Central rebounds, Chaminade clears another test, plus improved squads could pull upsets | Opinion
We have a new leader at the top of our South Florida rankings following Miami Central’s loss last week in Las Vegas.
Hollywood Chaminade is 2-0 so far as it continues to face nationally-ranked competition on a weekly basis. The Lions and the Rockets will likely stake their claim to who belongs at the top when they meet on Sept. 22.
Central must regroup quickly this week against a familiar foe while Chaminade takes on another perennial out-of-state powerhouse.
These games highlight a strong slate of games in week 3.
THE TOP 20
1. Hollywood Chaminade (2-0); 2. Miami Central (0-1); 3. Miami Columbus (2-0); 4. Miami Norland (2-0); 5. Miami Booker T. Washington (1-0); 6. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (1-1); 7. Plantation American Heritage (2-0); 8. Davie Western (1-0); 9. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (1-1); 10. Plantation (2-0); 11. Miami Palmetto (2-0); 12. Homestead (1-1); 13. Miami Northwestern (1-1); 14. Coconut Creek (1-1); 15. Miami Southridge (2-0); 16. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (1-0); 17. Coconut Creek Monarch (1-1); 18. Miramar (0-1); 19. Hialeah American (2-0); 20. Hollywood South Broward (2-0). Dropped out: 19. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (1-1). On the cusp: Goleman (1-0), Miami Dr. Krop (1-1), Monsignor Pace (1-1).
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
2. Central (0-1) vs. Booker T. (1-0), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
The Rockets have not lost back-to-back games since the start of the 2021 season and have not lost to a Dade opponent since Oct. 23, 2020 against rival Northwestern.
Central has also dominated the head-to-head series against Booker T. in recent years, winning the past seven meetings with the Tornadoes’ last win coming in 2014.
Booker T. feels like it is getting close to the level it was when winning a state championship was a realistic goal annually in Overtown.
This game should tell a lot about both teams as Central as it takes on one of the teams that has the best shot at dethroning it in Class 2M. Dre’s pick: Central 34, Booker T. 24.
Bergen Catholic (NJ) (2-0) at 1. Chaminade (2-0), 7, Friday.
The opening season gauntlet ramps back up this week for Chaminade as it takes on the Crusaders, who are ranked No. 22 nationally by MaxPreps. Bergen Catholic is a longstanding power house in New Jersey where it has won 18 state championships with the most recent in 2021.
The Crusaders’ offense is led up front by 6-8, 360-pound tackle Nyier Daniels, a four-star prospect and Georgia commit. Bergen Catholic quarterback Dominic Campanile has an array of weapons including junior and four-star wide receiver Quincy Porter (10 catches, 229 yards, four TDs), and junior Naiim Parrish, who also plays defensive back and has an interception this season. Rutgers commit and three-star safety Kaj Sanders also plays offense and leads Bergen Catholic’s running game with three touchdowns so far this season. West Virginia commit and three-star defensive lineman Elijah Kinsler leads the Crusaders on defense.
Chaminade’s own defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown in its past six quarters played and it has returned two interceptions and a fumble for touchdowns with the latter done by Miami commit Zaquan Patterson on a highlight-reel takeaway last week. Dre’s pick: Chaminade 31, Bergen Catholic 14.
14. Coconut Creek (1-1) at 8. Western (1-0), 7, Friday.
Western uglied its way to a rain-soaked, muddy win over Georgia powerhouse Milton in week 1. Creek is among the most improved teams in Broward, but just fell short against nationally-ranked Gainesville (Ga.). Still, the Cougars are more than capable of scoring a signature win in this one. Western, though, is tough at home and should have enough to protect the home field. Dre’s pick: Western 17, Creek 13.
Cocoa (2-0) at 6. St. Thomas Aquinas (1-1), 7, Friday.
The Raiders didn’t have nearly as much trouble getting their offense going against Fort Myers last week as they did in their opener against St. John Bosco (CA). Cocoa presents another big obstacle coming off big wins over Orlando Jones and Venice. Aquinas could use a victory over this caliber of opponent early in the season to truly get their season going. Dre’s pick: Aquinas 24, Cocoa 20.
4. Norland (2-0) at 15. Southridge (2-0), 7, Friday.
Following a huge win over Lakeland, Norland didn’t slow down in taking care of business of overmatched Carol City. Southridge needed a second-half rally to take down Krop in a 27-22 victory. The Spartans are facing one of the most talented and experienced teams in the state this week though. And while both are ranked in our top 20, there’s a big gap between these two. Dre’s pick: Norland 34, Southridge 7.
19. American (2-0) vs. Goleman (1-0), 7:30, Friday, Milander.
Two of the most improved teams in Miami-Dade County meet in this early-season clash. A strong group of transfers has given the Patriots one of their deepest squads in years and has them dreaming about their first playoff berth since 2016. The same can be said for the Gators, who have a much-improved roster of their own and are looking to make only their second-ever playoff appearance and first since 2004.
