Chaminade bolsters resume again, Columbus continues dominance, Plantation breaks through | Opinion
The third week of the South Florida high school football season didn’t seem like it would be hugely eventful on the surface.
But it had a little bit of everything.
We did expect a good game from Miami Central and Miami Booker T. Washington and neither team disappointed, giving this sportswriter the usual chills he gets every season on the sideline when the bands start going and the first big game of the season at The Mecca gets underway.
But the Rockets and Tornadoes weren’t alone.
Chaminade cleared another “big obstacle” with ease thanks to an incredible game by receiver Jeremiah Smith, an Ohio State commit, who we can’t wait to see at the next level and I’m already penciling in as a fantasy football pick when he’s in the NFL in 2027.
But excitement wasn’t the only feeling last week’s games evoked.
Unfortunately, concern once again for a player after Goleman receiver Jamontay Parks took a hit during the Gators’ game against American. Parks collapsed on the sidelines, resulting in him being taken to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, word is he suffered a concussion but no spinal or neck injuries. Goleman and American are planning to complete said game on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Milander Park. The Patriots lead 14-12 early in the fourth quarter.
And then there was disbelief at what was witnessed at St. Thomas Aquinas when a bizarre series of events involving officials and the way the final 88 seconds were managed resulted in a Raiders’ 37-36 comeback win. Cocoa has since appealed to the FHSAA for an overturn of the game’s outcome, which was not upheld.
It leads us to what could be another interesting week highlighted by Chaminade’s latest doozy of a test - a road tilt at Plantation American Heritage.
Here’s a look at week 4 and where the chips landed in the latest South Florida Top 20 rankings:
THE TOP 20
1. Hollywood Chaminade (3-0); 2. Miami Central (1-1); 3. Miami Columbus (3-0); 4. Miami Norland (3-0); 5. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (2-1); 6. Miami Booker T. Washington (1-1); 7. Plantation American Heritage (2-0); 8. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2-1); 9. Plantation (3-0); 10. Miami Palmetto (3-0); 11. Homestead (2-1); 12. Coconut Creek (2-1); 13. Miami Northwestern (1-2); 14. Davie Western (1-1); 15. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (2-0); 16. Coconut Creek Monarch (2-1); 17. Miramar (1-1); 18. Hialeah American (2-0); 19. Miami Southridge (2-1); 20. Hollywood South Broward (3-0); On the cusp: Hialeah Goleman (1-0), Miami Dr. Krop (1-1), Miami Monsignor Pace (2-1), Miami Edison (2-0).
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
1. Chaminade (3-0) at 7. American Heritage (2-0), 7:30, Friday.
I’m about ready to call Chaminade the top contender for a national championship, but if the Lions win their next two games, their case is going to be quite compelling. The way the Lions have dominated on both sides of the ball makes this its most complete team in all the recent years of this great run they’ve had.
Meanwhile at Heritage, the whole “they’re young and maybe not ready to compete for a state title” narrative should be thrown out. This team is still talented at every spot and wait until they get to November.
But this Lions’ squad doesn’t seem to have any weaknesses and even if two of their top playmakers in receiver Jojo Trader and running back Davion “Bullet” Gause can’t suit up Friday, they’re still deep enough to win this showdown and even make it look a little lopsided. Dre’s pick: Chaminade 42, American Heritage 21.
10. Palmetto (3-0) vs. 3. Columbus (3-0), 4, Saturday, Tropical.
Entering the season, it didn’t seem like this Palmetto squad could put a scare into the reigning Class 4M state champs. But the way the Panthers have been playing defense so far, gives them a chance to snap a four-game skid in this rivalry. But a lot has to go Palmetto’s way on offense and the Explorers still have more depth overall. It’s shown through the first three weeks in blowout victories over Tampa Jesuit and Miami Killian as well as an impressive win over Clearwater Academy International. Dre’s pick: Columbus 21, Palmetto 10.
9. Plantation (3-0) at 12. Coconut Creek (2-1), 7, Thursday.
Perhaps a bit under the radar this week, this could be one of the better games of the early part of the season. Both Plantation and Creek are among the most improved teams in Broward County and feature potent offenses. The Cougars just scored one of their best wins in recent memory last week taking down Western on the road behind Jamarie Hostzclaw’s 114 yards.
Creek needs a similar ball control effort to keep an explosive Plantation offense off the field. That’s gonna be tough with an offense, led by quarterback J.T. Tabora, which is averaging 52 points per game through its first three games. Dre’s pick: Plantation 34, Coconut Creek 28.
14. Western (1-1) at 5. St. Thomas Aquinas (2-1), 7, Thursday.
Did Aquinas get away with one against Cocoa? Those last 88 seconds were befuddling to say the least. It overshadowed a resilient effort by the Raiders, who led by receivers James Madison and Chance Robinson and quarterback Andrew Indorf showed how explosive their offense can be when it clicks. That’s something that’s yet to happen for Western through two games. And it’s not likely to start this week. Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 38, Western 14.
Edison (2-0) vs. 13. Northwestern (1-2), 7, Thursday, Traz.
