Top 20 picks: American Heritage looking to regain rivalry supremacy over Cardinal Gibbons
After five weeks of play, it’s time to find out who’s really just a pretender and who’s legit.
Several unbeaten teams remain in South Florida, and not just the powerhouses in the top five — Miami Central, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Miami Columbus and Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.
There are unbeaten teams that haven’t been at this point in the season in a while such as Miami Norland, Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, Fort Lauderdale, South Miami, Hialeah, Coral Gables, South Plantation and Miami Archbishop Carroll to name a few.
But this week, we will start to separate who isn’t really that good from who really has made significant progress in fortifying their respective programs.
But clearly the main event this week is the highly anticipated rivalry clash between Gibbons and Plantation American Heritage — both of whom are now ranked in the top 25 nationally.
This game also may reveal just how capable Gibbons is of winning a third consecutive state title.
THE TOP 20
1. Central (4-0); 2. Chaminade-Madonna (5-0); 3. St. Thomas Aquinas (5-0); 4. Columbus (5-0); 5. Cardinal Gibbons (5-0); 6. American Heritage (4-1); 7. Homestead (4-0); 8. Miami Northwestern (3-2); 9. Miami Booker T. Washington (4-1); 10. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (2-2); 11. Norland (4-0); 12. Davie Western (3-1); 13. Miramar (3-1); 14. Plantation (3-1); 15. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3-0); 16. North Miami Beach (2-2); 17. Coconut Creek (2-3); 18. Doral Academy (3-2); 19. Miami Jackson (3-2); 20. Fort Lauderdale (4-0).
Dropped out: 16. Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (2-3); 18. Miami Palmetto (1-4); 19. Miami Edison (1-3); 20. Miami Southridge (3-2).
On the cusp: Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (4-1), Coconut Creek Monarch (4-1), South Miami (3-0).
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
6. American Heritage (4-1) at 5. Cardinal Gibbons (5-0), 7, Friday.
For years, Heritage dominated this series as the two battled for supremacy in the same district. When Gibbons finally reached the same level, things got interesting and eventually the Chiefs topped Heritage on their way to winning the first of three state titles in the past four seasons.
In the overloaded Class 2M setup, the rivals are back in the same district together and this one could turn into a memorable showdown as each vies for seeding in what promises to be one of the most loaded postseason brackets in the country.
Heritage enters the game ranked No. 13 nationally and led by an explosive offense. Playmakers Brandon Inniss and Mark Fletcher must have success in the passing and running games, respectively, against a Gibbons defense which has been among the best in the country so far this year. For the Chiefs to come out on top, they don’t just have to contain the Patriots’ explosive playmakers, they have to hit some big plays as well. That’s where quarterback Dylan Rizk comes in. Rizk has to have a good game to complement a potent rushing attack for Gibbons and be able to impose their game on Heritage.
It could come down to one or two plays and that’s where the superior overall talent often takes over.
Dre’s pick: American Heritage 30, Cardinal Gibbons 28.
9. Booker T. Washington (4-1) vs. 19. Jackson (3-2), 7, Thursday, Traz.
The Tornadoes showed last week how much they are learning when it comes to handling the pressure of being among the county’s best once again when they held off Carol City for a 26-6 win. Expect a tougher challenge this week from their nearby rivals from NW 36th Street who have built some momentum after a slow start. Jackson has won three in a row after being trounced by Northwestern in the Soul Bowl. But here’s where the Tornadoes’ depth will come into play as this team builds toward a potential title run in the near future.
Dre’s pick: Booker T. 30, Jackson 13.
20. Fort Lauderdale (4-0) at 15. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3-0), 7, Friday.
The Flying L’s are off to a strong start thanks to a potent offense led by Patrick Boyd Jr., Taquan Nelson and Ernest Joseph. Fort Lauderdale scored a solid win over Deerfield Beach early, but has been largely untested. That will change this week against a Blanche Ely squad which has improved dramatically following a 1-9 season last year under coach Michael Bailey and is coming off a solid 28-21 victory over Coconut Creek a week ago. If the Tigers defense continues to play well, count on Blanche Ely to continue its solid start to the 2022 campaign.
Dre’s pick: Blanche Ely 20, Fort Lauderdale 13.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
16. North Miami Beach (2-2) vs. 1. Central (4-0), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Central 36, NMB 8. The Rockets are just on another level where even an improving team like the Chargers looks overmatched.
Treasure Coast (1-4) at 2. Chaminade-Madonna (5-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 42, Treasure Coast 7. Another chance for the Lions to play most of their roster before a challenging trip to Venice next week.
13. Miramar (3-1) at 3. St. Thomas Aquinas (5-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 38, Miramar 6. While Miramar has played solid outside of its game against Dillard, it’s about to get much, much tougher this week against one of the deepest of South Florida’s powerhouses.
