KILLIAN (4-0)

AT LAKELAND (4-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Killian won't face a more hostile environment than they will Friday at Thomas W. Bryant Stadium.

But the Cougars already came close to putting a dent in one of the country's winningest programs last year when they lost 24-13.

Lakeland, ranked No. 13 nationally by USA Today, has lost only two games at home since 1995, and put together a state-record 60-game home winning streak. Lakeland also won a state-record 53 consecutive games before losing to eventual Class 5A state champion Kissimmee Osceola last year.

Despite the reputation, Lakeland has had a few close calls at home during the past two seasons. Last week, Boyd Anderson let two leads slip away in a 27-22 defeat.

Killian has already defied the experts by starting 4-0 with victories over teams it was not supposed to beat. A victory of this magnitude would give this group of kids hungry for respect a spot on the national radar.

Prediction: Killian 22, Lakeland 21.

N. MIAMI BEACH (2-1)

AT JOHN CURTIS (La.) (2-1)

1 p.m. Saturday,

Nicholls State U.

North Miami Beach entered the season with expectations of winning the Class 6A state championship. There are many fans around South Florida who are more skeptical since the Chargers' loss to Killian.

The Chargers still believe, however, and a victory on the road would go a long way toward proving it.

NMB's Nico Flores threw three touchdown passes in a win against North Miami, and the Chargers got their running game going again as Markeith Russell ran for 110 yards.

But the key to this is if the Chargers can stop the run.

John Curtis is another national program with a rich tradition, having won 22 state titles in football hotbed Louisiana. They also know a little something about producing good football players, most recently Southern California's Joe McKnight.

The Patriots have already faced some of the country's top competition in USA Today national No. 1 Euless Trinity of Texas and have highly touted senior running back Kenny Cain (being recruited by Alabama and Arkansas).

Prediction: John Curtis 28, North Miami Beach 20.

HIALEAH (3-0)

VS. CAROL CITY (1-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday, Traz

Hialeah's chances of making the playoffs are looking better every week.

The Thoroughbreds have one of the top running games in the county and a punishing defense that is allowing only 11 points per game.

Sophomore Jerron Seymour has totaled 411 yards on 46 carries and has eight touchdowns has led a trio of running backs that continue to rack up the yardage behind a solid offensive line.

Hialeah's pass rush, led by Cory Lemonier and Calvin Smith, has made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks so far.

Carol City will be a tough test with its balanced offense and cast of youngsters that should eventually restore the Chiefs to their winning ways.

But not this weekend as the T-Breds' mostly underclassmen-led squad shows once again why they should be good for a while.

Prediction: Hialeah 27, Carol City 12.

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