Edison-Booker T. Washington, Palmetto-Columbus among top high school football matchups

I feel like the guy standing at the craps table in Vegas who can do nothing but roll sevens.

After going a perfect 15-0 picking top 20 games two weeks ago, I was nearly perfect again last week, going 14-1 (missing only on Plantation over Coconut Creek), meaning I’m 29-1 during the past two weeks. In addition, I was 36-3 overall last week bringing that number to 73-11 the past two weeks.

The most impressive win last week clearly was Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna traveling to Atlanta to take on the No. 5 team in the country in Buford and grinding out a hard-fought 7-0 win. The Lions’ brutal schedule is so impressive and I jumped them to the No. 2 spot this week past Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas because of it. Things won’t get any easier for the Lions this week as they host another “Lions” team in No. 14 Hialeah Champagnat Catholic on Friday.

Two new teams cracked the top 20 this week as Coconut Creek, off an impressive 27-7 blowout of Plantation debuts at No. 19. That left the No. 20 spot open and I waffled between two small school private teams in Miami which have both been impressive, Florida Christian and LaSalle before giving the nod to FC.

So before the dice go cold, let’s get started with projections on this week’s top games along with those “other” games which are just as important when it comes to my winning percentage.

THIS WEEK’S TOP 20

1. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Chaminade-Madonna; 3. St. Thomas Aquinas; 4. Miami Central; 5. Plantation American Heritage; 6. Miami Gulliver Prep. 7. Fort Lauderdale Dillard; 8. Deerfield Beach; 9. Miami Killian; 10. Davie Western; 11. Miami Northwestern; 12. Miami Columbus; 13. Miami Edison; 14. Champagnat; 15. Homestead; 16. Miami Palmetto; 17. Doral Academy; 18. Miami Booker T. Washington; 19. Coconut Creek; 20. Florida Christian.

▪ Knocking on the door: LaSalle,, Dade Christian, North Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Stranahan, Miramar, Plantation, Douglas, Ransom Everglades, Pembroke Pines Somerset

THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES

▪ No. 13 Edison (2-1) vs. No. 18 Booker T. Washington (2-2), Thursday, 7 p.m. at Curtis Park: A showdown between two of the top public small schools in Miami-Dade County looks to be very evenly matched. Edison did not play last week when Miami High pulled the plug on their game while the Tornadoes, after a rocky 0-2 start, have righted the ship with two wins in a row. This one could come down to the final possession and I’ll go with the Red Raiders. BD’s Pick: Edison 23-21.

▪ No. 16 Palmetto (2-1) vs. No. 12 Columbus (1-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Tropical Park: While nothing will be clinched mathematically, realistically whoever wins this game will likely win District 16-8A while the loser will be saddled with settling for at-large status entry into the state playoffs.

While there is still plenty of talent, things are in rebuild mode for Palmetto following last year’s state semifinal appearance, and it showed in a loss to Killian a few weeks ago. Meanwhile the Explorers, after winning their season opener before dropping games to Chaminade and Bartram Trail and then never getting to play South Dade last week with a postponed . game due to weather, are starved to get back in the win column and will get it here. BD’s Pick: Columbus 30-14.

▪ No. 10 Western (2-1) at No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: A golden opportunity awaits Western to make a bold statement as far attaining “top dog” status in Broward County on Friday. But while the Wildcats should be competitive here, Aquinas got stung with that last-second loss to Tampa Jesuit a few weeks back and I’m not sure the Raiders are going to lose another game before they reach the state final in December. BD’s Pick: Aquinas 31-17.

▪ No. 14 Champagnat Catholic (3-1) at No. 2 Chaminade-Madonna (3-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: POSTPONED. In another grim sign of the times and reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is still very real, this classic showdown between two of the top private schools in South Florida was postponed 48 hours before kickoff. Chaminade-Madonna athletic director Matt Bishop confirmed in an email that Champagnat had come down with some COVID issues and that at the moment, the game was not likely to be made up.

THE REST OF THE TOP 20

▪ 1. Cardinal Gibbons (3-0) at Calvary Christian (2-2), Friday, 7 p.m.: The top-ranked Chiefs picked up a terrific road win in Gainesville last week knocking off previously unbeaten Buchholz while Calvary has suffered disappointing back-to-back losses to John Carroll and Clewiston. Gibbons needs to be careful here as the Eagles are still a team that can compete but no way the Chiefs are giving up their No. 1 spot this week. BD’s Pick: Gibbons 37-17 .

▪ 4. Central (2-2) vs. North Miami Beach (2-1), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. at Traz Powell: After dropping their first two games to nationally-ranked powers, the Rockets are starting to roll and should keep it going here. BD’s Pick: Central 37-12.

▪ 5. Plantation American Heritage (1-2): Pats game with Hallandale canceled.