4. Columbus (5-0) vs. Miami High (2-1), 7:30, Friday, Curtis.
Dre’s pick: Columbus 48, Miami High 7. The Explorers, now ranked No. 31 in the nation by MaxPreps, shouldn’t have a problem staying unbeaten.
South Miami (3-0) vs. 7. Homestead (4-0), 7, Thursday, Southridge.
Dre’s pick: Homestead 28, South Miami 6. Kudos to the Cobras for their solid start, but Homestead is by far their toughest foe yet.
8. Miami Northwestern (3-2): Bye
Boyd Anderson (0-3) at 10. Dillard (2-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Dillard 42, Boyd Anderson 2. The Panthers take out some frustration before their long-awaited showdown with Aquinas.
11. Miami Norland (4-0): Bye
12. Davie Western (3-1) at Piper (3-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Western 28, Piper 13. The competition level will ramp up a bit for Western compared to last week with the Bengals’ running game.
South Plantation (4-0) vs. 14. Plantation (3-1), 7, Friday, PAL Field.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 28, South Plantation 7. The records in this year’s Mayor’s Cup battle look better than usual thanks to the Paladins’ hot start. But the Colonels own this rivalry.
17. Coconut Creek (2-3): Bye
18. Doral Academy (3-2) vs. Goleman (2-2), 7, Thursday, Milander.
Dre’s pick: Doral 40, Goleman 21. The Firebirds build off the momentum of last week’s overtime thriller.
OTHER GAMES
THURSDAY - Miami-Dade: Palmetto vs. Coral Gables (Tropical), 7; Palmetto 21-7; HML vs. Mourning (N. Miami), 3:30; HML 13-6; Coral Park at Reagan, 3:30; Coral Park 27-20; Sunset at Varela, 3:30; Sunset 28-14; Miami Country Day at Berean Christian, 7; MCD 7-6. Broward: Douglas at Coral Springs, 7; Douglas 34-17; Stranahan vs. Hallandale (DRV Pink), 7; Stranahan 28-8; McArthur at Hollywood Hills, 4; Hills 16-9; Coral Glades at Cypress Bay, 7; Cypress Bay 27-6; Pompano Beach at Taravella, 4; Pompano 35-7; Ocoee Legacy Charter vs. Avant Garde (Carter), 7; Avant Garde 44-24.
FRIDAY - Miami-Dade: Carol City at Monsignor Pace, 7:30; Pace 10-7; Killian vs. Gulliver (Tropical), 7:30; Gulliver 27-17; Southwest at Belen, 7:30; Belen 34-7; North Miami vs. Miami Beach (Memorial), 7; NM 28-20; Miami Springs at St. Brendan, 7; St. Brendan 17-7; Westland Hialeah vs. Hialeah Gardens (Milander), 7:30; Westland 24-10; True North at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30; Carroll 30-18; Dade Christian at Florida Christian, 7:30; DC 6-5; Palm Glades Prep at Westminster Christian, 4; WC 42-7; Somerset Charter Homestead at Palmer Trinity, 4; Somerset 13-10; Ransom Everglades at Coral Shores, 7; Ransom 24-14; Broward: South Broward at West Monroe (La.), 7; West Monroe 30-23; West Boca Raton at Deerfield Beach, 7; Deerfield 29-12; Olympic Heights vs. Monarch (Coconut Creek), 7; Mon 34-7; Cooper City at Flanagan, 7; Flan 24-6; Somerset Academy vs. West Broward (PPC), 6; Som 21-14; Calvary Christian at Coral Springs Charter (Glades), 7; Calvary 28-8; Northeast at Pine Crest, 7; PC 30-7; West Palm Beach SLAM at University School, 7; US 14-7; Westminster Academy at Jupiter Christian, 7; WA 34-33; Miami-Dade vs. Broward: American at Everglades, 7; American 14-13; Somerset Silver Palms at Archbishop McCarthy, 7; Somerset 26-7.
SATURDAY - Miami-Dade: La Salle vs. Edison (Traz), 7; Edison 22-14; Mater Academy vs. Hialeah (Milander), 7; Hialeah 20-17; Braddock vs. Ferguson (Tropical), 7; Braddock 27-14.
Andre’s record - Last week: 35-12; Top 20 games: 10-4; Season - Overall: 188-55; Top 20: 59-13.
TITLETOWN SOUTH FLORIDA
If you have yet to check out our new high school sports show, Titletown South Florida, watch it on YouTube, Facebook or at miamiherald.com/high-school. Miami sportswriter David Wilson and I bring you this week’s episode with highlights from Week 5, a look at Fort Lauderdale Stranahan wide receiver Hykeem Williams’ spectacular commitment to FSU last week, and a look ahead to key matchups in Week 6.
This story was originally published September 27, 2022 at 6:30 AM.
