Miami Herald Top 20: South Florida’s best high school football teams
1. Booker T. Washington (6-0) vs. 17. Northwestern (4-1), 7:30, Fri., Traz.
Andre’s pick: Booker T. 42, Northwestern 10. Booker T. got a scare from Northwestern last season. Not likely this time around.
2. Central (5-1) vs. 13. Norland (3-1), 7, Sat., Traz.
Andre’s pick: Central 38, Norland 7. Rockets show again how far ahead they are of the rest of District 16-6A.
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1) vs. Northeast (1-4), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Aquinas 48, Northeast 6. Another week and another lopsided Raiders win.
4. Flanagan (6-0) at Cooper City (2-3), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Flanagan 38, Cooper City 3. Schools that are close in proximity and far apart in talent.
5. Monarch (5-0) vs. Taravella (1-4), 7, Fri., Deerfield Beach.
Andre’s pick: Monarch 47, Taravella 7. Knights continue to make scoreboard operators earn their pay.
6. Hallandale (5-0) at Riviera Beach Suncoast (0-6), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Hallandale 55, Suncoast 3. This game’s not even fair.
7. Killian (5-0) vs. 11. Coral Gables (4-1), 7, Wed., Tropical.
Andre’s pick: Killian 10, Coral Gables 7. Expect a defensive struggle. Game could be a possible playoff preview.
8. American Heritage (3-2) at Jacksonville Bolles (4-1), 7:30, Friday.
Andre’s pick: American Heritage 38, Bolles 20. This time, the Patriots secure a quality road victory against a state powerhouse.
9. Columbus (5-1) at Highlands (Kentucky) (6-0), 2, Saturday.
Andre’s pick: Columbus 31, Highlands 30. It would be a huge step for the Explorers confidence-wise to get this road win.
10. Miramar (4-2) vs. Everglades (3-3), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Miramar 34, Everglades 13. Pats set up showdown with Flanagan with another district victory.
12. Cardinal Gibbons (5-0) vs. Coconut Creek (3-2), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Gibbons 27, Coconut Creek 24. Chiefs pick up first signature win of the season and gain momentum.
14. Westminster Christian (5-1) vs. Keys Gate (1-3), noon, Sat., Southridge.
Andre’s pick: Westminster Christian 38, Keys Gate 17. Warriors clinched district title Monday and don’t falter this week.
15. American (4-1) at Punta Gorda Charlotte (3-1), 7:30, Friday.
Andre’s pick: American 20, Charlotte 17. Patriots appear good enough to pick up a road win that has eluded them in the past.
16. Cypress Bay (4-1) at Western (0-5), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Cypress Bay 35, Western 3. The Lightning keeps itself in the playoff picture.
18. Belen Jesuit (4-1) vs. Key West (4-1), 4, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Belen 24, Key West 21. Tough to beat the Conchs this season, but Wolverines have proven themselves dangerous at home.
19. Southridge (3-2) vs. Dr. Krop (1-4), 7:30, Fri., N. Miami.
Andre’s pick: Southridge 27, Krop 6. Spartans don’t slip following one of their biggest wins in recent memory.
20. South Dade (4-2) vs. Jackson (2-2), 7:30, Fri., Harris.
Andre’s pick: South Dade 19, Jackson 17. Bucs have been resilient during coach Nate Hudson’s tenure.
Dropped out: No. 20 Jackson (2-2).
Under consideration: North Miami (4-1), Douglas (4-1), Coconut Creek (3-2), Miami High (4-1), Southwest (4-1), Miami Springs (5-0), Reagan (5-0).
OTHER MIAMI-DADE GAMES
WEDNESDAY’S GAMEANDRE’S PICK
New Gen. Charter vs. Champagnat (Milander), 7Champ. 42-6
THURSDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
Carol City vs. NMB (N. Miami), 7Carol City 20-18
North Miami vs. Coral Reef (Southridge), 4N. Miami 42-7
Varela vs. Reagan (Milander), 7Reagan 30-21
Palmetto vs. Homestead (Harris), 7Homestead 24-6
Hialeah Gardens vs. Ferguson (Tropical), 7Ferguson 38-7
Westland Hialeah vs. Mater Academy (Traz), 7Mater 47-3
Ransom Everglades at Marathon, 7Ransom 28-7
Pompano Beach at Miami Country Day, 7Pompano 17-14
FRIDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
Miami Beach vs. Edison (Curtis), 7:30Edison 24-14
Miami High vs. Sunset (Southridge), 7:30Miami High 31-7
Braddock vs. Coral Park (Tropical), 7:30Braddock 28-7
Miami Springs vs. Goleman (Milander), 7:30Springs 34-14
Mourning at Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 7HML 35-7
Dade Christian at Monsignor Pace, 7:30Dade Chr. 17-10
Hialeah at South Fort Myers, 7:30SFM 42-6
University School at Gulliver, 4Gulliver 44-7
Kings Academy at La Salle, 7:30LaSalle 35-14
Florida Christian at Calvary Christian, 7Calvary 38-13
Palmer Trinity at Boca Christian, 7Boca 27-14
Archbishop Carroll at Highlands Christian, 7Carroll 30-7
SATURDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
Southwest vs. South Miami (Tropical), 7Southwest 30-14
NPB Benjamin at Archbishop Curley, 1Benjamin 17-3
Andre’s record — Last week: 22-4; Season: 137-30 (.820)
OTHER BROWARD GAMES
WEDNESDAY’S GAMEANDRE’S PICK
New Gen. Charter vs. Champagnat (Milander), 7Champ. 42-6
THURDAY’S GAMEANDRE’S PICK
Pompano Beach at Miami Country Day, 7Pompano 17-14
FRIDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
South Plantation at Coral Springs, 7C. Springs 35-21
Plantation at Blanche Ely, 7Plantation 20-13
Stranahan at Douglas, 7Douglas 42-7
South Broward at McArthur, 7S. Broward 14-7
Dillard at Boynton Beach, 7Boynton 41-24
Deerfield Beach at Piper, 7Deerfield 16-6
Pine Crest at Coral Shores, 7Pine Crest 34-30
North Broward Prep at Archbishop McCarthy, 7NBP 17-14
Fort Lauderdale at Lakeland, 7Lakeland 38-13
Westminster Academy at Boca Pope John Paul II, 7WA 40-10
Chaminade at Citrus Academy, 7Chaminade 23-6
Florida Christian at Calvary Christian, 7Calvary 38-13
St. Andrews vs. C.S. Charter (Coral Glades), 7CSC 35-6
Somerset at Belle Glade Glades Day, 7Glades Day 27-14
Pines Charter at Riviera Beach Inlet Grove, 7PPC 6-3
University School at Gulliver, 4Gulliver 44-7
Archbishop Carroll at Highlands Christian, 7Carroll 30-7
SATURDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
West Broward vs. Hollywood Hills (Cooper City), 7Hills 27-6
Oxbridge at Coral Glades, 6Oxbridge 43-3
Andre’s record — Last week: 20-1; Season: 127-23 (.847)
This story was originally published October 6, 2014 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Miami Herald Top 20: South Florida’s best high school football teams."