Miami Herald Top 20: South Florida’s best high school football teams
1. Booker T. Washington (5-0) vs. Monsignor Pace (1-2), 7:30, Fri., Curtis.
Andre’s pick: Booker T. 49, Pace 3. The Tornadoes are in cruise mode these days as they begin district schedule.
2. Central (4-1): Bye.
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (2-1) at Nova (1-2), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Aquinas 45, Nova 7. Raiders likely to start a pretty good roll now after beating Miramar.
4. American Heritage (2-1) at Daytona Beach Mainland (4-0), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: American Heritage 15, Mainland 14. Defensive struggle between two state championship contenders.
5. Flanagan (4-0) vs. McArthur (0-3), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Flanagan 42, McArthur 2. The Falcons secure another district victory with ease.
6. Monarch (3-0) vs. 20. Douglas (3-0), 7, Fri., Deerfield Beach.
Andre’s pick: Monarch 28, Douglas 21. Tough test from Eagles, but Knights pull through.
7. Hallandale (4-0) vs. 17. Coconut Creek (3-1), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Hallandale 34, Coconut Creek 33. The District 15-6A playoff race gets even more interesting.
8. Killian (4-0) vs. Homestead (1-2), 7:30, Fri., Harris.
Andre’s pick: Killian 17, Homestead 6. Cougars edge their former district rivals in this one thanks to defense.
9. Columbus (3-1) vs. 12. Norland (2-0), 7:30, Fri., Tropical.
Andre’s pick: Columbus 14, Norland 7. Explorers need a bounce-back win quickly after being routed by Central.
10. Miramar (2-2) vs. Western (0-4), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Miramar 47, Western 3. This is really not a good week to be playing the Patriots at their place.
11. Coral Gables (2-1) vs. Coral Reef (1-3), 4, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Coral Gables 35, Coral Reef 7. It should be a comfortable win for the Cavs, who had a bye week to recover from loss.
13. Cardinal Gibbons (4-0) vs. Northeast (0-3), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Gibbons 38, Northeast 6. The Chiefs reach the halfway point undefeated once again.
14. South Dade (3-1) vs. Varela (2-1), 7:30, Fri., Southridge.
Andre’s pick: South Dade 28, Varela 6. Bucs continue their winning ways in nondistrict clash.
15. Northwestern (3-0) vs. Blanche Ely (1-2), 7, Sat., Traz.
Andre’s pick: Northwestern 27, Ely 14. Bulls remain unbeaten following huge district win.
16. Westminster Christian (3-1) vs. Gulliver (2-2), 4, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Westminster Christian 31, Gulliver 30. A lot of skill all over the field in this clash of small-school stalwarts.
18. American (2-1) vs. Westland Hialeah (0-4), 7, Sat., Milander.
Andre’s pick: American 49, Westland 2. The Patriots get another comfortable district win.
19. Cypress Bay (2-1) vs. Everglades (3-1), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Cypress Bay 28, Everglades 16. Lightning get a district victory following tough loss to Flanagan.
Dropped out: 18. Jackson (1-1), 20. Dillard (2-2).
Under consideration: Belen Jesuit (2-1), Miami High (3-0), Coral Springs (2-1).
OTHER MIAMI-DADE GAMES
FRIDAY’S GAMES, ANDRE’S PICK
Southridge vs. Carol City (Traz), 7:30, Carol City 12-6
Jackson vs. Edison (N. Miami), 7:30, Jackson 20-14
Miami Springs vs. HML (Milander), 7:30, Springs 30-24
South Miami at Braddock, 3:30, Braddock 17-14
Miami High at Southwest, 4, MHS 21-20
South Fort Myers at Belen, 4, Belen 33-21
Champagnat vs. Somerset (Chapel Trail), 4, Champagnat. 47-10
Hialeah Gardens at Sunset, 4, Sunset 28-6
Mourning at Goleman, 4, Goleman 33-14
North Miami Beach at Lakeland, 7:30, Lakeland 24-12
Palmetto at Lakeland Lake Gibson, 7:30, Lake Gibson 35-6
Mater Academy at Venice, 7:30, Venice 34-20
Coral Shores at Florida Christian, 7:30, C. Shores 35-24
Dade Christian at Naples Golden Gate, 7, Dade Chr. 17-16
Keys Gate at Chaminade, 4, Keys Gate 24-21
Ransom Everglades at Pompano Beach, 7, Ransom 19-17
Miami Community Charter at Doral, 6, Doral 45-7
Everglades Prep at Palmer Trinity, 4, Palmer 34-7
Pinecrest Prep vs. Somerset (Lakes by the Bay), 6, Somerset 28-10
SATURDAY’S GAMES, ANDRE’S PICK
Miami Beach vs. North Miami (N. Miami), 7, N. Miami 31-21
Ferguson vs. Coral Park (Tropical), 7, Ferguson 38-7
La Salle at Archbishop Curley, 1, La Salle 35-6
New Generations Prep at Miami Country Day, 7, MCD 40-10
Andre’s record — Last week: 22-5; Season: 89-21 (.809)
OTHER BROWARD GAMES
FRIDAY’S GAMES, ANDRE’S PICK
Deerfield Beach at Coral Springs, 7, Coral Springs 21-20
Piper at South Plantation, 7, S. Plantation 30-14
Taravella at Coral Glades, 7, Taravella 35-7
Fort Lauderdale vs. West Broward (Everglades), 7, FTL 42-3
Stranahan at Boynton Beach, 7, Boynton 37-13
Boyd Anderson at Pahokee, 7, Pahokee 28-3
Archbishop McCarthy at Pines Charter, 7, McCarthy 27-10
Pope John Paul II at Pine Crest, 7, Pine Crest 35-10
University School at Jupiter Christian, 7, University School 17-16
Coral Springs Charter at Kings Academy, 7, CSC 38-24
Benjamin at Calvary Christian, 7, Calvary 35-21
Riviera Beach Inlet Grove at North Broward Prep, 7, NBP 20-10
Champagnat vs. Somerset (Chapel Trail), 4, Champagnat 47-10
Keys Gate at Chaminade, 4, Keys Gate 24-21
Ransom Everglades at Pompano Beach, 7, Ransom 19-17
St. Pete Canterbury vs. Z. Lutheran (Deerfield Mid.), 7, Canterbury 31-10
SATURDAY’S GAMES, ANDRE’S PICK
Boca St. Andrews at Westminster Academy, 7, WA 34-7
Highlands Christian at Boca Raton Christian, 4, Boca 41-7
Andre’s record — Last week: 20-7; Season: 82-20 (.804)
This story was originally published September 23, 2014 at 12:19 AM with the headline "Miami Herald Top 20: South Florida’s best high school football teams."