MIAMI — American Heritage senior quarterback Leon Strawder accounted for three touchdowns, sophomore running back Tremaine Mullen and senior wide receiver Jamar Denson each had two scores, and the Patriots captured a second consecutive 4A state championship with a 33-28 victory against Jones Orlando on Saturday afternoon at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of FIU.
American Heritage also defeated Orlando Jones 40-31 in last year’s state championship contest.
American Heritage (9-5) trailed 7-0 late in the first half and scored 26 unanswered points. After a 7-7 tie at halftime, the Patriots outscored the Tigers 19-0 in the third quarter and held off a rally by the Tigers in the fourth.
“This group has done an unbelievable job,” American Heritage coach Mike Smith said. “We were 1-3 at one point and then we were 4-5 going into the playoffs. These kids never stopped believing and they never stopped giving me the heart and all the effort and now they’re getting rewarded for it.”
American Heritage senior quarterback Dia Bell, a Texas signee, was sidelined due to injury after the third game of the season. Strawder, who captured a state title with Miami Northwestern last season, joined the Patriots and stepped up to lead his new school to another title. Strawder finished 12 of 18 for 173 yards with two passing touchdowns. He also added eight carries for 71 yards and a rushing score.
“It feels great winning the boys another state championship,” Strawder said. “First half, we came out sluggish. Second half, we just knew we had to score.”
Smith praised Strawder’s impact this season to lift the Patriots during their playoff run.
“You put him in a brand new environment with kids he doesn’t know in the middle of the season,” Smith said. “He just did an unbelievable job of just pushing forward and just trusting us as a coaching staff and he has been rewarded for it. The kid is a winner.”
Denson, a Troy signee, was selected as the MVP of the contest. He had three catches for 70 yards and two scores.
“It was a great job by our offensive coaching staff and our players for executing the right plays at the right time,” Denson said. “We went through a lot of adversity this year and we overcame it. This is a great feeling.”
Mullen had 17 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns. He also added three catches for 38 yards.
“In the first half, we came out a little slow and we picked it up in the second half,” Mullen said. “It feels great the way I finished the game to help the team.”
American Heritage recorded six sacks and created three turnovers on defense. Senior Rodarian Tellez had 9 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
“I am very proud of how I stepped up for my team and did what I had to do,” Tellez said. “The boys believed in me and I believed in them.”
Jones (12-3) had an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive on the opening possession of the contest. They capitalized after American Heritage committed a running into the punter penalty on fourth down. On third-and-13, senior quarterback Dereon Coleman, a Miami signee, fired a 40-yard scoring pass to senior wide receiver DJ Hicks to make it 7-0 with 7:09 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers marched into Patriots territory on their second series. On third-and-goal at the 14, the Tigers lost a fumble as Tellez forced the ball loose and senior Joshua Houston made the fumble recovery.
American Heritage had a four-play, 71 yard scoring drive late in the first half. Strawder fired a 33-yard pass to senior wide receiver Brandon Bennett to the Tigers 38-yard line. Strawder connected with Denson for a 14-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7-7 with 51 seconds left in the first half.
Strawder lost a fumble after a 13-yard gain on the first play of the second half at the Patriots 33.
Junior Amare Nugent stepped up with a blocked field goal on a 47-yard attempt as he picked up the ball and raced to the Tigers 25. Mullen rushed for a 5-yard touchdown to make it 13-7 with 8:30 left in the third quarter.
Strawder tossed a 42-yard scoring pass over the middle of the field to Denson to push the lead to 19-7 with 5:08 left in the third.
Senior Terrance Johnson stepped up with an interception with a return to the Tigers 43. The Patriots offense capitalized as Strawder rushed for a 14-yard touchdown to make it 26-7 with 1:46 left in the third.
The Tigers responded on the ensuing possession. On third-and-5, Coleman had a 16-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Larry Miles to cut the deficit to 26-14 with 11:16 left in the fourth.
Senior Maecellus Reese had an interception with a return to the Patriots 12 with 11:07 remaining. Coleman had a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 26-21 with 8:34 left.
The Patriots answered back on their next drive. On third-and-2 at the Patriots 40, Strawder powered his way up the middle of the field and broke multiple tackles for a 32-yard gain to the Tigers 28. On third-and-2 at the 20, the Tigers were called for a facemask penalty after a stop. Mullen rushed for a 6-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 33-21 with 3:19 remaining.
Miles had a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:20 left to make it 33-28. The Patriots had punted late in the contest, but the Tigers lost a fumble at their own 17 with 26 seconds left.
Coleman finished 13 of 19 for 163 yards and two touchdowns while adding 29 carries for 108 yards and a score for the Tigers.
American Heritage High School’s coach Mike Smith along with his team celebrate their win against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s Jamar Denson scores against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s defense recovers a fumble against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s Elijah Balkman along with his teammates celebrate their win against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s Brandon Bennett along with his teammates celebrate their win against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Jones High School players and coaches watch the clock tick down against American Heritage High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s players celebrate their win against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s Leon Strawder scores a touchdown against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s players celebrate their win against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s fans celebrate their win against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s Leon Strawder runs the ball against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s fans celebrate their win against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Jones High School players Daincan Success and Corey Brown help Jakahari Leonard off the field against American Heritage High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Jones High School fans watch as their team is defeated by American Heritage High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s players celebrate their win against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
American Heritage High School’s Denson Jamar scores a touchdown against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Jones High School’s Daionte Hicks scores the first touchdown of the day against American Heritage High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Jones High School’s Daionte Hicks scored the first touchdown of the day against American Heritage High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Jones High School’ fans cheer on the team against American Heritage High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Jones High School’s Dereon Coleman runs with the ball against American Heritage High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
1The Jones High School football team warms up for their match up against American Heritage High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Jones High School football team warms up for their match up against American Heritage High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Jones High School football team takes the field for their match up against American Heritage High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
2American Heritage High School gets ready for their match up against the Jones High School football team in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Show Caption
1 of 24
American Heritage High School’s coach Mike Smith along with his team celebrate their win against Jones High School in the class 4A state championship football game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)