▪ 6. Gulliver Prep. (3-0) vs. Dade Christian (2-1), Friday, 3:30 p.m.: Gulliver got a major scare from Tru Prep two weeks ago and could get challenged here by a rapidly-improving Dade Christian team. But the Raiders should be able to take care of business in front of their home crowd. BD’s Pick: Gulliver 33-20.

▪ 7. Dillard (4-0) vs. South Plantation (1-3), Saturday, 7 p.m.: A “name-your-score” special for the Panthers if there ever was one. BD’s Pick: Dillard 44-6.

▪ 8. Deerfield Beach (3-1) at Rockledge (4-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: Bucks got a nice win over Douglas last week but head upstate for what figures to be a challenging road game against No. 4-ranked 5A team in the state. BD’s Pick: Deerfield Beach 24-21.

▪ 9. Killian (4-0) vs. Carol City (1-2), Thursday, 7 p.m. at Milander: Cougars have got things rolling and don’t look for them to slow down here. BD’s Pick: Killian 34-12.

▪ 11. Northwestern (3-1) vs. Jackson (1-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Traz Powell: With a struggling Jackson program, the old “Soul Bowl” just ain’t what it used to be. BD’s Pick: Northwestern 41-8.

▪ 15. Homestead (2-1) vs. Mater Academy (2-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Harris Field: With a district showdown with Doral looming, Broncos are rested from a week off and should keep things rolling here. BD’s Pick: Homestead 34-7.

▪ 17. Doral Academy (4-0) vs. Southridge (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: Firebirds move up two more spots in the poll but have to be careful here as Rick Munne is building things back up at Southridge and Spartans might challenge here. BD’s Pick: Doral 27-20.

▪ 19. Coconut Creek (3-1): Bye.

▪ 20. Florida Christian (4-0) vs. Pembroke Pines Somerset (3-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Not sure but this might be the first time Florida Christian cracks the Herald top 20 poll, which is a credit to the job Joe Burmeister is doing. That said, the Patriots will face their biggest challenge yet when they host an equally good Somerset Academy team. Look for a highly competitive game with the home team coming out on top. BD’s Pick: Florida Christian 28-23.

OTHER GAMES

▪ Thursday: Miami-Dade: Mourning vs. Westland Hialeah (Hialeah Gardens), 3:30: WH 48-0; Miami Springs at Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 3:30: MS 20-13; Sunset vs. American (Milander), 3:30: Sunset 23-14; North Miami vs South Miami (Tropical), 3:30: NM 30-12; Varela at Coral Park, 3:30: CP 19-13; Palm Glades Prep. vs. Somerset South (Harris), 4: Somerset 27-8; St. Brendan at LaSalle, 6: LaSalle 37-13; Coral Reef vs. Southwest (Tropical), 7: SW 16-14. Broward: Monarch at McArthur, 7: Monarch 30-13; North Broward Prep at Pine Crest, 7: PC 24-20; Piper vs. Taravella (Coral Springs), 7: Taravella 9-7.

▪ Friday: Miami-Dade: Braddock at Reagan, 3:30: Reagan 18-13; Somerset Silver Palms at Westminster Christian, 4: Silver Palms 23-20; Krop at Coral Gables, 4: Krop 20-16; Everglades Prep. at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30: ABC 27-12; Ferguson at Coral Shores, 7: Ferguson 21-7; Marathon at Ransom Everglades, 7: RE 42-6; True North at Palmer Trinity, 4: True North 24-14; Hialeah Gardens vs. Goleman (Milander), 7:30: Goleman 40-13; Norland at Monsignor Pace, 7:30: Pace 24-22; Broward: Belen at Archbishop McCarthy, 7: Belen 27-13; Boyd Anderson vs. Stranahan (Lockhart), 7: Stranahan 35-16; Cypress Bay at Cooper City, 7: Cypress Bay 20-17; Tampa Catholic at Coral Glades, 7: TC 38-9; Fort Lauderdale at Coral Springs, 7: FTL 34-7; Hollywood Hills at Nova, 7: Nova 26-13; Pompano Beach at Northeast, 7: PB 13-12; Surge Academy at Westminster Academy, 7: WA 19-9; West Broward at South Broward, 7: SB 28-13; Coral Springs Charter at Pembroke Pines Charter, 7: PPC 31-8; Everglades at Plantation (PAL), 7: Plantation 35-10; Miramar at Flanagan, 7: Miramar 27-9.

▪ Last Week top 20: 14-1. Last Week overall: 36-3.

▪ Season top 20: 37-6. Season overall: 95-23.

Bill Daley can be reached at:billd@curtispub.net. Follow him on Twitter: @Billykid11

This story was originally published September 22, 2021 at 12:55 PM.