Defense settles Soul Bowl matchup, but there could be a rematch, plus more Week 11 picks | Opinion
We have reached the final week of the regular season and while district championships have been won, there are still several teams looking for one last key victory to cement their spot in the upcoming playoffs.
And speaking of playoffs, we also have some independent schools beginning to vie for their conference championships this week as well.
Broward County’s Soul Bowl is one of the highlights of the final weekend as always.
Fort Lauderdale Dillard and Pompano Beach Blanche Ely are each in good shape as far as making the postseason, but could each use a win and some momentum following deflating losses last week.
Here’s a look at that matchup and other key contests as well as the final South Florida Top 20 poll of the regular season.
THE TOP 20
1. Hollywood Chaminade (9-0); 2. Miami Norland (9-0); 3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (9-1); 4. Plantation American Heritage (7-1); 5. Miami Central (6-3); 6. Homestead (8-1); 7. Coconut Creek (8-2); 8. Miami Columbus (8-2); 9. Miami Palmetto (7-1); 10. Miami Booker T. Washington (8-2); 11. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (7-2); 12. Coconut Creek Monarch (7-2); 13. Davie Western (6-3); 14. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (7-2); 15. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (5-4); 16. Miramar (5-4); 17. Hollywood South Broward (8-1); 18. Miami True North (7-2); 19. Miami Gulliver Prep (7-2); 20. Miami Southridge (6-3). Dropped out: 16. Plantation (6-3). On the cusp: Homestead South Dade (6-3), Sunrise Piper (6-4), Davie NSU University School (9-0), Miami Archbishop Carroll (8-1), Miami Edison (5-4), Miami Northwestern (4-6), Hialeah (8-1), Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (8-0), Miami Palmer Trinity (6-2), Miami Ransom Everglades (8-1).
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
14. Dillard (5-4) at 15. Blanche Ely (7-2), 5, Friday.
Any chance they had of possibly upsetting St. Thomas Aquinas evaporated in seconds after the Raiders ambushed the Panthers for 37 first-quarter points in what ended as a 58-0 loss for Dillard last week. Meanwhile, Blanche Ely didn’t suffer a defeat as humiliating, but a 21-7 loss to West Boca Raton stung nonetheless.
The Tigers and Panthers now find themselves dueling not just for bragging rights, but likely for home-field advantage in what likely will be a rematch the following week in the first round of the playoffs if the FHSAA power rankings keep the teams seeded fourth and fifth in Region 3-3M.
Dillard’s defense was pushed over by a next-level Aquinas offense last week. But it should be more prepared to handle an Ely offense that struggled to put points on the board a week ago. These games are often heated and low-scoring anyway so defense should settle it. Dre’s pick: Dillard 13, Blanche Ely 9.
16. Miramar (5-4) at 17. South Broward (8-1), 7, Friday.
Speaking of defense, both of these teams have ridden their way to this point largely thanks to that side of the ball. South Broward has been one of the most prolific teams in the county at forcing turnovers. Meanwhile, Miramar has been pretty stingy throughout the season as it tends to be whenever it is among the most competitive teams in South Florida.
If the Bulldogs can get the Pats to cough up a few here, they should be in position to score a huge win for their program. If not, battle-tested Miramar might have enough to squeak past here. Dre’s pick: Miramar 10, South Broward 7.
Clearwater Central Catholic (9-0) at 11. Cardinal Gibbons (7-2), 6, Friday.
Gotta give Gibbons credit once again for consistently scheduling tough, which is why despite not winning its district, the Chiefs sit at No. 2 in Region 3-2M as of this week behind Plantation American Heritage.
The Chiefs take on another state powerhouse this week in the Class 1M state runner-up Marauders who could very well make it back to Tallahassee in that class this year. Junior dual-threat quarterback Jershaun Newton still leads one of the more explosive offenses in the state (33.4 points per game) and has an array of weapons on offense that will test Gibbons with speed and skill. Gibbons has suffered a pair of lopsided defeats this season with such opponents, but should be a little more prepared for this one. But the Chiefs are still looking for a win against a state title contending team such as CCC. Dre’s pick: CCC 30, Gibbons 24.
South Dade (6-3) at 20. Southridge (6-3), 7:30, Friday.
The fact that this game appears to be a toss-up heading into the week is a testament to the job South Dade coach Chris Reid and his crew have done in their first season at the helm of the Bucs. South Dade shook off a lopsided loss to Homestead in week 2 and has navigated its way back to the playoffs. Southridge began a similar process a couple of years ago under coach Pierre Senatus and is looking to take the next step this postseason as well.
