Miami Norland takes down another powerhouse in week 9; Defense decides Western-Miramar | Opinion
It’s easy to say you’re elite even when your team might appear to have the roster capable of being among the best of the best.
Miami Norland proved it though.
This past Friday night, the Vikings rallied from a 20-point first-half deficit to beat four-time defending state champion Miami Central in overtime.
Of course, it was just a first step for the Vikings, who are now at the top of the state’s deepest classification.
Norland could still end up having to beat Central again in the playoffs as well as a dangerous Miami Booker T. Washington squad that it nearly lost to two weeks ago.
But as Vikings coach Daryle Heidelburg said after the game, “This isn’t the same old Norland.”
So a week after wrapping up a district title, the Vikings chase another championship when they vie for the GMAC crown this Friday.
Let’s look at that matchup with Columbus and this week’s new South Florida Top 20 rankings.
THE TOP 20
1. Hollywood Chaminade (7-0); 2. Miami Norland (7-0); 3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (7-1); 4. Plantation American Heritage (5-1); 5. Miami Central (3-3); 6. Homestead (5-1); 7. Miami Columbus (7-1); 8. Coconut Creek (6-2); 9. Miami Palmetto (6-1); 10. Miami Booker T. Washington (5-2); 11. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (5-2); 12. Coconut Creek Monarch (6-1); 13. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (6-1); 14. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3-3); 15. Davie Western (4-3); 16. Miami Southridge (6-2); 17. Plantation (5-2); 18. Miramar (4-3); 19. Miami True North (6-1); 20. Hollywood South Broward (6-1). Dropped out: 19. Miami Edison (4-3).
On the cusp: Homestead South Dade (5-2), Miami Monsignor Pace (4-3), Davie NSU University School (7-0), Hialeah (6-1), Miami Dr. Krop (4-3), Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (6-0), Miami Ransom Everglades (7-0).
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
7. Columbus (7-1) vs. 2. Norland (7-0), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
The Explorers rebounded from an eye-opening loss to Homestead two weeks ago by crushing Doral Academy even without quarterback Alberto Mendoza, who sat out the game after suffering a finger injury in that loss to Homestead in which he threw four interceptions. Columbus needs him to have any chance at an upset. The Explorers’ defense presents a difficult challenge for the Vikings’ high-powered offense. But if their offense struggles again, especially without Mendoza, it would be hard to think Columbus can keep up with this battle-tested Norland squad. Dre’s pick: Norland 27, Columbus 14.
15. Western (4-3) at 18. Miramar (4-3), 7, Friday.
Western quarterback Davi Belfort continues to put together one of the best seasons of any quarterback in the state, willing the Wildcats to victories. Western had no trouble demolishing rival Cypress Bay last week to virtually lock up a district title. Against Miramar’s stingy defense, the Wildcats will find it difficult to put up too many points. But this is a game where Western’s defense will have to step up and show that it too is among Broward’s best.
Dre’s pick: Western 14, Miramar 7.
12. Monarch (6-1) at 3. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-1), 7, Friday.
The Knights have kept their record unscathed sans a controversial one-point loss back on Sept. 1 at Delray Atlantic and even without injured starting quarterback A.J. Hairston in recent weeks. Monarch is hoping to make a run this year in Class 4M if it can topple Palm Beach Central in its region and then get a shot at the title. Aquinas could give the Knights the experience they need for the tough road ahead. But the Raiders shouldn’t trip up on their own way to the postseason.
Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Monarch 14.
11. Cardinal Gibbons (5-2) at Boca Raton (5-2), 6:30, Friday.
An intriguing matchup here as the Chiefs continue to take on some solid competition from up north. Boca Raton is one of the better playoff contenders in Class 4M having faced some of Palm Beach County’s elite teams. Gibbons suffered a humbling loss in recent weeks to American Heritage, but shook that off with back-to-back wins over Miami Belen and Hallandale. This will be closer to playoff-caliber competition and a good test as they gear up for a rematch with Heritage down the road.
Dre’s pick: Cardinal Gibbons 28, Boca Raton 16.
REST OF TOP 20
Hollywood Avant Garde (5-3) at 1. Chaminade (7-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 55, Avant Garde 6. The obligatory district schedule for the Lions begins. And this could be the first of two matchups between these teams.
Something to note, Chaminade-Madonna is now ranked No. 2 nationally by MaxPreps behind Las Vegas Bishop Gorman. Could a rematch be in store if both remain at the top by season’s end?
Naples (7-1) at 4. American Heritage (5-1), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: American Heritage 37, Naples 14. The records may be similar, but the Patriots won’t let this stay close for long.
5. Central (3-3) vs. 16. Southridge (6-2), 7:30, Thursday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Central 34, Southridge 8. Is this a good week to play the Rockets coming off a tough loss? Probably not.
