American Heritage shows veteran poise to win rivalry game, plus Week 6 picks | Opinion
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna and Miami Central lived up to the hype of a game many had waited for more than a year to see.
The duel, which the Lions won 31-28, left Chaminade in position to truly compete for a national title while the Rockets can now turn their attention to keeping their dream of being the first to win five consecutive state titles alive.
We are reaching the midway point of the high school football regular season, and this week’s slate of games is highlighted by one of the best rivalries in South Florida.
Plantation American Heritage and Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons meet once again in a matchup that likely decides their district and is probably the first of two clashes this season. The winner has often been the team that either plays for or wins a state championship in recent years.
Here’s a look at that and other key matchups in week 6 as well as the latest South Florida Top 20 rankings.
THE TOP 20
1. Chaminade (5-0); 2. Central (1-2); 3. Miami Columbus (5-0); 4. Miami Norland (5-0); 5. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1); 6. Miami Booker T. Washington (3-1); 7. American Heritage (2-1); 8. Cardinal Gibbons (3-1); 9. Coconut Creek (4-1); 10. Miami Palmetto (4-1); 11. Homestead (3-1); 12. Plantation (3-1); 13. Coconut Creek Monarch (4-1); 14. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3-1); 15. Davie Western (2-2); 16. Miami Southridge (4-1); 17. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (2-2); 18. Miramar (2-2); 19. Miami Edison (3-1); 20. Hollywood South Broward (4-0); Dropped out: Miami Dr. Krop (2-1); On the cusp: Homestead South Dade (3-1), Weston Cypress Bay (4-1), Miami True North (5-0); Miami Ransom Everglades (4-0), Miami Archbishop Carroll (3-1), Hialeah Goleman (3-1), Miami Palmer Trinity (3-1), Hialeah American (2-2), NSU University School (4-0), Archbishop McCarthy (4-0), Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (5-0).
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
8. Cardinal Gibbons (3-1) at 7. American Heritage (2-1), 7:30, Friday.
In six of the past seven seasons, whoever emerges from this rivalry as the ultimate victor in the postseason has gone on to at least play for a state championship. Five times that team has won a state crown. And this season, these two are expected to be the teams that vie for the Region 3-2M title and possibly a spot in the finals again.
Heritage graduated 27 seniors, and many thought it might take a step back because of their youth. That has not been the case as youngsters such as Dia Bell, Malachi Toney, Brandon Bennett, Byron Louis, Kymani Morales and Deandre Desinor have kept the Patriots as one of the state’s best.
Gibbons’ lone setback was an embarrassing loss to Chaminade, but has bounced back in recent weeks led by North Carolina commit Michael Merdinger at quarterback and Casey Etienne on defense.
The Chiefs are vying to get back to the form that won them back-to-back state titles in 2018, 2020 and 2021 while the Patriots feel this is the group that will eventually end their six-year state title drought. The latter takes another step this week. Dre’s pick: Heritage 24, Gibbons 14.
1. Chaminade (5-0) at 9. Coconut Creek, 7, Friday.
Creek is the breakout team of Broward County this season with victories over Western, Plantation and Blanche Ely. Their combination of potent rushing attack and stingy defense makes them a dangerous foe for everyone in Class 3M, including big, bad Aquinas. This week offers the Cougars a gauge to see how they would fare against one of the nation’s best when they host Chaminade after its big win against Central.
The Lions look like one of the most complete teams in history in South Florida and have shown it through a brutal five-game stretch. Creek could present Chaminade some problems early, but hanging on for four quarters against a team that can beat you in every possible way is a tall order even for a much-improved Cougars squad.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 34, Coconut Creek 14.
18. Miramar (2-2) at 5. St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1), 7, Friday.
St. Thomas turned what many thought would be a competitive battle against a strong Treasure Coast team into a laugher. The potent running combination of Justin Montgomery and Stacy Gauge made sure the Raiders were the ones mauling teams with their running attack as Aquinas is starting to look destined to make another state title run.
Miramar’s offense looked sloppy against Dillard and paid for it with a tough 14-7 loss. While the “Dark Side” defense is always tough, it will be difficult for the Patriots to earn a bounce back win this week against one of the deepest opponents they will face all season. Dre’s pick: Aquinas 34, Miramar 7.
REST OF TOP 20
North Miami Beach (1-3) vs. 2. Central (1-2), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Central 48, NMB 14. Odd seeing the Rockets under .500, but they get the chance to rack up some wins before a big October.
Miami High (2-2) at 3. Columbus (5-0), 6, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Columbus 38, Miami High 7. Explorers survived a scare, but shouldn’t have another this week.
