Miami Herald Top 20: South Florida’s best high school football teams
1. Booker T. Washington (6-0): Bye
2. Central (4-1) vs. Homestead (1-3), 7, Thurs., Harris.
Andre’s pick: Central 28, Homestead 3. Broncos are tough on defense but haven’t faced this type of opponent.
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1) vs. South Broward (0-4), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 52, South Broward 7. Another comfortable district win for the Raiders.
4. Flanagan (5-0) at Everglades (3-2), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Flanagan 34, Everglades 6. Falcons give another demonstration of why they are the top team in the district right now.
5. Monarch (4-0) vs. Coral Springs (3-1), 7, Thurs., Deerfield Beach.
Andre’s pick: Monarch 37, Coral Springs 21. Knights get a key district win over the improved Colts.
6. Hallandale (5-0): Bye.
7. Killian (5-0): Bye.
8. American Heritage (2-2) vs. 20. Jackson (2-1), 7:30, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: American Heritage 35, Jackson 14. The Patriots are angry coming off a close loss to Daytona Beach Mainland, which is not good for the improving Generals.
9. Columbus (4-1) vs. Miami Beach (2-2), 7, Thurs., Memorial.
Andre’s pick: Columbus 47, Miami Beach 6. This is where Columbus begins the process of collecting its remaining district wins.
10. Miramar (3-2) vs. McArthur (0-4), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Miramar 48, McArthur 3. Miramar won’t be deterred before its showdown with Flanagan in a few weeks.
11. Coral Gables (3-1) vs. South Miami (2-2), 7, Wed., Curtis.
Andre’s pick: Coral Gables 30, South Miami 7. Cavs start picking up necessary district wins they will need to make the playoffs.
12. Cardinal Gibbons (5-0): Bye.
13. South Dade (4-1) at Southridge (2-2), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: South Dade 24, Southridge 8. The Spartans play everyone tough, but the Bucs are the better team in this district matchup.
14. Northwestern (4-0) vs. 16. Norland (2-1), 7, Thurs., Traz.
Andre’s pick: Northwestern 14, Norland 13. Is this the game that vaults the Bulls back into the postseason?
15. Westminster Christian (4-1) at Chaminade-Madonna (1-4), 4, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Westminster Christian 42, Chaminade 7. Warriors lock up the championship of tiny District 8-3A with ease.
17. American (3-1) vs. Hialeah-Miami Lakes (1-4), 8, Thurs., Milander.
Andre’s pick: American 29, HML 7. Patriots are the most-talented team in District 16-7A and show it again this week.
18. Cypress Bay (3-1) vs. Cooper City (2-2), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Cypress Bay 31, Cooper City 7. Lightning secures a district win with tough rushing and defense.
19. Belen Jesuit (3-1) at Braddock (0-4), 3:30, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Belen 35, Braddock 7. Wolverines finish a strong first half of the regular season with another district win.
Dropped out: 17. Coconut Creek (3-1), No. 20 Douglas (3-1).
Under consideration: Coral Springs (3-1), Southwest (3-1), North Miami (3-1), Champagnat Catholic (3-2), South Plantation (3-1), Miami Springs (5-0).
OTHER MIAMI-DADE GAMES
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES, ANDRE’S PICK
Reagan vs. Dr. Krop (N. Miami), 7 p.m., Reagan 28-12
Goleman vs. Mater Academy (Milander), 7 p.m., Mater 21-10
Sunset vs. Southwest (Tropical), 7 p.m., SW 38-7
Palmetto vs. Coral Reef (Harris), 7 p.m., Coral Reef 17-13
THURSDAY’S GAMES, ANDRE’S PICK
NMB vs. North Miami (N. Miami), 7 p.m., N. Miami 30-16
Varela vs. Ferguson (Tropical), 7 p.m., Ferguson 41-20
Edison at Gulliver, 4 p.m., Gulliver 33-12
Coral Park vs. Miami High (Curtis), 7 p.m., Miami High 42-6
Westland Hialeah vs. Mourning (Milander), 4 p.m., Mourning 7-6
Hialeah at Hialeah Gardens, 4 p.m., Hialeah 14-7
Homestead Somerset at Doral, 7 p.m., Doral 34-12
Boca St. Andrews at Florida Christian, 7 p.m., FC 21-14
Scheck Hillel at Ransom Everglades, 7 p.m., Hillel 30-20
Marathon at Miami Country Day, 7 p.m., MCD 17-14
FRIDAY’S GAMES, ANDRE’S PICK
Westminster Academy at La Salle, 7:30 p.m., WA 35-31
Dade Christian at Naples St. John Neuman, 7 p.m., Dade Chr. 14-10
Monsignor Pace at Bradenton IMG Academy, 7 p.m., IMG 58-3
Archbishop Curley at Coral Shores, 7 p.m., Coral Shores 35-3
Pinecrest Prep at Highlands Christian, 7 p.m., Highlands 9-7
Andre’s record — Last week: 26-5; Season: 115-26 (.816)
OTHER BROWARD GAMES
WEDNESDAY’S GAME, ANDRE’S PICK
Hollywood Hills vs. Plantation (PAL), 7 p.m., Plantation 45-7
THURDAY’S GAMES, ANDRE’S PICK
Douglas at South Plantation, 7 p.m., Douglas 27-24
Deerfield Beach vs. Taravella (Coral Springs), 7 p.m., Deerfield 17-14
Riviera Beach Suncoast at Coconut Creek, 7 p.m., Creek 44-7
Stranahan at Dillard, 7 p.m., Dillard 30-14
Blanche Ely vs. Fort Lauderdale (Dillard), 7 p.m., Ely 21-7
Boyd Anderson at Northeast, 7 p.m., NE 14-12
Nova vs. West Broward (Flanagan), 7 p.m., Nova 17-6
Coral Glades at North Broward Prep, 7 p.m., NBP 42-10
Pine Crest at N. Palm Beach Benjamin, 7 p.m., Pine Crest 35-10
Key West at Pines Charter, 7 p.m., Key West 38-6
FRIDAY’S GAMES, ANDRE’S PICK
Calvary Christian vs. CS Charter (Coral Glades), 7 p.m., CS Charter 35-34
Westminster Academy at La Salle, 7:30 p.m., WA 35-31
Arch. McCarthy at Belle Glade Glades Day, 7 p.m., Glades Day 28-7
Somerset at Belle Glade Glades Central, 7:30 p.m., G. Central 32-14
Pinecrest Prep at Highlands Christian, 7 p.m., Highlands 9-7
Andre’s record — Last week: 25-2; Season: 107-22 (.829)
This story was originally published September 29, 2014 at 11:56 PM with the headline "Miami Herald Top 20: South Florida’s best high school football teams."