Edison (4-3) vs. 6. Homestead (5-1), 7:30, Friday, Harris.
Dre’s pick: Homestead 28, Edison 12. The Broncos pick up another solid win and the Red Raiders continue to spiral after a strong start.
8. Coconut Creek (6-2) at Hollywood McArthur (3-2-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Coconut Creek 37, McArthur 6. Another comfortable win for the emerging Cougars.
Dr. Krop (4-3) vs. 9. Palmetto (6-1), 7:30, Thursday, Tropical
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 27, Krop 6. If the Panthers can replicate the offensive output they showed last week, they’ll be a dangerous team in 4M playoffs.
10. Booker T. (6-2) vs. South Dade (5-2), 7, Thursday, Harris.
Dre’s pick: Booker T. 27, South Dade 7. The Tornadoes need to get their offense going before the playoffs.
Sunrise Piper (5-3) at 13. Blanche Ely (6-1), 7, Saturday.
Dre’s pick: Ely 28, Piper 6. The Tigers need these wins to solidify a top 4 seed in Region 3-3M.
14. Dillard (3-3) vs. Fort Lauderdale (1-5), 7, Friday, Lockhart.
Dre’s pick: Dillard 34, Fort Lauderdale 7. Call it the Dillard double this week as the Panthers pad their win total before a date with Aquinas.
14. Dillard (3-3) at Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson (0-6), 7, Monday.
Dre’s pick: Dillard 48, Boyd Anderson 2. See above.
17. Plantation (5-2) at Deerfield Beach (2-5), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 34, Deerfield Beach 6. The Colonels bounce back from their tough loss to Dillard.
West Palm Beach Kings Academy (6-1) vs. 19. True North (6-1), 7, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: True North 24, Kings Academy 23. The battle-tested Titans secure another quality victory for their resume.
20. South Broward (6-1) at Parkland Stoneman Douglas (2-5), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: South Broward 30, Douglas 6. The Bulldogs sneak back into the polls and should build momentum toward the playoffs.
OTHER GAMES
Wednesday - Miami-Dade: American vs. Miami Springs (Milander), 7; Amer 22-8.
Thursday - Miami-Dade: North Miami Beach vs. Southwest Miami (Traz), 3:30; NMB 34-7; Coral Gables vs. Miami Northwestern (Tropical), 3:30; NW 37-7; Reagan at Miami Beach, 3:30; RR 14-12; Jackson at Coral Park, 3:30; Jac 33-6; Varela at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30; Var 14-13; Hialeah-Miami Lakes at Braddock, 3:30; Brad 35-2; Sunset vs. Mourning (North Miami), 3:30; ATM 26-14; Broward: Cypress Bay at Cooper City, 7; CB 28-14; Stranahan vs. Coral Glades (Lockhart), 7; Stran 37-7; Hollywood Hills at Boynton Beach, 6:30; Boynton 17-14; Pines Charter at Nova, 7; PPC 30-13; Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Calvary Christian at Monsignor Pace, 7; Pace 26-21.
Friday - Miami-Dade: Miami High vs. Hialeah (Milander), 7; Hia 27-14; Killian at Goleman, 3:30; Gol 20-12; Carol City vs. Coral Reef (Betty Ferguson), 7:30; CC 12-7; Westland Hialeah at Ferguson, 3:30; Ferg 27-6; Gulliver at Belen, 7; Bel 23-20; St. Brendan at La Salle, 7; StB 27-14; Everglades Prep at Somerset Silver Palms, 7:30; SSP 24-14; Palm Glades Prep at Ransom Everglades, 4; RE 35-7; Broward: West Broward at Flanagan, 7; WB 28-6; South Plantation at Everglades, 7; Ever 24-21; Boyd Anderson at Coral Springs, 7; CS 28-7; North Broward Prep at Coral Springs Charter, 7; NBP 40-12; Hallandale at Taravella, 4; Tar 16-13; West Boca at Northeast, 7; WB 30-12; Archbishop McCarthy at Belle Glade Glades Day, 7; AM 34-17; University School at Lake Worth Garcia, 6:30; US 44-12; Westminster Academy at Somerset Academy, 7; WA 35-13; Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Somerset Prep at Mater Academy, 7; SomPrep 23-13; Somerset Key at BridgePrep, 4; SomKey 21-12.
Saturday - Miami-Dade: North Miami vs. South Miami (Traz), 6; NM 16-6; Archbishop Carroll at Westminster Christian, 1; AC 33-24.
Monday - Miami-Dade: Reagan at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30; RR 17-10.
Dre’s record - Last week (Top 20): 11-3; Overall: 40-11. Season (Top 20): 98-17 (.852); Overall: 318-68 (.824).
This story was originally published October 17, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
