Herald top 20 football poll: GMAC Football Championship Series revives familiar matchups

After a great deal of buildup, we have finally arrived at the doorstep of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference’s Inaugural GMAC Football Championship Series.

All 36 participating teams from Miami-Dade County were left with an open date as far as a game this weekend. Using the MaxPreps power rating as the guide, each team was paired up, 1 vs. 2, 3 vs. 4, all the way down to 35 vs. 36 to get the matchups.

To be truthful, the concept was met with a lot of raised eyebrows from most coaches around the county who kind of shrugged with a “why are we doing this?”

Two coaches who can’t be thrilled are Miami Central’s Roland Smith and Mike Manasco of Miami Palmetto. After beating their biggest rivals, Miami Northwestern and Miami Columbus, respectively, in down-to-the-wire finishes, now they have to turn it around and do it all over again. The GMAC’s two marquee championship games will pit Central/NW on Thursday night at Traz Powell (7:30) and Palmetto/Columbus, Friday at Traz Powell (7:30).

Incredibly, this might wind up being only the second of three matchups between Palmetto and Columbus who reside in the same district and could easily meet in a second round regional game. In fact the other two games at Traz Powell, Homestead/South Dade and Miami Killian/Miami Booker T. Washington on Wednesday at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively, will be rematches as well.

Whether it gets you excited or not, the games are set for this week and there are plenty of intriguing “non-rematches” as well.

As far as observations from last week? Two big ones.

First was Fort Lauderdale Dillard.

The Panthers ultimately could not find a way to upset Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. The previously unbeaten Panthers, who had not played the most challenging of schedules, made a point to the skeptics.

Not only did Dillard stand toe-to-toe with the Raiders on their home field, but only a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by St. Thomas midway through the fourth quarter kept the Panthers from tying the score before losing 23-13.

Dillard is a player in 7A, and the Raiders will need to keep their eyes open in the playoffs as a rematch is likely.

No. 2 was Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.

Not too much attention is paid to high school games played on a Saturday afternoon amid all the college football, but when the Chiefs traveled to the west coast and stunned undefeated Venice 28-22, everybody needed to take notice.

Venice entered as the state’s top-ranked 8A team and favorite to win the state title and loses on its home field about once every three or four years. Just one week after a rough performance that saw them get steamrolled by Aquinas, the Chiefs were looking wobbly. But credit Cardinal Gibbons Matt DuBuc and his staff for righting the ship and getting the kids prepped to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the year.

If there is a potential postseason matchup you want to clear your calendar for, get ready for a Gibbons/Miami Gulliver Region 4-4A final on Thanksgiving weekend, which will likely decide the 4A state finalist.

THIS WEEK’S TOP 20

1. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna; 2. St. Thomas Aquinas; 3. Central; 4. Cardinal Gibbons; 5. Killian; 6. Dillard; 7. Gulliver Prep.; 8. Northwestern; 9. Homestead; 10. Plantation American Heritage; 11. Davie Western; 12. Deerfield Beach; 13. Palmetto; 14. Hialeah Champagnat; 15. Columbus; 16. Miami Florida Christian; 17. Miami Edison; 18. Miami LaSalle; 19. Miramar; 20. Hollywood South Broward.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

Plantation, Coconut Creek, Doral Academy, Miami Dr. Krop, Coral Springs Coral Glades, Hollywood Avant Garde

THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES

▪ No. 8 Northwestern (7-2) vs. No. 3 Central (6-2), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. at Traz Powell: Funny how two different sides can perceive something. While coach Roland Smith and Rockets Nation can’t be terribly thrilled over the notion of having to beat their neighborhood rivals all over again (after winning 24-21 on a walk-off field goal on Oct. 1), Bull Nation is more likely ecstatic that they are getting another shot at their rivals.

Trying to pick a winner is near impossible. The Rockets have reeled off six in a row after two opening losses to nationally ranked teams while the Bulls have been steadily mowing down opponents each week, leaving out a lopsided early season loss to No. 1 nationally-ranked IMG Academy and the Central loss.

