The Miami Killian Cougars took the field Thursday night facing a team they last saw in 2005. The Knights from Sunset Senior High. Unfortunately, for Sunset, it happened to be the same result. The Cougars, led by a Lamar Miller kickoff return and a decent passing game, will move onto the second round to face the winner of Miami Palmetto and Miami Southwest.

Killian coach Steve Smith knew very well that the Sunset Knights had only given up six points in the first quarter the entire season. He had his Cougars marching right down field in the 1st quarter, but they were denied inside the 10-yard line and turned the ball over on downs. "Our kids have to know how exactly where they need to get to in order to pick up that first down," Smith said. "Our focus wasn't there and we need to improve on that, plus the little things."

The scoring began when Sunset took a 7-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run early in the 2nd quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Miller turns on the afterburners and gave Killian their first score of the game with a 93-yard kickoff return. Killian has had kicking issues all year, and they continued as the extra point attempt faltered. "He's on and off, I am not quite sure what it is, but there isn't much we can do about it," coach Smith said in reference to his kicker. "We just have to deal with it."

The Sunset band showed up half way through the first half, but it didn't seem to help them much. Ricky Rowe, who finished the game with 157 passing yards, completed a touchdown pass, which should not have counted, to Jelani Berassa for the 11-yard score. The two-point conversion succeeded and Killian went into the half with a 14-7 lead.  Rowe's pass to Berassa in the corner of the endzone was a bit high. For those standing close enough to the field, it could clearly be seen that Berassa's feet were out of bounds before coming back into the endzone to make the catch. The referees clearly missed the call.

Early in the 3rd quarter, Sunset had a big 45-yard run on a fourth down situation which moved them into the redzone. It wasn't but two minutes later that the Knights found themselves on the 1-yard line looking to get in. A delayed call by the referees, which took every bit of 30 seconds, wound up tying the score and possibly making this a ballgame again.

Miami Killian answered back at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run which gave them the lead for good at 21-14. Sunset did have an opportunity to get in the endzone with 4:48 remaining but did not convert on a 4th-and-7 from Killian's 26-yard line.

After the game was finished, Lamar Miller huddled up with the rest of his teammates as coach Steve Smith let his team know that they "were not focused and thought (they) could just walk out on the field and win." Miller was seen with his left knee wrapped up while in the huddle. "He'll be fine. He'll be OK," coach Smith stated.

 I will be personally recapping the game during a segment on my show this Saturday at 11am on 640AM Fox Sports. For more information on the show, be sure to check out the show's website, www.theslatershow.com

It was a beautiful day in the Miami area. The shadows from the trees could almost be used as yard lines. Not only does Miami Killian High School want to get past today's shadows on the field, they want to get past their own from the previous two years.  It hasn't been since 2005 since the Cougars made it into the FHSAA Football playoffs. When they last did, they faced Sunset. When they take the field Thursday night at Tropical Park, they will see a Sunset team once again and will hope to have the same result as they did in 2005, even though only one player on this year's team can recall that game.

Lamar Miller, one of the nation's star running backs, was on that 2005 Miami Killian football team. He remembers what happened that night and is trying to feed that energy off to the rest of his teammates. Miller, who has verbally committed to join the University of Miami, took a few moments away from the practice field today to give us his thoughts on this upcoming game and his future.  "We've all just been working hard, along with Coach (Smith), in getting ready for this team and the playoffs," Miller said.  When asked about how Sunset can put up some points in the 4th quarter, as they have many times this year, Lamar simply said "we gotta hold them!"

Coach Steve Smith, who is in his 2nd year of coaching the team, seemed very relaxed and confident enough to know his team will get the job done come Thursday night. "Our goal for this year was to win the Championship," Smith said. "This game against Sunset will be no different than any other, we are just going to work a little harder."

The Killian High School football team has 31 seniors on its roster. Between those seniors and Coach Smith, work ethic is always put out to be the number one priority with the newcomers. "Our biggest reason for success this year is no doubt, our work ethic," coach Smith said.

Killian's quarterback, Senior, Ricky Rowe, feels comfortable out there and is definitely ready for this chance to be involved in a playoff game. "I know that I won't be throwing the ball as much as I'd like to, but we have a great running back with Lamar (Miller) and I am really excited about this game on Thursday," Rowe stated.

Rowe stands behind center at 6'1", 180 lbs. He is a lean machine and has clear cut mobility as seen at today's practice.

It may not take long to figure out the possibility of what direction this game may be headed. Killian scores most of their points in the first quarter, while Sunset has only given up six points all season long in the first. If the Cougars can come out firing and get past Sunset early, this could be a very fun night for Miami Killian.

When I handed Coach Smith a printout of a newspapers prediction of Thursday's game (Killian 35,  Sunset 7), Coach Smith said, "yeah, that's what I pretty much expect."

Also contributing to this report: Rich Green

Houston paid a visit to Marshall last night. This visit should, without a doubt, be investigated by the NCAA and the bookmaking authorities!

