Top 20 picks: Central, STA hold ground in rivalries while Columbus, BTW survive tests
Plantation American Heritage took control of District 12-2M with a convincing victory over Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.
Next, the frontrunners in the two districts just south of that will meet when one of the country’s most intense high school football rivalries renews this week as Miami Central puts its undefeated season on the line against Miami Northwestern.
But that’s just the start of perhaps the best slate of the games of this entire regular season.
You have battles of unbeaten teams like the one down at Harris Field between Miami Columbus and Homestead.
You have Dillard trying to earn some payback and make a statement against longtime foe St. Thomas Aquinas as the two Fort Lauderdale powers collide.
And among the most intriguing is the clash between Miami Booker T. Washington and Miami Norland as each side tries to prove its ready to contend for a state championship.
Before I break down week 7, let’s look at some of the shake-ups that occurred in the latest Miami Herald South Florida rankings.
THE TOP 20
1. Central (5-0); 2. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (5-0); 3. St. Thomas Aquinas (5-0); 4. Columbus (6-0); 5. American Heritage (5-1); 6. Homestead (6-0); 7. Cardinal Gibbons (5-1); 8. Northwestern (3-2); 9. Miami Booker T. Washington (5-1); 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 (4-0); 16. Doral Academy (4-2); 17. Coconut Creek (2-3); 18. North Miami Beach (2-3); 19. Miami Carol City (2-3); 20. Southridge (3-2).
Dropped out: 19. Miami Jackson (3-3), 20. Fort Lauderdale (4-1).
On the cusp: Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (4-1), Coconut Creek Monarch (4-1), Edison (2-3).
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
1. Central (5-0) vs. 8. Northwestern (3-2), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
No rivalry is more intense in Miami-Dade County and often with more at stake than this classic between neighborhood rivals who have a combined 15 state championships. Central has one more after winning its third consecutive title last season and enters the game ranked No. 4 nationally by MaxPreps.
But the road to a possible national title might have to go through the Bulls — twice.
Both of these teams figure to be the top two in a loaded Region 4-2M bracket. But while the Rockets are clicking on offense and their defense is yielding barely any points, Northwestern has been laboring through injuries to key players. The extra week off should have helped the Bulls heal up a bit, but this will be a difficult test for inexperienced starters filling in such as freshman quarterback Calvin Russell, who entered in relief of injured Taron Dickens against Columbus.
Look for the experience of a defense led by Rueben Bain to make the difference-making plays for Central.
Dre’s pick: Central 34, Northwestern 21.
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (5-0) at 10. Dillard (2-2), 7, Friday.
Dillard has had this game circled on the calendar for nearly a year since feeling like it let one slip away in a 23-13 loss to Aquinas last season. Panthers receiver Christopher Johnson is likely to be the most talented player on the field this Friday. And there are others that can match up such as receivers Tastean Reddicks and Edward Louis. But for the Panthers to earn that elusive signature win, they will need more than just a couple of big plays.
Aquinas can grind you down with its big offensive line and the two-headed monster backfield of Jordan Lyle and Gemari Sands. And if that defense led by Zakaih Saez and Devin Payne puts consistent pressure on Dillard quarterback Armondo Norcius and shuts down their running game, it will be more of the same in this series.
Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 27, Dillard 14.
4. Columbus (6-0) vs. 6. Homestead (6-0), 7:30, Friday, Harris.
This one could be a treat as Homestead tries to prove it is ready to be considered among the state’s top title contenders. You can’t take much from the Broncos’ solid, but sloppy 22-6 win over previously unbeaten South Miami last week. A short week of practice due to Hurricane Ian coupled with in-game injuries to starting quarterback Joshua Townsend and running back Isaac Brown complicated matters. But if both are ready to go against Columbus, expect the Broncos to have a chance late. Columbus’ own defense has been clutch in the fourth quarter throughout this season, however, and battle-tested in wins over Palmetto, Tampa Jesuit and Northwestern.
Dre’s pick: Columbus 20, Homestead 16.
9. Booker T. Washington (5-1) vs. 11. Norland (4-0), 7, Thursday, Traz.
Booker T. Washington is out to shut up all of that Central-Northwestern talk when it comes to who is the favorite to come out of Dade in Class 2M. But first they must stop a Norland squad that may also be ready to emerge from the pack.
The Vikings’ offense has been stellar so far led by quarterback Ennio Yapoor and the combo of running backs Lemmie Faulk Jr. and Javin Simpkins, who have amassed over 1,500 yards of offense combined.
But the Tornadoes’ defense led by Jaquentin Ford (seven sacks), Cordell Roberts, Jamorie Flagg and Cormury Butts presents the toughest challenge yet for the Vikings. Look for Antwan Smith to power Booker T.’s running game while this could be a breakout game for quarterback Claudell Sherman.
