MIAMI — Dereon Coleman put the Jones football team on his back Saturday in the Class 4A state championship football game at Pitbull Stadium. No matter what the senior quarterback did, however, it wasn’t enough to overcome too many Jones mistakes as the Tigers lost to American Heritage for the second straight year 33-28.

Mistakes were costly for Jones, which still managed to rally from a 26-7 deficit with three fourth-quarter touchdowns. It was too little too late, and a 32-yard run by Heritage quarterback Leon Strawder summed up the Jones problems.

Coleman willed his team down the field and had an admirable performance. The future Miami Hurricane ran the ball 29 times for 137 yards and a touchdown. He also completed 13-of-19 passes for 163 yards and two more touchdowns.

“I feel hurt but I gotta lift my head up and help my teammates. It’s hard but I know they probably never faced adversity like this before, so I gotta be there for them,” Coleman said. “Being the quarterback of a powerhouse team you always have to put the team on your back. I didn’t do it by myself and I appreciate my coaches and my O-line and they gave me a chance to do what I did.”

Jones was rallying and had pulled within 26-21 with 5 minutes left in the game and seemed to have enough momentum to make a run at the lead.

Jones senior receiver Larry Miles walks off the field after the Tigers lost to American Heritage in he Class 4A state championship football game. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)

“I felt good this whole entire game,” Coleman said. “I don’t stop competing until that clock says zero-zero. Yeah, I’m shocked. I don’t like losing at all. I hate it.”

The Tigers needed a stop on a 3rd-and-2 play at the Heritage 40-yard line with 5:38 remaning. Strawder took the ball on a quarterback draw and ran straight at the Jones defense. There were at least five Jones players to get hands on Strawder, but no one could tackle him as he plowed through the mass of Tigers for a 32-yard gain.

Three plays and two penalties later, Heritage was in the end zone and had the cushion it needed to secure the victory.

“It’s tough We put a lot of hard work in and prepared all year for this,” Jones coach Elijah Williams said. “The goal was to get here. I told the guys in the locker room before the game, ‘I’m proud of you. I don’t care what the scoreboard says after the game. You did everything you could to get here, all the sacrificing, all the things you did all summer. I am so proud.’

“Then I asked them, “I just want you all to ask yourselves a question. Are you gonna be proud of your effort after the game?’ They played lights out. In a game like this, a good team will make you make mistakes, and we made mistakes.”

There were defensive alignment issues, players out of position, players not on the same page as the play calling. It seem like an early-season game in a lot of situations, which was baffling for defensive coordinator Billy Daniels.

Along with the mistakes, Jones lost middle linebacker Bertrand Derose midway through the fourth quarter, and that was crucial. Jones also lost offensive lineman Jakahari Leonard in the second half.

“When we look at the film, our mistakes are going to be the reason why we struggled. We were not playing assignment football,” Daniels said. ”

Jones quarterback Dereon Coleman avoids pressure and gets off a pass during the Tigers loss to American Heritage in the Class 4A state championship game. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)

Jones appeared to be in great position on several occasions. The Tigers pushed the ball up the field with ease to score on the first possession, capped by a 40-yard touchdown pass from Coleman to DJ Hicks.

The Tigers forced a Heritage punt on the Patriots first possession, and drove right down the field again, and had the ball first-and-goal at the 9-yard line. Two plays later, Larry Miles fumbled and it was recovered by Heritage’s Rodarion Tellez. What could have been 14-0, turned into 7-7 as Heritage converted on its next possession.

“We had a hard time trying to grasp some things we were trying to do,” Williams said. “But we still scored 28 points on American Heritage, but we usually don’t turn the ball over the way we did.”

Jones turned the ball over three times, Coleman, who threw only two interceptions all season, threw one in the third quarter. After Jones had forced a Heritage punt with 32 seconds left, Hicks fumbled the punt away and that sealed the game.

Jones had seven penalties for 70 yards and they all seemed to come at inopportune moments, especially on the final scoring drive by Heritage. Jones had the drive stopped, but a facemask call on another 3rd-and-2  play gave Heritage a first down at the 11-yard line. Another penalty on the next play put Heritage closer and Tremaine Mullen scored his second touchdown on the next play.

It was a tough day for Miles, who fumbled in the first quarter. The future Nebraska Cornhusker, who scored twice, rushed seven times for 23 yards and caught 8 passes for 58 yards, and couldn’t seem to get loose in space.

He lauded his good friend Coleman, which whom Miles lives.

“He had a great game I love that kid,” Miles said. “I don’t want to separate from him, but we got to because we all gotta take different paths.”

Jones High fans cheer on the team against American Heritage 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)

Williams will miss his three-year starter. Coleman and the Tigers, who finish 12-3, were 36-8 in his three seasons, ending two in the state championship game and one in the state semifinals.

