Norland and Booker T. looking to make statements, plus big tests for title contenders | Opinion
Another major battle for supremacy in the overloaded Class 2M bracket takes place this week.
Miami Norland spent the offseason loading up to try to make a run for its first state title since 2011 when Duke Johnson was wearing the maroon and gray.
Miami Booker T. Washington has spent close to two years reviving its program for a return to glory following coach Ice Harris’ latest return to the sideline.
This week we should get a great indication of who is further along in their respective goal.
Meanwhile on the south end of Miami-Dade County, Homestead is eager to prove it can still earn another shot at the Class 3M title and takes on an unbeaten Columbus squad which is trying to build momentum in the hopes of winning back-to-back state titles for the first time in school history.
Here’s a look at the week 7 slate with my picks for the week.
THE TOP 20
1. Hollywood Chaminade (6-0); 2. Miami Central (2-2); 3. Miami Columbus (6-0); 4. Miami Norland (5-0); 5. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5-1); 6. Miami Booker T. Washington (4-1); 7. Plantation American Heritage (3-1); 8. Coconut Creek (4-2); 9. Miami Palmetto (5-1); 10. Homestead (3-1); 11. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (3-2); 12. Plantation (4-1); 13. Coconut Creek Monarch (5-1); 14. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (4-1); 15. Davie Western (3-2); 16. Miami Southridge (4-1); 17. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3-2); 18. Miami Edison (4-1); 19. Hollywood South Broward (5-0); 20. Miramar (2-3). On the cusp: Homestead South Dade (4-1), Miami True North (5-0), Miami Dr. Krop (2-2), Gulliver (3-3), Miami St. Brendan (5-1), Weston Cypress Bay (5-1), Doral Academy (3-2), Miami Ransom Everglades (5-0), NSU University School (5-0), Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (5-0), Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (5-0).
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
6. Booker T. (4-1) vs. 4. Norland (5-0), 7, Thursday, Traz.
Norland ended Booker T.’s turnaround 2022 season in the regional semifinal round thanks to a stingy and turnover-creating defense. A year later, a larger and more aggressive defensive front awaits the Tornadoes.
This could very well be the most physically intimidating team the Vikings have ever had.
But the biggest factor on offense to me continues to be quarterback Ennio Yapoor’s experience and ability to make game-breaking plays. Yapoor remains such a dangerous weapon in both the running and passing games and will dictate how far this team goes.
Booker T. will be Norland’s toughest test to date and an indicator as to whether the Vikings are truly ready to challenge Miami Central for the crown.
The Tornadoes can throw a wrinkle into Norland and everyone else’s plans this season if they can continue to run the football effectively with Gerald Modest and can pass efficiently with quarterback Claudell Sherman and a cast of talented receivers.
If Booker T.’s defense can stiffen up and contain Norland’s array of offensive weapons, it will have a chance to make its own statement in this game. But do the Vikings stumble on the doorstep of the game they’ve been waiting to play all offseason? Dre’s pick: Norland 30, Booker T. Washington 28.
10. Homestead (3-1) vs. 3. Columbus (6-0), 7, Saturday, Tropical.
Although these two aren’t in each other’s path to a potential state championship, they provide an intriguing matchup especially with two of the more stingy defenses in the state. Columbus survived a nearly disastrous loss to Miami Northwestern two weeks ago thanks to its defense holding the line until its offense and special teams made enough plays.
Homestead’s defense has been its usual dominant self even in defeat against Miami Palmetto in week 1. Since then, the Broncos have been slowly building momentum on offense.
This game reminds me of games Homestead played last season when it was considered an underdog yet stepped up and beat Palmetto and Northwestern. Columbus may appear to be vulnerable, but that could work to the Explorers’ advantage. Dre’s pick: Columbus 14, Homestead 12.
7. American Heritage (3-1) at 15. Western (3-2), 7, Friday.
Heritage continues to gain experience and that’s not a good thing for anyone in their way the rest of this season. The Patriots’ performance last Friday against rival Cardinal Gibbons solidified any misgivings about this team’s youth and showed it is ready to make a deep playoff push again in Class 2M. Western has put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season led largely by dual threat quarterback Davi Belfort. But the Wildcats have really been hurt on the offensive end after losing tailback Tovani Mizell to an injury and would have to play their best game of the season defensively to slow down this Heritage train. Dre’s pick: American Heritage 34, Western 16.
18. Edison (4-1) vs. 9. Palmetto (5-1), 7, Wednesday, Tropical.
Aside from getting blanked by Columbus, the Panthers have looked like a more balanced and tougher squad than a year ago. Palmetto has shown its one of the better defensive teams in the state so far and that should help it in this matchup. If Edison can run the football behind Juice Joseph and force some turnovers, it will have a chance to secure another significant victory. But the Red Raiders need to show consistency from week to week especially against quality opponents like Palmetto. Dre’s pick: Palmetto 24, Edison 12.