This could just be a matter of who as the ball last. Last time it was the Rockets. Maybe this time it will be the Bulls. BD’s Pick: Northwestern 27-24

▪ No. 15 Columbus (5-3) vs. No. 13 Palmetto (6-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Traz Powell: The second of the GMAC championship games, and if it’s anything close to the first meeting last month, there could be plenty of fireworks.

The folks at Columbus felt they were absolutely robbed of a victory. Trailing 7-3 on the game’s final play, the Explorers fell on a loose ball in the end zone following an interception by a Palmetto defensive back. He started returning the pick before ill-advisingly placing the ball on the ground in the end zone in what should have been ruled a live ball a Columbus player fell on. But an immediate whistle ruling a touchback could not be reversed and the play stood, giving Palmetto the District 16-8A title.

Even though there will be no district implications on the line this Friday, look for Columbus to exact its version of revenge on the Panthers. BD’s Pick: Columbus 17-13.

THE REST OF THE TOP 20

▪ No. 1. Chaminade-Madonna (6-1) vs. St. Pete Lakewood (8-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: After a 51-0 thrashing of Fort Lauderdale Stranahan last week, a much bigger challenge for the top-ranked Lions this week as they host an undefeated and No. 5-ranked team in Class 4A from St. Petersburg. But when you are playing arguably the toughest schedule in the nation and winning most of the games on the road, getting a good team like Lakewood on your home field would seem to be manageable. BD’s Pick: Chaminade 28-17.

▪ No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas (8-1) at Davie Nova (4-4), Friday, 7 p.m.: After two tough ones against Gibbons and Dillard, a welcome breather for the Raiders as they wrap up their regular season. BD’s Pick: Aquinas 42-7.

▪ No. 4. Cardinal Gibbons (6-2) at Pembroke Pines Flanagan (3-4), Friday, 7 p.m.: After beating Venice on the road last week, Flanagan must look like peanut butter and jelly for the Chiefs. A letdown is certainly possible, but there is no danger of losing. BD’s Pick: Gibbons 41-13.

▪ No. 5. Killian (9-0) vs. Booker T. Washington (4-5), Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at Traz Powell: One of the GMAC’s marquee games, these two met on Oct. 1 and Killian battled to a 23-14 win. This one will be close and competitive as well, and I’ll go with the upset as BTW spoils a possible unbeaten regular season for the Cougars. BD’s Pick: BTW 21-17.

▪ No. 6. Dillard (7-1) vs. Plantation (6-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: This is a tough spot for Dillard coming off the heartbreaking loss to St. Thomas because Plantation is a pretty good team and should compete here. Fortunately the Panthers are on their home field which will help carry them through. BD’s Pick: Dillard 30-21.

▪ No. 7. Gulliver Prep. (5-1) at Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (7-2), Friday, 7 p.m.: A tough, challenging road game for Gulliver as Raiders travel to Palm Beach County to take on a very good Newman team. This might be close. BD’s Pick: Gulliver 33-27.

▪ No. 9. Homestead (7-1) vs. South Dade (3-4), Wednesday, 4 p.m. at Traz Powell: Back-to-back impressive wins by the Broncos, crushing Doral Academy and then knocking off Booker T. Washington last week, should lead them to another big rematch win over their cross town rivals. BD’s Pick: Homestead 34-16.

▪ No. 10. American Heritage (4-3) vs. Stranahan (5-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Heritage is starting to roll, and Stranahan perhaps got exposed last week with lopsided loss to Chaminade. BD’s Pick: Heritage 38-6.

▪ No. 11. Western (6-2) at West Broward (3-4), Friday, 7 p.m. at Pembroke Pines Charter: Wildcats prepping for postseason and are in coasting mode. BD’s Pick: Western 44-12.

▪ No. 12. Deerfield Beach (6-2) at Boca Raton (7-1), Friday, 6:30 p.m.: A showdown for the District 13-8A title will be a tough road challenge for the Bucks as Boca is as good as its record indicates. Give Deerfield the nod, but not completely sold on this one. BD’s Pick: Deerfield Beach 24-22.

▪ No. 14. Champagnat (6-2): Bye.

