defense also adds Vincent Shavers, a three-star linebacker in the 2024 class, from Monsignor Pace, as well as a big out-of-state addition in four-star rising senior T.A. Cunningham along the defensive line. Cunningham previously played at Johns Creek (GA) prior to spending last season at Los Alamitos in California. He will be joined by his brother T.K., an edge rusher in the 2027 class.
As the saying goes, “Defense wins championships,” and make no mistake, the Rockets’ defense certainly has the potential to do just that. However, Miami Central should also be able to match points on the scoreboard with just about anyone offensively, thanks to a unit led by one of the state’s top returning athletes, Lawayne McCoy.
A four-star Florida State commit, McCoy, a rising senior, played on both sides of the ball at times a year ago, posting 20 receptions for 491 yards and 3 touchdowns on offense. Joining McCoy will be names such as Nicholas McCall, Anjuan Coleman Jr., and Teko Shoats, and the Rockets have also added a quarterback in Bekkem Kritza, a four-star prospect in the 2025 class who transfers from Santa Margarita in California.
While we’re still months away from kickoff, it certainly appears that the Rockets are poised to have one of the state’s most talented teams again this fall. The Class 2M state championship could very well end up running through Miami Central for the second consecutive season.