Dre’s pick: Booker T. 20, Norland 19.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
2. Chaminade-Madonna (5-0): Bye
12. Western (3-1) at 5. American Heritage (5-1), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: American Heritage 30, Western 14. The Wildcats will be hard-pressed to score points going against a stout Heritage defense.
Belen Jesuit (4-2) at 7. Cardinal Gibbons (5-1), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Gibbons 24, Belen 3. The Wolverines have improved in recent weeks, but Gibbons presents a different level of obstacle.
13. Miramar (3-1) at Pembroke Pines Charter (2-2), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Miramar 30, PPC 8. The Patriots keep picking up momentum as they begin district play.
14. Plantation (3-1) at Nova (2-3), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 37, Nova 7. After their rivalry game with South Plantation was postponed until Oct. 24, the Colonels should cruise in their return to the field.
15. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (4-0): Bye
North Miami (1-4) at 16. Doral Academy (4-2), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Doral 34, North Miami 19. The Firebirds keep racking up yards and points.
17. Coconut Creek (2-3) at Fort Lauderdale (4-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Coconut Creek 27, Fort Lauderdale 13. This is where the Cougars should start to get back on track.
18. North Miami Beach (2-3) at Lake Mary (3-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: NMB 22, Lake Mary 21. That challenging out-of-town slate continues for Chargers coach Jeff Bertani’s road warriors.
19. Carol City (2-3) vs. Westland Hialeah (4-1), 3:30, Thursday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Carol City 21, Westland 17. The Wildcats have come a long way since this matchup was a guaranteed rout, but the Chiefs have some playmakers on defense.
St. Pete Lakewood (2-3) at 20. Southridge (3-2), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Southridge 20, Lakewood 19. With two weeks to shake off the frustration of that double-OT loss to Doral, the Spartans end up in another nail-biter.
OTHER GAMES
Thursday - Miami-Dade: Edison vs. Palmetto (Curtis), 7; Palmetto 28-19; Braddock vs. Coral Park (Tropical), 7, Braddock 27-24; Reagan vs. Coral Reef (Harris), 7, Reef 20-14; American vs. Miami Beach (Milander), 7, American 17-16; Varela vs. Mourning (Southridge), 7, ATM 10-7; Ferguson at HML, 7, Ferguson 24-14; Broward: Piper at South Plantation, 7, Piper 29-24; Everglades at Flanagan, 7, Everglades 14-7; Northeast vs. Coral Springs Charter (Glades), 7, CSC 26-12; Palm Beach Christian Prep vs. Avant Garde (Carter), 7, Avant Garde 35-14.
Friday - Miami-Dade: Miami High vs. Coral Gables (Curtis), 7:30, Gables 21-14; Krop at Monsignor Pace, 7:30, Pace 16-13; Goleman vs. Hialeah Gardens (Milander), 7:30, Goleman 28-8; South Miami vs. Miami Springs (Tropical), 7:30, S. Miami 35-8; Somerset Canyons vs. La Salle (TBA), 7, La Salle 40-7; Florida Christian at Westminster Christian, 4, Westminster 48-6; Mater Academy at Ransom Everglades, 7, Mater 20-14; Somerset South Homestead at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30, Carroll 27-12; Dade Christian at St. Brendan, 7, St. Brendan 45-3; Palm Glades Prep at Palmer Trinity, 4; Palmer Trinity 30-2; Everglades Prep at Coral Shores, 7, Coral Shores 38-14; West Palm Beach SLAM at Miami Country Day, 7, MCD 13-12; Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Hialeah at Hallandale, 7, Hialeah 22-6; BridgePrep at University School, 4, U-School 40-6; Broward: Deerfield Beach at Boyd Anderson, 7, Deerfield 24-6; Monarch at McArthur, 7, Monarch 28-17; Stranahan at Stuart Martin County, 7, Martin County 14-13; Coral Glades at Coral Springs, 7, Coral Springs 10-7; Taravella at Cypress Bay, 7, Cypress Bay 28-3; West Broward vs. South Broward (Pines), 7, West Broward 24-20; Jupiter at Douglas, 7, Douglas 30-21; Calvary Christian vs. Somerset Academy (Ansin), 7, Calvary 24-20; Hollywood Hills at Pompano Beach, 7, Hills 16-10; North Broward Prep at Boca St. Andrews, 7, St. Andrews 35-20; Deerfield Somerset Key at St. John Neumann, 7, Neumann 35-7; Archbishop McCarthy at Cooper City, 7, Cooper 17-14; Westminster Academy at Bishop Snyder, 7, Snyder 24-23.
Saturday - Miami-Dade: Somerset Silver Palms at Gulliver, 3:30, Gulliver 27-6; Southwest vs. South Dade (Tropical), 7, S. Dade 38-6.
Monday - Miami-Dade: North Miami at Miami Beach, 3:30, N. Miami 24-12.
Andre’s record - Last week: 25-13; Top 20: 7-0; Season - Overall: 213-68; Top 20: 66-13.