▪ No. 16 Florida Christian (7-0) vs. Ransom Everglades (7-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.: The small-school game of the week as independent Ransom brings its undefeated record to Wadsworth Field in what should be a terrific game. Give the nudge to the home team. BD’s Pick: Florida Christian 28-24.

▪ No. 17. Edison (5-3) vs. Miami Norland (4-4), Saturday, 5 p.m. at Traz Powell: Pretty good matchup in the wrap-up game of GMAC Championship Series. Norland coming off 56-12 rout of Krop and trending in the right direction, but still too much firepower on Red Raiders side of the ball. BD’s Pick: Edison 31-19.

▪ No. 18. LaSalle (8-0) vs. North Broward Prep. (2-5), Friday, 7 p.m.: Royal Lions won a squeaker over Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest last week but this won’t shouldn’t be close. BD’s Pick: LaSalle 33-10.

▪ No. 19. Miramar (5-2) vs. Everglades (0-7), Friday, 7 p.m.: A rivalry game for the Mayors Cup of Miramar that won’t be that close. BD’s Pick: Miramar 45-6.

▪ No. 20. South Broward (7-1) vs. Hollywood McArthur (3-5), Friday, 7 p.m.: Bulldogs won an overtime squeaker over North Miami last week but this won’t should be as close. BD’s Pick: South Broward 34-14.

GMAC CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

▪ Wednesday: Reagan at Braddock, 3:30: Braddock 26-21; Sunset at Varela, 3:30: Sunset 20-15; Homestead vs. South Dade (Traz), 4: Homestead 34-16; Booker T. Washington vs. Killian (Traz), 7:30: BTW 21-17

▪ Thursday: Krop vs. North Miami (Ives), 3:30: NM 18-17; Hialeah at Ferguson, 3:30: Ferguson 28-16; Mourning at Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 3:30: HML 12-6; Jackson vs. Southwest (Tropical), 4: SW 26-20; Coral Gables at Coral Park, 4: Coral Park 20-16; South Miami at Southridge, 7: Southridge 16-14; North Miami Beach vs. Carol City (Betty Ferguson), 7: NMB 27-21; Hialeah Gardens vs. Miami Springs (Ives), 7:30: Gardens 28-12; Coral Reef vs. Westland Hialeah (Tropical), 7:30: WH 30-13; Northwestern vs. Central (Traz), 7:30: NW 27-24.

▪ Friday: Miami High at Goleman, 3:30: Goleman 27-22; American at Miami Beach (Memorial), 7: Beach 22-17; Columbus vs. Palmetto (Traz), 7:30: Columbus 17-13

▪ Saturday: Norland vs. Edison (Traz), 5: Edison 31-19

OTHER GAMES

▪ Thursday: Miami-Dade: Homestead Somerset South vs. Mater Academy (Pace HS), 7: Mater 34-12; Key West at Doral Academy, 7: Doral 31-16. Broward: Pine Crest vs. Avant Garde (Lockhart Park), 7: AG 27-23;

▪ Friday: Miami-Dade: Dade Christian vs. Tru Prep Academy, 7:30: DC 30-24; Glades Central at Monsignor Pace, 7:30: Pace 27-21. Broward: Boca Raton Olympic Heights at Blanche Ely, 7: Ely 16-14; Hollywood Hills at Boyd Anderson, 7: BA 16-12; Northeast at Coconut Creek, 7: Creek 48-7; Clearwater Central Catholic at Calvary Christian,7: Central Catholic 24-20; Coral Springs Charter at Coral Glades, 7: Glades 33-14; Coral Springs at Douglas, 7: Douglas 37-8; Taravella at Cypress Bay, 7: CB 42-0; Fort Lauderdale at Delray Atlantic, 6:30: Atlantic 26-21; Hallandale at Boynton Beach, 6:30: BB 34-6; Monarch at West Boca Raton, 6: Monarch 35-13; Pembroke Pines Charter at Piper, 7: Piper 27-14;

▪ Saturday: Broward: Clewiston at Archbishop McCarthy, 7: Clewiston 30-12

▪ Last week top 20: 13-2. Last week overall: 35-6.

▪ Season top 20: 100-13. Season overall: Season Overall: 273-57.

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

This story was originally published October 26, 2021 at 6:50 PM.