Booker T. Washington defeats Carol City 24-21 to win the 5th annual Miami Dolphins Academy 7 on 7 High School Tournament
MIAMI – Booker T. Washington was able to defeat Carol City 24-21 in an exciting, intense matchup that was sealed with a last second interception to win the 5th Annual Miami Dolphins Academy 7 on 7 High School Tournament Presented by Under Armour, AT&T and the National Guard. By winning the championship, Booker T. Washington will represent South Florida and the Miami Dolphins in the 2012 HSPD National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 12-15.
“It was a great game,” said Tim Harris, Booker T. Washington Head Football Coach. “Carol (City) is a great program. Both teams competed well and we were just blessed to get the win. We were excited about that. I liked our kids competing all the way through.”
Booker T. Washington was one of 50 schools to take part in the three day event and one of eight teams to make the final round today. They defeated JP Taravella, 38-35, in the quarterfinals and Cardinal Newman, 41-14, in the semifinals to reach the championship game.
“My experience competing here was great,” said Nigel Patten, Booker T. Washington Cornerback. “I came here my ninth grade year and we lost the championship game. I was confident that we were going to win and it felt great to play on the Miami Dolphins’ field. It was my second time coming out on this field. Last year, we came to a game when the Dolphins played Buffalo Bills and had a great time.”
The three-day event began on Friday, June 15, with a symposium focusing on character development and specific skill training. George Hegamin of Under Armour was one of the guest speakers who spoke during the event. Members of the Miami Dolphins’ organization included General Manager Jeff Ireland, Head Coach Joe Philbin, Alumni Troy Drayton, and defensive lineman Ryan Baker also gave uplifting words to the student-athletes. The high school players were also taught practical life lessons and preparation for standardized tests, along with discussions on life after high school, personal development, and community service.
Booker T Washington QB Treon Harris attempts a pass against Carol City at Dolphins 7 on 7 tourney
On-field components of the NFL’s High School Player Development (HSPD) program included fundamental skill development by position, reviews, and individual competitions. As part of on-field training, players focused on both an offensive and a defensive position and eventually apply their newly-learned fundamentals to live drills.
Twan Russell presents Booker T Washington Coach Tim Harris with championship trophy at 7 on 7 Tournament at Sun Life Stadium
“It was an exciting three days,” said Russell. “From the symposium to the final minute of the Championship Game, there was nonstop action. However, the importance of developing student-athletes as men off the field is most important. I hope this event has impacted these student-athletes in a positive manner and they will adapt these lessons they learned into their everyday lives.”
