Sep 17, 2007 2:24 pm US/Eastern
Miami's Northwestern: 'We Are The Champions'
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(AP)
Miami Northwestern won a battle of the nation's two top-ranked high school teams Saturday, coming from behind twice to defeat Texas' top-ranked Southlake Carroll 29-21.
On Monday Northwestern students returned to school after a big victory leading the team as the number one in the nation.
CBS4'S Rachel Aram talked to the Principal on Monday, who said they are all very excited about their victory and are back in school to focus on academics.
As the players arrived to Miami International Airport Sunday night, fans showed up to greet the players like rock stars and show their support.
"Fans are coming out of their way and their time just coming to support us," said quarterback Jacoby Harris.
Miami Northwestern defeated Southlake Carroll in Dallas in front a national televised audience on ESPN.
The National American champions landed at MIA and police escorted the team back to their home turf where family and friends cheered.
"They overcame a lot of obstacles just to get from here to there," said Larry Howell a teacher from Northwestern.
Northwestern still have 12 games left for the season and they hope to continue to win.
The victory was accomplished by Jacory Harris who threw four touchdown passes, three to Tommy Streeter, to lead Northwestern (3-0) to its 18th consecutive victory.
A near-capacity crowd of 31,896 filled Southern Methodist University's Gerald J. Ford Stadium for the matchup. The Florida state Class 6A champions Bulls traveled some 1,300 miles for the game.
Carroll (1-1) -- the three-time defending Texas Class 5A champion -- was bidding for its 50th consecutive victory. That would have broken Abilene's 50-year-old state-record winning streak by a large school.
The Dragons entered the game first and Northwestern second in both the USA Today and Sports Illustrated national rankings.
On its opening drive, Carroll got a 35-yard touchdown pass from Riley Dodge to Chris Brainard. The Bulls tied the score 7-7 after Harris' 32-yard scoring pass to Streeter. Carroll linebacker Derek Tomlin ran 30 yards with a Northwestern fumble for his second defensive touchdown in two games and a 14-7 lead. The Bulls took a 21-14 second-quarter advantage on Harris' touchdown passes of 19 yards to Streeter and 16 yards to Aldarius Johnson. Harris and Johnson both have committed to the University of Miami.
Northwestern's muffed punt then set up Dodge's 26-yard touchdown pass to Oregon-bound Blake Cantu, tying the game 21-21 at halftime.
Northwestern took the lead for good after intercepting Dodge's backup, junior Kyle Padron, in the end zone. Two plays later, Harris threw long to Streeter for a 75-yard touchdown. Robert Demps' extra point was wide right, leaving the score 27-21. With 4:47 left in the third, a snap sailed over Dragons punter Loarn Hinkle's head, and he kicked the ball out of the end zone for a safety.
Carroll's last three possessions ended with a missed field goal, a fumble and Tevin McCaskill's fourth-quarter interception. Harris finished the game 21-for-28 passing for 280 yards. Streeter caught four of those for 139 yards. Dodge was 22-for-31 for 260 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Northwestern gained 358 yards to 305 for Carroll.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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