The neighborhood rivals won’t be in each other’s way in the playoffs so this should be a fun one to decide some bragging rights and see who can improve their seeding in their respective class.
Dre’s pick: South Dade 20, Southridge 19.
REST OF TOP 20
1. Chaminade (9-0) at St. Petersburg Lakewood (2-7), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 48, Lakewood 6. The Lions should make short work of the home team to wrap up their 34th win in their past 35 games.
2. Norland (9-0) vs. Miami Killian (3-6), 7, Thursday, Southridge.
Dre’s pick: Norland 47, Killian 7. A perfect regular season for the Vikings. Will we be able to drop the word ‘regular’ in that sentence in five weeks?
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (9-1): Regular season complete.
4. Plantation American Heritage (9-1): Regular season complete.
5. Miami Central (6-3): Regular season complete.
6. Homestead (8-1): Regular season complete.
7. Coconut Creek (8-2): Regular season complete.
8. Columbus (8-2): Regular season complete.
9. Palmetto (7-1) vs. Miami Beach (0-9), 7, Thursday, Memorial.
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 49, Miami Beach 2. Tough times for the Tides and high hopes for the Panthers as they enter the playoffs.
10. Booker T. Washington (8-2): Regular season complete.
12. Monarch (7-2) at Deerfield Beach (2-7), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 42, Deerfield Beach 6. The Knights hope to get healthy and make a deep run in the Class 4M playoffs.
13. Western (6-3) vs. Plantation (6-3), 7, Friday, PAL.
Dre’s pick: Western 27, Plantation 6. The Wildcats defense has been playing lights out of late and should take advantage against the reeling Colonels.
18. True North (7-2) vs. Homestead Everglades Prep (3-5), 4:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: True North 45, Everglades Prep 6. Not too much trouble here for the Titans, who are surging toward another deep playoff push in Class 1M.
19. Gulliver Prep (7-2) at Tampa Carrollwood Day (6-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Carrollwood Day 28, Gulliver 13. Tough road test just before the postseason for the Raiders.
OTHER GAMES
Wednesday — Miami-Dade: American vs. North Miami Beach (Milander), 7; NMB 13-12; Sunset at HML, 3:30; Sun 6-0.
Thursday — Miami-Dade: Doral at Edison, 3:30; Ed 16-13; Coral Gables vs. Southwest (Tropical), 7; CG 28-7; Broward — SSAC semifinal: Westminster Academy at NSU University School, 6; US 44-21; Coral Glades at Stoneman Douglas, 7; Doug 27-12; Stranahan vs. Fort Lauderdale (Lockhart), 7; Stran 24-12; McArthur at Boyd Anderson, 7; McA 36-6; West Broward vs. Everglades (Flanagan), 7; WB 20-13.
Friday — Miami-Dade: Dr. Krop vs. Hialeah (Ives), 7:30; Hia 16-14; FIFC championship: Palmer Trinity vs. Archbishop Carroll (Tropical), 3:30; AC 34-31; La Salle vs. Belen (Tropical), 7; Bel 20-19; North Miami vs. Westland Hialeah (Milander), 7:30; NM 34-7; Jackson vs. Miami High (Curtis), 7:30; MHS 20-6; Goleman at Monsignor Pace, 7:30; Pace 21-16; Westminster Christian at Somerset Silver Palms, 7:30; WC 24-23; Florida Christian at TRU Prep, 7; TRU 15-12; Marathon at Somerset South Homestead, 7; SASH 20-14; Broward: Taravella vs. Coral Springs (Glades), 7; CS 36-7; South Plantation at Cypress Bay, 7; CB 44-3; Flanagan at Hallandale, 7; Flan 14-12; Northeast at Hollywood Hills, 3; HH 16-6; Key West at Archbishop McCarthy, 7; AM 27-17; Delray American Heritage at North Broward Prep, 6; AH 21-20; Boca St. Andrews at Pine Crest, 7; SA 38-14; Pompano Beach at Pines Charter, 7; PPC 14-8; Lake Worth Garcia at Nova, 7; Nova 21-12; St. John Paul II at Somerset Key, 4; SomKey 21-16; Dade vs. Broward: Somerset Academy vs. Mater Academy (Milander), 3:30; MA 28-6.
Dre’s record - Last week (Top 20): 16-2; Overall: 45-5. Season (Top 20): 130-20 (.867); Overall: 403-79 (.836).
This story was originally published October 31, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
