Well-rested Champagnat faces a tough foe in Gulliver Prep
Bad enough games are being lost due to COVID protocol restrictions these days but last week Mother Nature even stepped in and created a bigger mess as nasty weather caused the postponement of quite a few games on Thursday and Friday with the much-anticipated Hialeah Champagnat/Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna showdown (Champagnat had a COVID issue) leading the way.
A few, including Miami Booker T. Washington/Miami Edison got made up on Monday but for the most part, most did not, including Miami Central’s battle with North Miami Beach (despite MaxPreps posting an erroneous final score). Hopefully these contests will get played because when it comes time to determine playoff participants and seedings for the upcoming state playoffs, games that do not get played will hurt a team’s overall power ranking.
Another nice slate of marquee games awaits this week highlighted by Plantation American Heritage traveling to take on top-ranked Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons and of course Traz Powell Stadium on Friday night as Miami Northwestern and Central square off before what should be a packed house.
No dramatic changes to the top 20 this week other than Edison moving in to the top 10 after an impressive win over BTW on Monday and another new small-school entry into the top 20 as Miami LaSalle, now 5-0, makes what we believe to be a first appearance in this poll.
THIS WEEK’S TOP 20
1. Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Chaminade-Madonna; 3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas; 4. Central; 5. American Heritage; 6. Miami Gulliver Prep. 7. Fort Lauderdale Dillard; 8. Miami Killian; 9. Northwestern; 10. Edison; 11. Deerfield Beach; 12. Davie Western; 13. Champagnat; 14. Homestead; 15. Pinecrest Palmetto; 16. Doral Academy; 17. Miami Columbus; 18. Coconut Creek; 19. Miami Florida Christian; 20. LaSalle.
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
Booker T. Washington, North Miami Beach, Weston Cypress Bay, Stranahan, Fort Lauderdale, Parkland Stoneman Douglas, Homestead Somerset Silver Palms, Miami Dade Christian.
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
▪ No. 13 Champagnat Catholic (3-1) at No. 6 Gulliver Prep. (4-0), Friday, 3:30 p.m.: Hopefully Champagnat has its COVID situation under control and this game will be played after the Lions couldn’t play Chaminade last week. Gulliver came through with an impressive 43-0 blowout of Dade Christian, and the Raiders really appear to be rolling right now. Head coach Hector Clavijo’s Lions are a tough, talented bunch and will compete but in the end, there’s just too much talent on the Raiders’ side of the ball. BD’s Pick: Gulliver Prep. 31-20.
▪ No. 2 Chaminade-Madonna (3-1) at Sanford Seminole (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: With absolutely no room to relax even for one week with an easy game, the Lions head upstate again, and this time it’s the defending 8A state champions and current No. 4-ranked team in the state. I have bad news for the Seminoles. I’m sure it is are a very good team but while it has been beating up on Central Florida competition, Chaminade has played arguably the toughest schedule in the country. This won’t be any kind of blowout win for the Lions but I expect them to find a way to bring home another tough win on the road. BD’s Pick: Chaminade 33-21.
▪ No. 5 American Heritage (1-2) at No. 1 Cardinal Gibbons (4-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: Finally, Heritage gets to play another game as the Pats haven’t been on the field since Sept. 10. That could be good news and bad news. Good because they will be well rested but bad because there could be a lot of rust after a long layoff. The top-ranked Chiefs got pushed last week as they traveled to Calvary Christian and survived an upset bid but will be ready for this huge Broward showdown.
Even though these two former district rivals now reside in different classifications, that doesn’t mean there won’t be bragging rights on the line. It’s hard to envision the Patriots losing three of their first four games, but I think Gibbons will find a way to squeeze out a close win in front of a big home crowd in what should be a terrific game. BD’s Pick: Gibbons 27-24.
▪ No. 9 Northwestern (4-1) vs. No. 4 Central (2-2), Friday at Traz Powell, 7:30 p.m.: We save the best game for last as Traz will be alive and kicking on Friday night as the two best public school programs in Miami-Dade County during the last decade square off. Like Heritage/Gibbons, there are no district implications here as the Rockets and Bulls reside in different classifications, but don’t tell that to those kids when they take the field.
This one will be for keeps as neighborhood bragging rights go a VERY long way when these two square off. The feeling here is that Central, despite its two losses to nationally ranked opponents, is slightly ahead of the Bulls on the talent meter this season and will find come out of here with a win. But don’t be shocked if this one comes down to the final possession. BD’s Pick: Central 26-20.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
▪ No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1) vs. Cooper City (2-3), Friday, 7 p.m.: The Raiders got a nice quality win over a good Western team last week and won’t take their foot off the petal here as they pretty much will name their score. BD’s Pick: Aquinas 45-8.
▪ 7. Dillard (5-0) at Nova (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m.: The Panthers haven’t exactly had the most challenging of schedules but continue to take care of whoever is in front of them each week and this week will be no exception. BD’s Pick: Dillard 40-8.
▪ 8. Killian (5-0) vs. Booker T. Washington (2-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Tropical Park: Having had to play on Monday, this is a real tough spot for BTW on a short week and the Cougars, who have their best team in a long time, won’t feel a bit sorry for them. BD’s Pick: Killian 33-14.
