Miami Central’s experience key vs. Miami Norland, plus Northwestern primed to pull upset | Opinion
We’ve reached the game that many circled on the calendar since the summer when Miami Norland beefed up its roster and made itself - at least on paper - one of the deepest and most talented teams in the state.
After barely surviving against Miami Booker T. Washington last week, the Vikings are still unbeaten and ready to take their first shot at the champs when they face Miami Central this week.
But this is hardly the only game on the schedule this week with playoff implications.
There are several of those including the road those aforementioned Tornadoes face as they play the first two of three games in eight days without their starting quarterback.
That and a couple of battles of unbeatens highlight the week 8 slate. Let’s take a look at that and the new Miami Herald South Florida Top 20.
THE TOP 20
1. Hollywood Chaminade (7-0); 2. Miami Central (3-2); 3. Miami Norland (6-0); 4. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1); 5. Plantation American Heritage (4-1); 6. Homestead (4-1); 7. Miami Columbus (6-1); 8. Coconut Creek (4-2); 9. Miami Palmetto (5-1); 10. Miami Booker T. Washington (3-2); 11. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (4-2); 12. Plantation (5-1); 13. Coconut Creek Monarch (6-1); 14. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (5-1); 15. Miami Southridge (5-1); 16. Miramar (3-3); 17. Davie Western (3-3); 18. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3-3); 19. Miami Edison (4-2); 20. Miami True North (6-0); Dropped out: 19. Hollywood South Broward (5-1); On the cusp: Miami Northwestern (2-5), Homestead South Dade (5-1), Hialeah (5-1), Weston Cypress Bay (6-1), Pembroke Pines West Broward (4-2), Miami Monsignor Pace (4-3), Davie NSU University School (6-0), Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (6-0), Miami Ransom Everglades (6-0), Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (6-0).
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
2. Central (3-2) vs. 3. Norland (6-0), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Both teams survived close calls last week and are as evenly matched as they’ve been in years. Norland has an edge on quarterback experience with Ennio Yapoor. Central has an edge in the running game as long as it doesn’t turn the ball over. Both teams have monster defensive fronts capable of changing the game in either’s favor. And this is where Norland’s offensive line must play better than it did last week to have a chance to win this one. Dre’s pick: Central 16, Norland 14.
Northwestern (2-5) vs. 10. Booker T. (3-2), 7, Thursday, Traz.
Booker T. Washington was extremely close to having Norland beat. And then starting quarterback Claudell Sherman exited the game early in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury that, rumor has it, could keep him out for the next few weeks. The injury completely changed the game in the closing seconds as Booker T.’s offense went stagnant and Norland rallied for a 20-19 win.
So how do the Tornadoes navigate a gauntlet that has them playing two of its most critical games in a five-day stretch and three overall in eight days without Sherman? It will be up to their running game and sophomore backup quarterback Anthony McQueen to complement a stingy defense that held Norland in check for three and a half quarters.
The Bulls, though, appear to be on the cusp of pulling a major upset after taking Central down to the wire. If they can contain Booker T.’s running game the way they did against the Rockets and force turnovers, this could be the week the growing pains of the first two months finally pay off. Dre’s pick: Northwestern 14, Booker T. 13.
10. Booker T. (3-2) vs. 19. Edison (4-2), 6, Monday, Traz.
A rare double pick in this column but here it is since the Tornadoes play two games in less than a week. If you read above, you saw I believe they are ripe for an upset against Northwestern. But whether or not that happens, I think Booker T. has the resilience to find a way to regroup quickly and still put itself in position to win District 14-2M just four days later. Dre’s pick: Booker T. 20, Edison 13.
15. Southridge (5-1) vs. 6. Homestead (4-1), 7:30, Friday, Harris.
Fresh off its eye-opening performance against Columbus, the Broncos try to complete their “revenge tour” against the neighborhood rival Spartans, who beat them last year during the regular season. Southridge continues to improve, but Homestead is at full strength and looking like a state title contender again. Dre’s pick: Homestead 27, Southridge 6.
12. Plantation (5-1) at 18. Dillard (3-3), 7, Friday.
Plantation opened as one of the highest scoring teams in South Florida and has bounced back since being stymied by Coconut Creek. The Colonels face their stiffest test since that game as the Panthers have a challenging defense too. But this could be where Plantation proves it can be a formidable opponent for most teams this postseason. Dre’s pick: Plantation 24, Dillard 22.
Westminster Academy (6-0) at NSU University School (6-0), 7, Friday.
Neither team is in the state playoff series, but that shouldn’t diminish what could be a fantastic game between two of the more improved programs in South Florida.
University School has been one of the most explosive teams in the area, outscoring teams 229-49. The same can be said for Westminster, which has scored 189 points and held teams to 49 points. The quarterback matchup alone could be worth the price of admission as University’s Jett Yurgealitis and WA’s Anthony Barbar have been two of the best. Dre’s pick: University 34, Westminster 33.