Some of you may think, "well, this guy just always thinks someone is rigging a game or there is some sort of fix all the time." Well, this is NOT a coincidence.  Tennis players were investigated for unordinary patterns in wagering and results. An NBA referee has been charged with contributing to the result of the NBA game. Why aren't more of these things looked at? They are most certainly happening!

Look below. You will see the line and total from last night's Houston/Marshall game.  For those of you that don't quite understand it, the leftmost is where the line/total started, and the rightmost is where it ended. You can clearly see a big drop in the total for the game and all of this on the day of the game. The total went from 62.5 on gameday to 60.5. This means there was heavy money being put on the under.

Now, it's gametime! Let's take my DVR and just fast forward to the 4th quarter with 2:25 remaining. Houston is down 37-23 and Marshall has received the ball at Houston's 39-yard line. Keep in mind, Houston is only down two touchdowns, is very capable of throwing bombs, and has three timeouts remaining.

Marshall runs the ball on 1st down. No timeout is called. Marshall runs the ball on 2nd down, no timeout is called. Marshall runs the ball on 3rd down, no timeout is called, now with 1:14 remaining and 4th down coming up.  Houston lets the clock run and Marshall turns the ball over on downs.

Houston still has 45 seconds left to go. Let's throw a deep pass, try to score and onside it... No.  Houston runs two draw plays and the game is over. Houston walks off the field with three timeouts to use in the locker room.

Anyone remember the total again? Bet down to 60.5. The game ends on 60. 

How a team like Houston that is a scoring machine cannot call one timeout in the end is ridiculous. How Houston can run draw plays down two touchdowns with a little time left is ridiculous. How this game is not being investigated by the NCAA and whomever else is just more ridiculous.

First it was versus Pittsburgh... Now it was at Washington.  Twice Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel has called suspect plays. Extremely suspect to those of you out there (and I know there is many) that like to bet that thing called "the spread!"

September 14, 2008 the Browns were at home taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Pittsburgh had a 10-3 lead with 3:21 remaining in the game. It was 4th and 7 from the Steelers 20 for the Browns after a seven minute drive. Now, remember, it's 10-3. You need to score a touchdown. What does Romeo do? He kicks a field goal. It's now 10-6. Oh, and by the way, the spread was CLE +6.5.  Can someone else explain to me what a field goal does in that situation? You're not setting up for another field goal, because you'd still lose by a point. When you are down at your opponents 20 yard line, and you haven't been down there much all night, there is no excuse but to try and tie the game with so little time remaining. The only one I could find was.... to cover the spread...

...and then there was October 19th!

The Browns make a trip to D.C to take on the Washington Redskins. Cleveland trails 14-3 with 5:47 remaining in the contest. The Browns have the ball at the Redskins 3-yard line, after getting stuffed 3 straight plays. You need 11 points to tie this game... That's a touchdown with the two-point conversion, AND a field goal. Romeo Crennel decides let's go for the touchdown after already getting denied three straight plays instead of kicking the field goal which we need anyways. Oh, wait a minute... the Vegas oddsmakers made it Cleveland +7.  If we kick a field goal, it will only be 14-6, and that won't cover the seven!!! We can't do that! So let's go for it. They get stopped again.

Just eleven seconds later, Cleveland recovers the ball on a Clinton Portis fumble. A repeat situation... the Browns get stuffed three straight plays. There is now 2:44 remaining and to stay alive the Browns at least need a field goal. But, nope, Romeo needs to cover, so let's try for the TD again! Derek Anderson wound up throwing a pass in the endzone to Cribbs good for six!

The Browns scored and Romeo covered....again.

Manny Ramirez could have been off the field... Manny Ramirez could have been out of the dugout and most likely not even seen until next season. Instead, the Philadelphia Philles took the high road and are showing they can still take down the Dodgers even with Manny.

Let me set this up for you. Game Three of the NLCS. Tension is rising when Shane Victorino almost gets clobbered in the head with a fastball. While the inning comes to an end, both benches empty and Manny gets in the middle of things... Screaming who knows what! Well, I am sure we can all assume he was saying some beautiful words directed at certain Phillies.

The next time Manny Ramirez stepped into the batters box, we all could have heard the words, "Gone!" It just wouldn't have been a Ramirez HR. It would have been home plate umpire Mike Everitt speaking to Manny Ramirez and Phillies pitcher J.A Happ. 

There is no doubt in my mind that Manny Ramirez would have charged the mound if pitcher J.A. Happ was directed to throw at him.  Manny would have been gone for the rest of the NLCS, and the Phillies would have lost J.A. Happ.  Instead though, the Phillies took the high-road and just let it go.

There would have been critics galore ripping Charlie Manuel, manager of the Phillies, for instructing such an operation with the clear knowledge of the end result.  Now, he only has one critic saying, "what if?"

In the end, Charlie Manuel may get his wish: No Manny in the dugout after Game 5. For that matter, no other Dodgers either. The Phillies can head to the World Series on Wednesday night.