▪ 10. Edison (3-1): Bye.
▪ 11. Deerfield Beach (3-2) vs. Monarch (2-1), Saturday, 7 p.m.: Bucks are smarting from a tough 7-0 loss up in Rockledge last week and will be looking to bounce back. Monarch’s not a bad team and could challenge here. BD’s Pick: Deerfield Beach 28-19.
▪ 12. Western (2-2) at Cypress Bay (4-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: The Wildcats need to be careful here as these two neighboring schools are big-time rivals and new CB coach Rocco Casulo has his undefeated Lightning players playing some pretty good football, despite lacking a “quality” win. But Western is looking to bounce back from a tough loss to St. Thomas last week and should manage to handle business. BD’s Pick: Western 34-20 .
▪ 14. Homestead (3-1) at Southridge (2-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.: With a important district showdown with Doral looming in two weeks, Broncos can’t afford to let up here in this key district matchup. Spartans might challenge. BD’s Pick: Homestead 28-20.
▪ 15. Palmetto (3-1) vs. Southwest (1-2), Thursday, 4 p.m. at Tropical Park: The Panthers got a nice upset win on the road against Columbus last week and will keep things rolling here. BD’s Pick: Palmetto 38-6.
▪ 16. Doral Academy (4-0) vs. Hialeah (2-2), Friday, 7 p.m.: Firebirds prepping for their big district showdown with Homestead in two weeks and won’t let up here. BD’s Pick: Doral 40-12.
▪ 17. Columbus (1-3) vs. Monsignor Pace (1-3), Friday, 7 p.m.: Explorers suffered a brutal and controversial loss to Palmetto last week and are barely hanging on to top 20 status. Things not much better at Pace following an early season coaching change. BD’s Pick: Columbus 34-17.
▪ 18. Coconut Creek (3-1) vs. Blanche Ely (0-4), Friday, 7 p.m.: It’s sad to see how far a once-proud Ely program has sunk and Cougars will win by whatever score they wish. BD’s Pick: Creek 49-7.
▪ 19. Florida Christian (5-0): Bye.
▪ 20. LaSalle (5-0) at Somerset South Homestead (3-0), Thursday, 4 p.m.: Royal Lions make their top 20 debut and should have no problem remaining unbeaten. BD’s Pick: LaSalle 34-13.
OTHER GAMES
▪ Thursday: Miami-Dade: Sunset vs. Mourning (Ives Estates), 3:30: Sunset 41-0; Coral Park vs. Braddock (Tropical), 7:30: Braddock 14-12; Palmer Trinity at St. Brendan, 7: STB 23-17; Reagan at Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 7: Reagan 34-6; Broward: Archbishop McCarthy at Pine Crest, 7: PC 31-9; Pompano Beach vs. Coral Springs Charter (Coral Glades), 7: CSC 37-13; McArthur at Everglades, 7: McArthur 27-9; Piper vs. Fort Lauderdale (Lockhart), 7: FTL 30-7; South Broward at South Plantation, 7: South Broward 41-12; West Boca Raton at Coral Springs, 7: Springs 13-12.
▪ Friday: Miami-Dade: Westland Hialeah at Goleman, 3:30: Goleman 34-21; American at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30: American 26-13; Krop at Miami Springs, 3:30: Krop 37-7; Ferguson at Varela, 3:30: Ferguson 15-14; Everglades Prep. at Palm Glades Prep., 4: PGP 27-6; Archbishop Carroll at True North Academy, 3:30: TN 21-19; Coral Shores at Ransom Everglades, 7: RE 34-16; South Miami at Belen Jesuit, 7:30: Belen 35-6; Miami Beach vs. Mater Academy (Pace HS), 7:30: Mater 20-16; Carol City at Belle Glade Glades Central, 6:30: GC 32-27; South Dade vs. Coral Reef (Harris), 7:30: SD 35-6; North Miami Beach at Leesburg Lee County (Leesburg, Ga.), 7: LC 35-13; Broward: Boyd Anderson at Northeast, 7: BA 9-7; North Miami at Miramar, 7: Miramar 19-14; Taravella at Coral Glades, 7: CG 30-14; West Broward at Flanagan, 7: Flanagan 24-16; Plantation at Hollywood Hills (McArthur), 7: Plantation 33-9; North Broward Prep. at Pembroke Pines Charter, 7: PPC 21-20; Somerset Canyons at Westminster Academy, 7: WA 27-14; Douglas at Boca Raton, 7: Douglas 26-21; Jensen Beach vs. Stranahan (Lockhart), 7: Stranahan 30-8.
▪ Saturday: Miami-Dade: Marathon at Westminster Christian, 1: WC 16-10. Broward: Immokalee at Hollywood Avante Garde, 2: AG 27-12.
▪ Last week top 20: 10-2. Last week overall: 26-8.
▪ Season top 20: 47-8. Season overall: 121-31.
Bill Daley can be reached at:billd@curtispub.net.Follow him on Twitter: @Billykid11
This story was originally published September 28, 2021 at 6:29 PM.
