Three years ago, Allen Held guided his South Broward football team to an 8-2 record, and because the Bulldogs lost twice in the district, they had to sit home and watch other programs they had beaten advance to the playoffs.

After last Friday's 27-26 win against rival McArthur, luck just might finally be on the side of this veteran coach who is easily one of the hardest working and most overlooked two sport coaches in South Florida for much of the past two decades.

Whether it's been at Hallandale or his alma mater, South Broward, Held has remained one of the coaches who has taught and helped advance more athletes onto the next level on the football field and the wrestling mat than just about anyone else, and now his team is one win (Nova or St. Thomas Aquinas) from clinching the first playoff spot for the school since Matt Lococo guided the Bulldogs back in 1997.

While his teams haven't advanced to the playoffs, Held certainly helped to develop a number of quality athletes, and this year is no exception.

With senior linemen Djwany Mera and Trevaugh Faircloth, the Bulldogs have two players who are being sought after by some of the top colleges across the country. The senior class, which has gone through plenty of growing pains, has a number of athletes who several schools have been keeping an eye on.

NO MARGIN FOR ERROR

``When you happen to be in the same district as the best football team [St. Thomas] in the country, there is little margin for error,'' Held said. ``But that is something we have had to deal with for as long as I can remember.''

In addition to Mera and Faircloth, the senior class also boasts receiver/defensive back Russell Neunie, Jermain Dumeng, Rickey Eyma and Kevin Pare, linebackers Dakota Liles, Adam Demczuk James Jones and Ryan Mosca, defensive back Thomas Jones, running back/defensive back Omari Hall-Newby, running back/linebacker Elija Tirado, and linemen Keyon August, Ramsey Shepard, James Henjum, Jean St. Louis and Parker Krei.

You cannot start talking about the junior class without a mention of one of Broward's latest stars, Kevin Grooms. The 5-10, 160-pound running back/defensive back/return specialist is in his first season of high school football. His reputation as a youth football star preceded him before his first carry at South Broward.

``Kevin is the real deal,'' Held said. ``While I know people have not watched him and will not believe me, but he has the potential to be one of the best athletes in the nation. Ask any of the college scouts who have watched him. He has speed, athletic ability and is one of the hardest runners I have been around, and I have more than coached my share.''

The enthusiasm for Grooms is also shared by those who evaluate talent for a living.

``All I had to do is watch him for one play and I knew he was not your ordinary football player,'' said Charles Fishbein of Elite Scouting Services. ``This is a national recruit if all goes well for him over the next two years.''

OTHER TOP ATHLETES

In addition to Grooms, the junior class also boasts running back/linebacker Dwight Cotton, running back/defensive back Joe Lyles and Junior Sylvestre, wide receiver/defensive back Carson Stewart and Karvin Noel, linemen Alfonso Landy, Clavion Nelson, Scott Boyette and Cesar Suito, and kicker Lucanson Bernadin.

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