Goleman hasn’t allowed a point yet in nine quarters of football, counting the preseason classic. American’s defense has faced slightly better competition so far and has not yielded more than seven points in a game.
Dre’s pick: American 16, Goleman 14.
REST OF TOP 20
3. Columbus (2-0) at Tampa Jesuit (1-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Columbus 30, Tampa Jesuit 17. Explorers score another quality road win and sweep this home-and-home set.
7. American Heritage (2-0) at Belle Glade Glades Central (0-2), 6:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Heritage 47, Glades Central 3. How the mighty have fallen in “The Muck.”
Stoneman Douglas (0-1) vs. 9. Plantation (2-0), 7, Friday, PAL.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 37, Douglas 7. Colonels continue to breeze through their early-season schedule.
10. Cardinal Gibbons (1-1) at Dillard (1-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Gibbons 27, Dillard 14. Chiefs get a needed bounce-back victory.
Killian (0-2) vs. 11. Palmetto (2-0), 7:30, Friday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 28, Killian 3. The Panthers retain the Big Cat Trophy thanks to another stingy defensive effort.
St. Pete Lakewood (0-2) vs. 12. Homestead (1-1), 7:30, Friday, Harris.
Dre’s pick: Homestead 27, Lakewood 8. Broncos shook off the bad taste of the Palmetto loss quickly and make it back-to-back wins here.
Venice (0-2) vs. 13. Northwestern (1-1), 6, Saturday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Venice 24, Northwestern 20. Bulls will put up a fight, but this could be where Venice gets back on track.
16. Blanche Ely (1-0) at Boyd Anderson (0-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Ely 42, Boyd Anderson 2. Tigers shouldn’t have trouble in this one.
17. Monarch (1-1) at Hallandale (0-1), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 41, Hallandale 6. The Knights’ offense has been consistent at least. Here’s a chance to begin a win streak.
Coral Glades (0-2) at 18. Miramar (0-1), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Miramar 35, Coral Glades 7. The Patriots have been stewing since that tough loss in the Broward Showcase.
20. South Broward (2-0) at Piper (2-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: South Broward 28, Piper 18. Good test for the improved Bulldogs, but they find a way to victory.
OTHER GAMES
Thursday - Miami-Dade: Jackson vs. Krop (Ives Estates), 3:30; Krop 34-12; South Miami at Coral Gables, 3:30; SM 17-13; Braddock vs. Southwest (Tropical), 7; Brad 24-21; Hialeah Gardens vs. Coral Reef (Southridge), 7; CR 31-7; Miami Beach at Ferguson, 3:30; Ferg 27-14; Miami High vs. Miami Springs (Milander), 7; MHS 27-20; Varela at Coral Park, 3:30; Var 7-6; North Miami Beach at Delray Atlantic, 6:30; ATL 28-26; North Miami at Edison, 3:30; Ed 22-18; Florida Christian at Everglades Prep, 7; FC 20-14; Broward: Fort Lauderdale at Archbishop McCarthy, 7; FTL 30-24; Coral Springs at Hollywood Hills, 4; HH 13-12; South Plantation at Northeast, 7; SP 38-7; North Broward Prep at Pines Charter, 6; NBP 17-16; Taravella at Pompano Beach, 7; Tar 20-8; Marathon at University School, 6; US 45-6; Dade vs. Broward: La Salle at Somerset Academy, 7; LaS 30-6.
Friday - Miami-Dade: Doral at Mater Academy, 7; Dor 24-6; Belen at Somerset Silver Palms, 7; Belen 27-10; St. Brendan at Gulliver, 4; Gul 20-14; True North at Maclay, 7:30; TN 35-20; Naples Lely at Monsignor Pace, 7:30; Pace 22-15; Somerset South Homestead at Sunset, 3:30; Som 16-14; Palmer Trinity vs. Archbishop Carroll (Tropical), 7; Carroll 27-20; Moore Haven at Westminster Christian, 4; WC 30-20; Palm Glades Prep at Coral Shores, 7; CS 14-3; BridgePrep at Miami Country Day, 6; MCD 10-7; Broward: Cypress Bay at Flanagan, 7; CB 20-7; Stranahan at Deerfield Beach, 7; Stran 15-14; Everglades at Cooper City, 7; Ever 17-14; Lake Placid at Nova, 7:30; Nova 27-17; Pine Crest at Calvary Christian, 7; Calv 34-20; Westminster Academy at Bradenton Christian, 7; WA 35-31; Somerset Prep at Somerset Key, 4; SomPrep 21-20; Dade vs. Broward: Coral Springs Charter vs. Ransom Everglades (Coral Glades), 7; RE 28-8.
Saturday - Miami-Dade: Hialeah vs. Hialeah-Miami Lakes (Milander), 7; Hialeah 35-6.
Dre’s record - Last week (Top 20): 12-3; Overall: 39-10. Season (Top 20): 25-6 (.806); Overall: 79-22 (.782).
