Payback for Central or repeat championship for Northwestern?
Northwestern took a chance on a two-point conversion run last season in a double-overtime game against Central and succeeded, thereby ending the Rockets’ four-year run as state champions.
Northwestern went on to win the District 16-6A title but fell short of its state championship pursuit thanks to eventual champion Carol City. Having beaten Carol City last week, Northwestern finds itself in position to repeat as champions if it beats Central again on Friday.
The Rockets and their deep backfield present a major obstacle as they look for payback for last season and hope to set up their own showdown with Carol City for the district title.
SOUTH FLORIDA TOP 20
1. Plantation American Heritage (5-0) vs. Jackson (3-3), 7:30, Friday, Heritage.
Andre C. Fernandez’s pick: American Heritage 28, Jackson 7. The winning streak hits 20 as the Patriots move closer to a district title.
2. Central (7-1) vs. 4. Northwestern (5-1), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Andre’s pick: Central 21, Northwestern 20. Game of the year will come down to which offensive line controls the game more.
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (5-1) at Boyd Anderson (2-4), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Aquinas 38, Boyd Anderson 6. Little trouble for Aquinas on the road as we get closer to the playoffs.
5. South Dade (6-0) vs. 15. Palmetto (5-1), 7:30, Friday, Harris.
Andre’s pick: South Dade 15, Palmetto 14. Bucs need their defense to make the difference.
6. Deerfield Beach (4-2) vs. Monarch (5-1), 7, Friday, Coconut Creek.
Andre’s pick: Deerfield Beach 32, Monarch 6. With this win, the Bucks can pretty lock up the District 11-8A title.
7. Cardinal Gibbons (5-1) at Hallandale (1-6), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Gibbons 47, Hallandale 7. Bounce back win for the Chiefs, who look toward cementing playoff status.
8. Carol City (4-2) vs. Booker T. Washington (3-4), 7, Saturday, Traz.
Andre’s pick: Carol City 30, Booker T. 13. The Chiefs can push Booker T. closer to the brink a week before their own big game against Central.
9. Chaminade (4-2) at 18. Doral Academy (6-1), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Chaminade 24, Doral 14. Good test for the Lions, but ultimately the running game makes the difference.
10. Columbus (6-1) vs. Coral Park (2-3), 4:30, Thursday, Columbus.
Andre’s pick: Columbus 45, Coral Park 7. Explorers in the driver’s seat to win district going into clash with Gables next week.
11. Miami High (5-1) vs. Miami Beach (1-4), 7, Friday, Memorial.
Andre’s pick: Miami High 42, Miami Beach 3. The Stings are solidifying their playoff status and waiting to see if Columbus slips up.
12. Norland (3-3) vs. Hialeah-Miami Lakes (0-6), 7, Thursday, Traz.
Andre’s pick: Norland 44, HML 3. The Vikings pick up more points as they try to land one of the at-large bids in Region 4-6A.
13. University School (5-0) vs. 16. Champagnat Catholic (5-1), 7, Friday, University.
Andre’s pick: Champagnat 22, University 20. Great game between two of the top small school playoff-bound teams in South Florida.
14. Southridge (3-2) vs. Homestead (4-2), 7, Thursday, Southridge.
Andre’s pick: Southridge 26, Homestead 6. Spartans can still win the District 16-8A title if they win out.
17. Miramar (5-1) at Everglades (2-4), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Miramar 36, Everglades 6. Neighborhood rivalry still very much dominated by the Patriots.
19. Plantation (6-1) at Coral Glades (2-4), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Plantation 44, Coral Glades 3. No letdown for Colonels coming off huge district win.
20. Western (6-1) at South Plantation (4-2), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Western 35, South Plantation 16. The Wildcats bounce back a week before their big game against Miramar.
Dropped out: 19. Booker T. Washington (3-4). On the cusp: Monsignor Pace (4-1), Coconut Creek (4-1), Nova (6-0), Belen (4-2).
MORE GAMES
Thursday — Miami-Dade: Sunset vs. Westland Hialeah (Milander), 7:30; Sunset 48-6; Hialeah Gardens vs. North Miami (Traz), 3:30; N. Miami 30-7; Coral Reef vs. Southwest (Tropical), 7; Reef 18-12. Broward: Cypress Bay at Flanagan, 7; Cypress Bay 20-6; Hollywood Hills at Nova, 7; Nova 42-13; Douglas vs. Taravella (Coral Springs), 7; Douglas 17-10; West Broward vs. Fort Lauderdale (Northeast), 7; West Broward 34-21; Calvary Christian at North Broward Prep, 7; NBP 30-17.
Friday — Miami-Dade: Pine Crest at Gulliver, 4; Gulliver 37-17; Westminster Academy at La Salle, 7:30; La Salle 20-14; Goleman at Mater Academy (Pace), 3:30; Mater 24-13; Mourning at Miami Springs, 3:30; Springs 38-7; South Miami at Reagan, 3:30; Reagan 20-14; Hialeah vs. Krop (Ives Estates), 7:30; Krop 33-14; NMB vs. American (Milander), 7:30; NMB 26-6; Braddock vs. Ferguson (Tropical), 7:30; Braddock 35-14; Belen vs. Varela (Southridge), 7:30; Belen 42-6; Treasure Coast at Monsignor Pace, 7:30; Pace 16-7; Palm Glades Prep at Florida Christian, 7:30; PGP 37-7; Keys Gate at Coral Shores, 7; Keys Gate 19-9. Broward: Pine Crest at Gulliver, 4; Gulliver 37-17; Westminster Academy at La Salle, 7:30; La Salle 20-14; Coconut Creek vs. Stranahan (South Plantation), 7; Creek 14-7; Piper at Coral Springs, 7; Piper 17-14; Cooper City at McArthur, 7; Cooper City 28-13; South Broward at Lakeland, 7; Lakeland 45-7; Northeast at Boynton Beach, 7; Northeast 12-6; Cardinal Newman vs. Coral Springs Charter (Coral Glades), 7; Newman 30-20; Pines Charter at Archbishop McCarthy, 7; McCarthy 42-6; International School of Broward at Elder (OH), 7; Elder 48-7.
ANDRE’S RECORD
Dade — Last week: 22-3; Season: 138-27; Broward — Last week: 20-5; Season: 121-26.
This story was originally published October 16, 2017 at 10:33 PM with the headline "Payback for Central or repeat championship for Northwestern?."