Reigning champs Central, STA, Gibbons, Chaminade look to navigate new road to state
After a return to relative normalcy last season following the COVID-19 pandemic, South Florida also returned to its routine of winning multiple state championships.
Miami Central, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons and Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna took home half of the eight state titles up for grabs in 2021.
But now thanks to a seismic realignment by the Florida High School Athletic Association, that’s the most championships South Florida teams will be able to win.
The FHSAA divided its member schools into four Metropolitan classes, four Suburban classes and one rural class, which is basically Class 1A in recent years.
Miami-Dade and Broward schools were compressed into the four Metro classes, dealing a major blow to two counties which have combined to win four or more state championships in nine of the past 10 seasons. In 2019, South Florida teams won state titles in all seven classes they were competing in.
And so a drastically different road awaits for the bulk of South Florida’s best as we head into the 2022 season.
Here’s a look at the top contenders in each of the four Metro classes from Dade, Broward and around the state:
CLASS 4M
Miami-Dade teams to watch: Miami Columbus advanced furthest of any of the contenders a year ago before a lopsided 35-7 dismissal from the postseason courtesy of Venice.
The Explorers, now three years removed from winning their first ever state championship, have only one player left from that squad. He is senior Ahmere Foster, who happens to be their lone returning starting cornerback. But everywhere else on that Columbus defense there is experience. Where the Explorers need a jolt is on the offensive end, and senior running back and Stanford commit Sedrick Irvin Jr. might be the one who gives them one.
Miami Palmetto returns potentially a more balanced group on both sides of the ball than it did in 2020 when it lost to Kissimmee Osceola in the 8A state semifinals. The Panthers added transfers Robby and Bobby Washington with the former adding a major weapon on offense and special teams and the latter anchoring the defense along with linebacker Gabe Hardman.
Broward teams to watch: Davie Western might not just be the favorite to emerge this season from the 954, but the entire state. The Wildcats bring back seven starters on defense and have the top returning quarterback in the area in this class in senior Collin Hurst. He will have plenty of weapons on an offense bolstered by the arrival of Plantation American Heritage transfer Santana Fleming and Miami Edison transfer British Mitchell. Parkland Stoneman Douglas’ starting running back Matthew Wilson transferred in as well and will form a one-two punch with sophomore Chance Washington. Left tackle Roger Reyes, an All-State selection in 2021, will anchor a veteran offensive line.
Overview: This class most reflects what used to be the alignment in Class 8A. Venice won that championship last season with a comfortable rout of Central Florida powerhouse Apopka.
Venice moved into one of the Suburban classes as did Kissimmee Osceola, creating a possible opening on the north end for Orlando area powerhouses Apopka, Dr. Phillips and Sanford Seminole to make a run to state. Expect a collision between whoever emerges from Orlando and the survivor of the Columbus-Palmetto-Western battle.
Prediction: Columbus over Apopka.
CLASS 3M
Broward teams to watch: St. Thomas Aquinas, who for years resided in the second-largest classification, remains there as it moves to this group. The Raiders avoid the cluster of powerhouses in Class 2M (more on that later) and stand a very good chance of securing the first string of four consecutive state titles in school history.
Penn State commits King Mack and Conrad Hussey along with Duke commit Kimari Robinson and linebacker Jayvant Brown anchor an experienced defense that should be as stingy as ever. On offense, Aquinas has several playmakers, including Isaiah Hardge, Xavier Terrell and James Madison II.
But Fort Lauderdale Dillard, which lost a close matchup 23-13 to the Raiders a year ago, has one of its deepest teams in years. Athlete Chris Johnson and receivers Arthur Jenkins and Tastean Reddicks lead the way on offense while Armondo Blount leads a stout defense. Coconut Creek could be the breakout team among this group, and both Plantation and Miramar should contend for the postseason.
Dade teams to watch: Under coach Phillip Simpson, Homestead had its best season since 2002 last season and appears to be ready to follow it up with more this year. Broncos receiver Richard Dandridge and running back Isaac Brown are among the top prospects on a squad on the rise.
Overview: There are several aspiring contenders looking to upend the three-time reigning state champions from Fort Lauderdale including neighborhood rival Fort Lauderdale Dillard in its own District 11 bracket, and Homestead in neighboring Region 4-3M. But this bracket figures to be building toward a showdown of nationally ranked powerhouses should Aquinas and Tampa Jesuit square off in December.
Prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas over Tampa Jesuit.
CLASS 2M
Miami-Dade teams to watch: While loaded doesn’t begin to describe this class, the conversation has to start with three-time defending state champion Central, which comfortably won Class 5A last year to secure its eighth state title overall. The Rockets are back in the same class with longtime neighborhood rival Miami Northwestern, which happens to be right behind them with seven state titles of their own.
The Rockets are now led by Jube Joseph, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to succeed longtime coach Roland Smith after he took a job at the University of Miami. Senior linebacker Rueben Bain leads a loaded defense while Pitt commit Lamar Seymore leads Central’s offense.
The Bulls have designs on returning to the top and return plenty of talent on both sides to get the job done led by quarterback Taron Dickens and Toddrick Brewton on defense.
Add to that mix the return of Tim “Ice” Harris at six-time state champion Miami Booker T. Washington. Add Miami Gulliver, who returns three of the best prospects in the nation in Jalen Brown (LSU commit), Daniel Harris (Georgia commit) and Lamont Green Jr. (FSU commit).
And add an Edison program which has returned to contender status in recent years under coach Luther Campbell, and programs on the rise like Miami Norland, Carol City, Miami Lakes Monsignor Pace, Miami La Salle, Jackson and Westland Hialeah and there’s no let up in this bracket.
Broward teams to watch: And then there’s two-time defending Class 4A state champion Cardinal Gibbons. The Chiefs are back in the same district with American Heritage, which is loaded and looking to reclaim its spot at the top.
Gibbons returns a loaded group that includes running back Kamari Moulton and quarterback Dylan Rizk. Heritage is primed for a run at what would be its sixth state title led by Ohio State commits Brandon Inniss and Mark Fletcher.
Overview: The local teams in this class have a combined 40 state championships in their histories. The state created a cluster of the best teams in the nation squished into two regions. Districts 14-2M (Northwestern, Booker T. Washington, Edison, Jackson and La Salle) and neighboring District 13-2M (Carol City, Central, Norland, Monsignor Pace, NMB) alone have to be two of the deepest in the country.
Whoever survives that region could end up playing the survivor of Region 3-2M, which figures to be either Heritage or Gibbons. But wait, statewide, guess who else is in this class? Jacksonville Bolles, Tampa Berkeley Prep, Tampa Catholic, Jacksonville Raines and Orlando Bishop Moore just to name a few. The seeding math could create a Dade vs. Broward final.
Prediction: Miami Central over Plantation American Heritage.
CLASS 1M
Miami-Dade teams to watch: Four-time state champion Hialeah Champagnat Catholic closed down this offseason and removed Dade’s only likely state title contender in this class from the equation. There are a few programs that are making strides and could earn playoff berths including Miami True North, Miami Westminster Christian and Miami Archbishop Carroll. But true state title contention doesn’t appear to be in the cards with Chaminade looming.
Broward teams to watch: Chaminade is the overwhelming favorite and for good reason. The Lions could be the most talented team in the area overall and aside from IMG Academy maybe the most talented in the state.
Quarterback Cedrick Bailey, wide receivers Jojo Trader and Jeremiah Smith, along with tailback Davion Gause running behind a massive offensive line give the Lions one of the most potent offenses in the country. Luke Evans and Zaquan Patterson anchor one of the most athletic secondaries in the nation along with defensive end Wayne Peart leading the charge up front. Beyond the Lions, Hollywood Avant Garde Academy has put together a talented roster that should propel the young program into the playoffs.
Overview: Had Chaminade also joined Class 2M, the joke would have been even crueler. But instead the Lions appear to have a much more manageable path to what would be their seventh state title overall and fifth in the past six seasons. A potential showdown in the state final with Trinity Christian could be the only obstacle in the Lions’ way.
Prediction: Chaminade over Jacksonville Trinity Christian.
LAST YEAR’S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
8A: Venice 35, Apopka 7
7A: St. Thomas Aquinas 42, Tampa Bay Tech 14
6A: Tampa Jesuit 35, Pensacola Pine Forest 29
5A: Miami Central 49, Merritt Island 14
4A: Cardinal Gibbons 21, Cocoa 19
3A: Chaminade 21, Tampa Berkeley Prep 0
2A: Jacksonville Trinity Christian 41, Champagnat Catholic 23
1A: Madison County 13, Hawthorne 12
This story was originally published August 29, 2022 at 8:00 AM.
