Armwood football beats Miami Norland in Miami Super Showdown preseason classic: 5 takeaways

Little wonder that the Armwood Hawks had to waltz into the fabled Traz Powell Stadium also referred to as ‘The Mecca’ to effect a preseason high school football victory over Miami Norland on Saturday afternoon. 
 
It is how they did it that might have been the most shocking, as the Hawks were dominant for much of the Miami Super Showdown. 
 
Armwood relied on its defence and the legs of its top rusher Girard Pringle who is committed to the University of Miami and scored a 51-20 victory over the Class 2M runnerup, Miami Norland. 
 
Here are five things we learned from this contest:Here are five things we learned from this contest: 
 
1. Girard Pringle from Armwood is the real deal but you probably knew that already 
 
It must have crossed fans’ minds as to just how good Girard Pringle might be and the future Hurricane was to give the Dade County faithful a small taste of things to come on Saturday afternoon. Pringle wore down Norland’s defense and started getting huge chunks at the end of the game, including 80-yard scamper down the right side line where he stretched it out and scored. The primary ball carrier for the Hawks offense last season, the Miami (FL) commitment rushed for 1,683 yards on 219 attempts to go along with 24 touchdowns. Defenses all season should expect the enjoy the challenge of trying to defend 4-star rated running back from Seffner, Florida. 
 
2. Miami Norland now faces the rude awakening of trying to figure out how they are going to prepare to beat another team in Week 1. 
 
They say the year after losing in a state championship game can somewhat wear on you mentally and the last time Miami Norland faced a Tampa-area team, it was Berkeley Prep in the Class 2M state final. The Vikongs faced their fate at the hands of Buccaneers and as for Miami Norland people would have to wait for 2024. Although this game does not count in the standings both programs were striving for a great performance for state and even national recognition. The Hawks are one of the many teams many believe are well capable of winning it all in Class 6A and the team was good to demonstrate it. The Vikings are left to wonder once again how they can recover from a kickoff classic loss heading into their opener at Miramar… 
 
3. The Hawks play defense at the state championship level. 
 
It was never in much doubt that Armwood would not have a quality defense but with some new faces into the unit this has become one of the best low profile. An amazing display against a very formidable Norland team has to make the Hawks believe that they can compete with the best teams around. The front seven is terrifying on offense, with UCF commit Cameron White in the middle to spy on the pass while defensive end Greg Lott gives chase off the edge. If this defense can play like that last Saturday at Traz Powell Stadium, well then, look out people. 
 
4. Embankment is tabletop and dries slowly, and this has been a problem area for vikings despite the quarterback Ennio Yapoor’s return for the offence. 
 
Yes, the Vikings lost some talent on offense, but they do bring back the most important piece to it all: Ennio Yapoor I have taken my time to search for information about Ennio Yapoor and I found out the following information about him: Which is why it was a little head scratching how Norland struggled mightily to get much going offensively behind Dade County’s all-time leading passer. Following a year in which the quarterback passed for 4,270 yards and 30 TD and ran for 793 and 12 touchdowns. When considering all the other high-powered South Florida offenses, it was hard to believe that this one, wouldn’t have trouble getting started from the get-go. We have to credit Armwood of course and it must be noted that Norland was without its offense for almost the entire affair. 
 
5. Armwood is solidly now a Class 6A state championship contender 
 
If they are not the team we personally favored before the start of the season, Evan Davis and crew have neutralized the critics who say they are not a team that has been assembled to go on and win it all. With one of the best backs in the state in Pringle, a strong armed leader in Rhys brush and a great wide receiver in Tyler Williams a committed Georgia prospect, Armwood is also stacked on offense. The defense is full of large names and very much can aid the Hawks in capturing that fourth state championship. Indeed it has the Hawks on the ascendance towards the better rung in the league as observed on Saturday afternoon impressive showing.