The American Patriots defense didn't have an answer for Plantation's explosive running back Maurquice Flowers, who rushed for 203 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns in their Region 4-7A quarterfinal playoff game last week at Milander Stadium.
When it was over, Plantation advanced with a 34-13 win against a 9-2 American team that had one of the best defenses in Miami-Dade County, but allowed over 350 yards of total offense against the team from Broward.
Flowers credited his offensive line for his record-breaking performance, saying his on-field body guards blocked well and opened up holes for him to run through.
For the fourth consecutive year, American couldn't get over the hump after winning the district championship in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, losing each time in the first round of the playoffs.
Under first year head coach Anthony White, the Patriots finished the regular season with a 9-1 record and fended off post season elimination by defeating fierce district rivals Mater Academy and Miami Springs to regain the division title.
District runner-up Mater Academy also fell to a Broward team, as St. Thomas Aquinas routed the Lions, 57-0, in a Region 7A quarterfinal playoff game at Brain Piccolo Stadium.
St. Thomas will face Plantation this week in a regional semifinal.