REST OF TOP 20
1. Chaminade (6-0) at 17. Dillard (3-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 38, Dillard 7. Lions continue to remind some of Broward’s better teams that they are on another level.
2. Central (2-2) vs. Miami Northwestern (2-4), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Central 34, Northwestern 14. The intensity of this rivalry might keep it close early, but the Rockets pull away on depth and experience.
Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson (0-5) at 5. St. Thomas Aquinas (5-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Aquinas 50, Boyd Anderson 2. It’s a district game. You know the rest.
Fort Lauderdale (1-3) at 8. Coconut Creek (4-2), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Coconut Creek 42, Fort Lauderdale 3. Good district rebound win for the Cougars.
11. Cardinal Gibbons (3-2) at Miami Belen Jesuit (3-3), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Gibbons 35, Belen 14. The Chiefs recover a bit from the loss to Heritage.
Davie Nova (2-3) vs. 12. Plantation (4-1), 7, Thursday, PAL.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 47, Nova 6. The Colonels cruise behind their offensive firepower.
13. Monarch (5-1) vs. Hollywood McArthur (3-1-1), 7, Friday, Coconut Creek.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 35, McArthur 13. The Knights shouldn’t have a problem clinching a winning season.
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (3-2) at 14. Blanche Ely (4-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Ely 28, Stranahan 8. Tough Tiger defense shuts down an upset-minded rival.
16. Southridge (4-1) at St. Petersburg Lakewood (1-5), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Southridge 20, Lakewood 12. Lakewood loves taking on those Dade teams. Expect another battle here.
Pembroke Pines West Broward (3-2) at 19. South Broward (5-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: South Broward 28, West Broward 7. The Bulldogs love forcing turnovers and should take advantage of a few more to stay unbeaten.
Pembroke Pines Charter (4-1) at 20. Miramar (2-3), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Miramar 24, Pines Charter 7. The Patriots could start putting together a winning streak over the next few weeks if they can develop some consistency on offense.
OTHER GAMES
Thursday - Miami-Dade: Miami Braddock vs. Miami Coral Park (Tropical), 7; Brad 34-7; Krop vs. Miami Monsignor Pace (Ives), 7; Krop 20-17; Miami Carol City vs. Westland Hialeah (Hialeah Gardens), 3:30; CC 7-6; Hialeah Gardens vs. Hialeah Goleman (Milander), 7; Gol 34-6; South Miami vs. Miami Springs (Milander), 3:30; MS 27-6; Miami Coral Reef vs. Reagan Doral (Doral Legacy), 3:30; Reef 27-13; Hialeah-Miami Lakes at Miami Ferguson, 3:30; Ferg 42-3; Archbishop Carroll at Somerset South Homestead, 7; Carroll 34-16; Miami Country Day at South Daytona Warner Christian, 4; Warner 20-14; Broward: North Broward Prep at NSU University School, 7; US 38-13; Coral Springs Charter at Oakland Park Northeast, 7; CSC 14-7; Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy at Somerset Canyons, 7; Canyons 21-7; Deerfield Beach Somerset Key at Jupiter Christian, 6; JC 34-12.
Friday - Miami-Dade: Miami High vs. Coral Gables (Tropical), 7:30; CG 23-20; True North at Miami St. Brendan, 7; TN 27-20; Southwest Miami vs. South Dade (Harris), 7:30; SD 42-7; North Miami Beach at Lake Mary, 7; LM 42-24; American vs. Miami Beach (Memorial), 7:30; Amer 26-6; Miami Varela vs. North Miami Beach Mourning (N. Miami), 3:30; ATM 13-6; Miami Gulliver at Somerset Silver Palms, 7:30; Gul 21-14; Miami La Salle at Miami Westminster Christian, 4; WC 22-21; Miami Florida Christian at Naples St. John Neumann, 7; Neumann 27-8; Miami Palm Glades Prep at Miami Palmer Trinity, 4; Palmer 28-6; Broward: Cooper City at Archbishop McCarthy, 7; AM 24-7; Cypress Bay at Coral Springs Taravella, 4; CB 30-6; South Plantation at Sunrise Piper, 7; Pip 24-14; Parkland Stoneman Douglas at Jupiter, 7; Jup 27-14; Pembroke Pines Flanagan at Miramar Everglades, 7; Ever 20-6; Coral Springs at Coral Springs Coral Glades, 7; Glades 17-7; Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian at Titusville, 7; Titusville 24-21; Pompano Beach at Hollywood Hills, 4; Hills 13-10; North Lauderdale Somerset Prep at Westminster Academy, 7; WA 34-6; Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Hallandale vs. Hialeah (Milader), 7:30; Hia 24-6; Ransom Everglades at Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, 7; Ransom 35-7.
Saturday - Miami-Dade: Doral vs. North Miami (Milander), 7; Dor 22-16.
Dre’s record - Last week (Top 20): 13-0; Overall: 42-3. Season (Top 20): 74-12 (.861); Overall: 234-50 (.824).
This story was originally published October 3, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