REST OF TOP 20
1. Chaminade (7-0): Bye
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1) at Fort Lauderdale (1-4), 7, Friday, Lockhart.
Dre’s pick: Aquinas 47, Fort Lauderdale 6. The Raiders are cruising along as they prepare for another push for a state title.
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (3-3) at 5. American Heritage (4-1), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: American Heritage 37, Stranahan 7. The Patriots should cruise in this one, moving closer to clinching a district title.
Doral Academy (3-2) at 7. Columbus (6-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Columbus 38, Doral Academy 7. The Explorers regroup quickly after a tough loss to Homestead.
West Boca Raton (5-1) at 8. Coconut Creek (5-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Coconut Creek 27, West Boca Raton 6. The Cougars can virtually wrap up the District 10-3M title with a win here.
South Dade (5-1) vs. 9. Palmetto (5-1), 3:30, Thursday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 24, South Dade 7. The Bucs have improved, but this is where the Panthers secure the District 16-4M championship.
Hallandale (0-5) at 11. Cardinal Gibbons (4-2), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Cardinal Gibbons 47, Hallandale 6. Should be a comfortable district victory for the Chiefs.
13. Monarch (6-1): Bye
Deerfield Beach (2-4) at 14. Blanche Ely (5-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Blanche Ely 28, Deerfield Beach 6. The Tigers are building momentum for the postseason.
Hialeah American (4-2) at 16. Miramar (3-3), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Miramar 24, American 12. The battle of the Patriots still belongs to Miramar.
17. Western (3-3) at Cypress Bay (6-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Western 28, Cypress Bay 12. The Wildcats have had a tough schedule and should lock up the path to a district title here.
Starke Bradford (6-0) vs. 20. True North (6-0), 3:30, Friday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Bradford 30, True North 21. The Titans’ toughest test to date, but will toughen them up for postseason run.
OTHER GAMES
Wednesday - Miami-Dade: North Miami vs. Hialeah (Milander), 7; Hia 24-20; Killian vs. South Miami (Tropical), 7; Kil 13-6; Sunset vs. Coral Reef (Harris), 7; Reef 20-7.
Thursday - Miami-Dade: Braddock vs. Varela (Tropical), 7; Brad 20-14; Coral Park at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30; HG 21-7; Mourning vs. Reagan (Milander), 7; ATM 23-20; Everglades Prep at Somerset South Homestead, 7; SASH 27-21; Broward: Everglades at Pines Charter, 6; Ever 24-6; Coral Glades at Taravella, 4; Tar 7-6; Pompano Beach at South Plantation, 7; SP 34-14; North Broward Prep at Calvary Christian, 7; Calv 30-21.
Friday - Miami-Dade: Coral Gables vs. Miami Beach (Memorial), 7; Gables 35-7; La Salle vs. Jackson (Curtis), 5; Jac 7-6; Southwest vs. Ferguson (Tropical), 7:30; Ferg 31-14; Mater Academy vs. Miami Springs (Milander), 7:30; MS 26-6; St. Brendan at Westland Hialeah, 3:30; StB 38-6; Hialeah-Miami Lakes at Florida Christian, 7; FC 10-7; Archbishop Carroll at Coral Shores, 7; Carroll 34-20; BridgePrep at Ransom Everglades, 7; RE 42-6; Westminster Christian at Palmer Trinity, 4; Palmer 27-14; Broward: Stoneman Douglas at Boyd Anderson, 7; Doug 24-2; Piper at Nova, 7; Pip 34-7; Cooper City at Somerset Academy, 7; Som 22-7; McArthur at South Broward, 7; SB 28-13; West Broward at Naples Gulf Coast, 7; WB 24-21; Coral Springs Charter vs. Pine Crest (Glades), 7; CSC 17-7; Olympic Heights vs. Coral Springs, 7; CS 21-20; Jupiter Christian at Avant Garde, 7; Jup 27-21; Somerset Key at Oxbridge, 7; Som 13-10; Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Hollywood Hills at Krop, 7; Krop 30-14; Somerset Prep at Miami Country Day, 7; SomPrep 28-9.
Saturday - Miami-Dade: Miami High vs. Goleman (Milander), 7; Gol 20-17; Carol City vs. North Miami Beach (Traz), 7; NMB 30-6.
Monday - Broward: Cooper City at South Plantation, 7; SP 38-7; Coral Springs Charter at Pompano Beach, 7; CSC 14-10; Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Somerset Prep at Somerset Silver Palms, 5; Silver Palms 27-20.
Dre’s record - Last week (Top 20): 13-2; Overall: 44-7. Season (Top 20): 87-14 (.861); Overall: 278-57 (.830).
This story was originally published October 10, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