The Red Raiders escaped with a solid win over North Miami last week after finally playing a full game not disrupted by weather. This week they take on the Bulls in a key game in District 14-2M. Northwestern is showing - even in defeat - that it is another young team which might be better than many believe and building toward a strong finish. The Bulls show it this week. Dre’s pick: Northwestern 30, Edison 14.
REST OF TOP 20
Miami Carol City (0-2) vs. Central (1-1), 4, Saturday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Central 49, Carol City 2. It’s a district game. They have to play it.
Monsignor Pace (2-1) vs. 4. Norland, 3:30, Thursday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Norland 48, Monsignor Pace 6. Pace is not a bad team, but it won’t show against a Norland squad that looks like it’s ready to take its place among the state’s elite.
6. Booker T. (1-1) vs. Miami La Salle (2-1), 3:30, Thursday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Booker T. 44, La Salle 7. The Tornadoes rebound from the Central loss and begin to rack up district wins.
8. Cardinal Gibbons (2-1) at St. Petersburg Northeast (2-1), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Gibbons 34, Northeast 12. Chiefs build some momentum before their showdown with Heritage in a couple of weeks.
11. Homestead (2-1) vs. Southwest Miami (1-1), 7, Thursday, Harris.
Dre’s pick: Homestead 47, Southwest 3. It’s a district game. They have to play it, part 2.
Coral Springs (1-1) at 15. Blanche Ely (2-0), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Blanche Ely 45, Coral Springs 2. It’s a…wait, it’s not a district game. Still, ouch.
17. Miramar (1-1) at Flanagan (0-2), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Miramar 38, Flanagan 7. The Falcons are trying to get back to the level of making this rivalry competitive, but this is not the year.
16. Monarch (2-1) at Sunrise Piper (2-1), 7, Wednesday.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 36, Piper 21. This one might be sneaky competitive, but the Knights have too much firepower.
Miami Belen Jesuit (2-1) at 19. Southridge (2-1), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Southridge 27, Belen Jesuit 13. The Spartans are reeling from that beatdown by Norland, but a key district win here can be a quick remedy.
Hallandale (0-2) at 20. South Broward (3-0), 7, Wednesday.
Dre’s pick: South Broward 42, Hallandale 6. The Bulldogs rack up another win before a key district battle with Krop next week.
OTHER GAMES
Wednesday - Miami-Dade: Coral Park at Coral Gables, 3:30; Gables 38-3; Hialeah Gardens vs. North Miami Beach Mourning (N. Miami), 3:30; ATM 8-6.
Thursday - Miami-Dade: Homestead South Dade vs. Miami Killian (Tropical), 7:30; Kil 14-13; Miami Coral Reef at Miami Braddock, 3:30; Brad 20-17; Miami Ferguson at Miami Varela, 3; Ferg 42-7; Miami Springs vs. Reagan Doral (Doral Legacy), 3:30; MS 24-6; Miami Jackson at Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 3:30; Jac 21-2; Miami Beach vs. Hialeah (Milander), 7:30; Hia 27-12; South Miami at Somerset Silver Palms, 7; Som 28-16; Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy vs. North Miami (Milander), 3:30; NM 34-7; Miami Sunset at Marathon, 7; Sun 17-14; Miami Palmer Trinity at Miami Ransom Everglades, 4; RE 34-31; Miami BridgePrep at Miami Country Day, 7; MCD 9-6; Broward: Hollywood Hills at Davie Nova, 7; Nova 27-12; Pembroke Pines West Broward at Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer, 6:30; Dwyer 30-23; Hollywood McArthur at Cooper City, 7; McA 24-7; Fort Lauderdale at Weston Cypress Bay, 7; CB 20-13; Fort Lauderdale Stranahan vs. Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson (Lockhart), 7; Stran 36-6; Davie NSU University School at Boca Raton St. Andrews, 6; US 27-14; Coral Springs Taravella at Pembroke Pines Charter, 6; PPC 35-7; Jensen Beach at Parkland Stoneman Douglas, 6; Jensen 27-6; Coral Glades at Miramar Everglades, 7; Ever 17-14; Oakland Park Northeast at Coconut Creek North Broward Prep, 7; NBP 24-6; Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest at American Heritage-Delray, 7; AH 27-20; Boca Raton St. John Paul II at Pompano Beach, 7; SJP 13-10; Dade vs. Broward: Krop at Hollywood Avant Garde, 7; Krop 27-12.
Friday - Miami-Dade: Miami True North at Miami Florida Christian, 7; TN 42-3; Miami Westminster Christian at Miami St. Brendan, 7; StB 28-24; Somerset South Homestead at Miami Palm Glades Prep, 7; SASH 26-8; Broward: Deerfield Beach at Valdosta (Ga.), 8; Valdosta 35-12; Clewiston at Calvary Christian, 7; Calvary 38-14; Somerset Key at Westminster Academy, 7; WA 44-6; Oxbridge Academy at Archbishop McCarthy, 7; AM 21-14; Somerset Prep at Riviera Beach Inlet Grove, 6:30; SomPrep 14-7.
Saturday - Miami-Dade: Archbishop Carroll vs. Goleman (Milander), 7; Gol 27-14.
Dre’s record - Last week (Top 20): 14-1; Overall: 39-11. Season (Top 20): 39-7 (.848); Overall: 118-33 (.782).