“He led us. He did everything. You take him off that field and I don’t know if we even score,” Williams said. “We could run the ball, the line couldn’t block them, but he took over. He made plays with his feet and made plays with his arm.”

Live report: 

DJ Hicks fumbles a punt with 26 seconds left and American Heritage recovers, and the Patriots will go into victory formation. American Heritage knocks off Jones for the second straight year for the 4A State championship, winning 33-28.

Larry Miles scores from the 2-yard line and Jones pulls within 33-28. 2:20 left in the game. Touchdown drive highlighted by a 40-yard pass from Dereon Coleman to freshman Cameron Tooley. That set the ball up at a 5-yard line.

Penalties and inability to tackle on key plays cost Jones on a scoring drive as Heritage marches 80 yards. Tremaine Mullen scores from the 6. Heritage leads 33-21, 3:19 left in the game.

Jones had Heritage stopped on a third down play but a  facemask penalty gave the Patriots first down at the 11-yard line. Another penalty moved the ball to the 6.

Dereon Coleman scores on a 1 yard run after a tremendous effort on a fourth down play from the 4-yard line. Jones Tigers pull within 26-21 of American Heritage. There is 8:24 left in the game.

Jones defensive back Marcellus Reese intercepts a pass and returns the ball to the American Heritage 12-yard line. Jones’ ball 11:07 trailing 26-14.

Dereon Coleman connects with Larry Miles for a 16 yard touchdown and Jones pulls within 26-14 of American Heritage. There is 11:16 left in the game.

American Heritage quarterback Leon Strawder scores on a 14 yard run and the Patriots now have a 26-7 lead over Jones, 1:46 left in the third quarter.

Jones’ leading tackler Bertrand Derose injured and leads the game. 2:05 left third quarter.

Things keep going wrong for Jones. A Dereon Coleman pass is intercepted by Heritage defensive back Terrance Johnson. Patriot ball at the Jones 43 yard line. 2:30 left third quarter. Heritage leads 19-7.

Jamar Denson catches a 45-yard pass from Leon Strawder and American Heritage jumps on top of Jones 19–7 with 5:08 left in the third quarter. Heritage again misses the extra point trial on a two point try.

Jones offensive line is starting to struggle. Quarterback Dereon Coleman sacked twice on this series, Jones punts again. Jones star so far is punter Kason Mullis who is averaging about 45 yards per punt.

American Heritage takes advantage of the blocked field goal and Tremaine Mullen scores on a 5 yard run. The Patriots missed the extra point and the score is 13–7, Heritage.

Jones’ 46-yard field goal attempt is blocked and American Heritage returns the ball all the way to the Tigers 25-yard line.

Jones starts the second half with a Ke’Sean Wiliams interception. They take over the ball at the American Heritage 34-yard line.

Jones offensive lineman Jakahari Leonard injured right before halftime. Earlier injury to Danian Success was minor and he returned  to the field.

American Heritage quarterback Leon Strawder hits Jamar Denson with a 14-yard touchdown pass and this game is tied 7-7 with 51 seconds left before halftime. Heritage drive aided by three big Jones penalties.

Jones’ Larry Miles fumbles at the 12-yard line and American Heritage recovers. Takes over the ball at its own 7-yard line.

End of the first quarter at Pitbull Stadium. Jones threatening on its second series. Third and goal at the 14-yard line.

Dereon Coleman hits  DJ Hicks with a 42-yard touchdown pass and Jones takes the lead with 7:09 left in the first quarter. Tigers 7, American Heritage 0.

Penalty on a punt and Jones retains possession, still going in the first series. Jones offensive line Danian Success injured during first series and left the field with 7:40 left first quarter.

And the game is underway. Jones ball To start.

PRE-GAME NOTES:

Jones quarterback Dereon Coleman and Lake Mary quarterback Noah Grubbs have been on similar missions their entire senior seasons. The end is nearly here for the high school careers of the best two quarterbacks in the Orlando area. Never before have there been two elite Orlando-area quarterbacks sign with Power 4 programs in the same class. Coleman has signed with Miami and Grubbs with Notre Dame.

They ended their junior years with the same bad taste in their mouths. Grubbs and Lake Mary lost to Venice in last year’s Class 7A state championship game, 52-19. Coleman and Jones lost that nightmare of a game against Plantation American Heritage in the 4A state championship game, 40-31.

They have each gargled through 14 opponents this season trying to wash out that taste, trying to get back to the state title game and redeem themselves. They made it.
Jones (13-2) will face Heritage (8-5) again in a 4A title rematch Saturday at 12:30 at FIU’s Pitbull Stadium in Miami, the scene of last year’s failure. Lake Mary (11-3) has the nightcap Saturday at 7:30. The Rams take on Vero Beach (14-0).

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/12/13/class-4a-state-championship-jones-vs-american-heritage/