4. Norland (5-0): Bye.
6. Booker T. (3-1) vs. Miami Jackson (1-4), 7, Thursday, Curtis.
Dre’s pick: Booker T. 42, Jackson 2. Another warmup for the Tornadoes before some big ones in October.
10. Palmetto (4-1) vs. Coral Gables (3-1), 3:30, Friday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 35, Gables 7. The Panthers should have a chance to rack up some wins and a district title in the coming weeks.
11. Homestead (3-1) vs. South Miami (1-4), 7, Wednesday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Homestead 46, South Miami 3. The Broncos should have little trouble before their showdown with Columbus.
12. Plantation (3-1) at South Plantation (3-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 38, South Plantation 6. The Colonels will ignite their offense again after a bad loss to Creek.
13. Monarch (4-1) at Boca Olympic Heights (2-3), 6:30, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 37, Olympic Heights 13. Even with their quarterback ailing, the Knights should cruise this week.
14. Blanche Ely (3-1) vs. Fort Lauderdale (1-2), 7, Friday, Lockhart.
Dre’s pick: Ely 31, Fort Lauderdale 12. Tigers should start up a new regular-season streak.
Sunrise Piper (3-2) at 15. Western (2-2), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Western 24, Piper 14. Wildcats get back over .500 before a big one next week vs. Heritage.
16. Southridge (4-1): Bye.
17. Dillard (2-2) at Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson (0-4), 7, Saturday.
Dre’s pick: Dillard 42, Boyd Anderson 6. Huge momentum-building win against Miramar for the young Panthers.
19. Edison (3-1) vs. La Salle (2-2), 3:30, Thursday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Edison 28, La Salle 6. The Red Raiders should bounce back from a tough road loss.
20. South Broward (4-0) vs. Miami Dr. Krop (3-1), 6, Tuesday, (comp. of susp. game).
Dre’s pick: South Broward 30, Krop 28. The Bulldogs are up 7-0 after a quarter and if Chris Humphrey keeps at it, my pick from last week should hold.
OTHER GAMES
Wednesday — Miami-Dade: Doral vs. Goleman (Milander), 7; Gol 34-14.
Thursday — Miami-Dade: Hialeah vs. Mater Academy (Milander), 7; Hia 27-7; Braddock vs. Ferguson (Tropical), 7:30; Ferg 35-20; Westland Hialeah at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30; HG 10-6; Coral Park vs. Reagan (Doral Legacy), 3:30; RR 14-7; Mourning at Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 3:30; ATM 21-6; Miami Country Day at Berean Christian, 7; MCD 6-3; Broward: Hollywood Hills at McArthur, 7; McA 27-6; University School at Oxbridge, 7; US 40-14.
Friday — Miami-Dade: Northwestern at Cardinal Newman, 7; CN 17-14; St. Brendan at Miami Springs (Curtis), 7:30; StB 24-8; Killian at Gulliver, 4; Gul 30-16; Varela vs. Sunset (Tropical), 7:30; Var 20-6; Carol City at Monsignor Pace, 7; Pace 28-7; Everglades Prep at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30; Carroll 34-12; Westminster Christian at Palm Glades Prep, 4; WC 33-14; South Dade at Somerset Silver Palms, 7:30; SD 35-7; Florida Christian at Marathon, 7; FC 21-14; Palmer Trinity at Somerset South Homestead, 7; PT 26-20; Ransom Everglades at Coral Shores, 7; RE 35-7; Broward: Deerfield Beach at West Boca Raton, 6:30; West Boca 36-16; Cypress Bay at Coral Glades, 7; CB 27-8; Stranahan at Hallandale, 7; Stran 34-3; Coral Springs at Stoneman Douglas, 7; Doug 16-6; West Broward at Somerset Academy, 7; WB 24-7; Flanagan at Cooper City, 7; Flan 19-7; Coral Springs Charter at Taravella, 4; CSC 9-6; Inlet Grove at Calvary Christian, 7; Calv 34-14; Archbishop McCarthy at Pompano Beach, 7; AM 35-3; Pine Crest at Northeast, 7; PC 30-6; Dade vs. Broward: Everglades vs. American (Milander), 7; American 24-12.
Saturday — Miami-Dade: Belen vs. Southwest (Tropical), 7; Belen 27-7; Miami Beach vs. North Miami (Milander), 7; NM 20-6.
Dre’s record — Last week (Top 20): 10-2; Overall: 35-6. Season (Top 20): 61-12 (.836); Overall: 191-47 (.803).
