Get ready for another major South Florida presence at the state football finals | Opinion
Miami-Dade and Broward County teams dominating the scene at the state football finals is nothing new.
Last season, teams from the area swept all four Metro classifications.
And even before the state’s Metro-Suburban realignment, at least five Dade and Broward teams advanced to the finals in the three previous seasons with that number peaking with seven state champions from the area in 2019. Since 2010, at least four teams from Dade or Broward have advanced to the state finals each year.
But as we head into the state semifinal round, a new milestone is within reach.
Not only could South Florida have a presence in all four championship games again, the top three classifications (4M-2M) could feature Dade vs. Broward finals.
Four of the eight remaining South Florida teams - Hollywood Chaminade, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Miami Norland and Plantation American Heritage - enter the week ranked in the top 15 nationally. A fifth team, Homestead, is ranked in the top 50. A sixth team, Miami Columbus, is ranked in the top 60.
Let’s take a look at the final challenges standing in each team’s way on the road to Tallahassee.
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
NOTE: All state semifinals scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. unless noted.
Class 1M - Archbishop Carroll (11-1) at Chaminade (12-0)
Let’s start at the top with the mightiest of the mighty and the only class where a South Florida team is guaranteed to make it to state.
Unfortunately, this might be the biggest mismatch of this round with apologies to Archbishop Carroll. It’s nothing against the Bulldogs, who should be saluted for the job coach Jorge Zagales and everyone involved has done to clinch their first state semifinal since 2007 and second in school history just a few years after resurrecting the program.
It’s just that Chaminade is on a “greatest teams ever” level this season and deservedly ranked No. 2 in the country. The Lions have not allowed a point since Oct. 6 vs. Dillard and have shut out their past five opponents by a combined 298-0. This includes a 40-0 rout of a very good Cardinal Newman squad last week in which Chaminade again showed its depth of talent in every phase of the game.
Like South Florida overall, another record is at stake as Chaminade would clinch a state record eighth consecutive berth in the state finals.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 42, Archbishop Carroll 7.
Class 2M - Jacksonville Bolles (8-5) vs. Norland (13-0) at Traz Powell
They did it. They slayed the king when it counted. And now Norland is eyeing its third-ever state championship and first since ex-Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes running back Duke Johnson powered them to a title in 2011.
The Vikings can’t afford to look past Bolles though.
While the Bulldogs are still chasing the glory days that made them the state’s second-most prolific team at winning state titles with 11 championships from 1986 to 2011, this is one of their more talented and battle-tested teams in recent memory.
Three-star quarterback and Coastal Carolina commit DJ Moore leads an explosive offense while three-star defensive tackle Garrison Butler (6-1, 270), a Cincinnati commit, and three-star linebacker and Louisville commit Trent Carter lead the defense.
Bolles opened the season 0-3 before winning eight of its final 10 games, which included a win over 1M semifinalist Jacksonville Trinity Christian. Their losses include two other semifinalists in Tampa Berkeley Prep and Jacksonville Mandarin.
But Bolles likely has not seen the weapons and physical lines up front Norland will throw at them in this matchup. Expect quarterback Ennio Yapoor and Co. to open it up by the second half and book their trip north. Dre’s pick: Norland 34, Bolles 21.
Class 2M - Tampa Berkeley Prep (11-2) at American Heritage (10-1)
Here’s where we could have our first Dade-Broward final if Heritage can secure a return trip to state. The Patriots lost a heartbreaker to Miami Central in last year’s 2M final and have reloaded with a young group that can be labeled inexperienced anymore after the schedule they played this year.
Berkeley Prep will be no different as the Bucs figure to challenge Heritage on both sides of the ball. The Bucs lost in the Class 3A final in 2021 to Chaminade before the state realigned its classes last year. Four-star 2025 safety Dallas Golden leads Berkeley Prep on defense with four interceptions, and on offense, rushing for 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns. Junior Joseph Troupe (1,306 yards, 16 TDs) gives the Bucs a potent running tandem.
Fortunately for Heritage, it has a potent running duo of its own in Byron Louis (5 TDs last week) and Deandre Desinor coupled with a potent passing game which should make the difference.
Dre’s pick: American Heritage 42, Berkeley Prep 27.
Class 3M - Orlando Jones (10-3) vs. Homestead (11-1) at Harris Field
Homestead kept it together following last year’s loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the 3M final and looks to make one last push for the title behind stalwarts like Joshua Townsend, Isaac Brown, Eduardo Nunez, Cortez Mills and others. But this Broncos team needs to cut down the mistakes that have plagued them including in narrow wins over Miami Southridge and Miramar the past two weeks.
Expect a talented Jones squad to come in highly-motivated for payback after being eliminated at home by the Broncos last year in this round. The Fightin’ Tigers are still seeking their first state title after finishing runner-up to Miami Northwestern in 2019.
Three-star 2025 receiver Vernell Brown III (1,230 yards, 9 TDs) is one of the most explosive players in the state. Three-star defensive lineman D’Antre Robinson (6-4, 315) a Texas commit and three-star cornerback James Chenault lead Jones on defense. This is likely to be the biggest obstacle to any South Florida team this weekend unless the Broncos can play their best game of the season. Dre’s pick: Homestead 24, Jones 23.
Class 3M - Tampa Gaither (8-5) at St. Thomas Aquinas (12-1)
Gaither pulled off a dramatic overtime win against nearby rival Jesuit to earn a trip south this week. Three-star offensive tackle Tyreek Major (6-6, 330), a USF commit, is tough up front in an offense led by sophomore running back Elija Mason and junior quarterback Jayce Nixon. Senior defensive back and three-star athlete Andrew Brinson IV is their top prospect.
Practically Aquinas’ entire starting 22 features Power 5 prospects like those. The Raiders have allowed only 37 points in their past nine games and most of that came in garbage time. A running clock is likely here. Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 48, Gaither 10.
Class 4M - Jacksonville Mandarin (10-3) vs. Monarch (11-2) at Coconut Creek
The matchup between Monarch’s passing attack and Mandarin’s ridiculously-talented secondary alone is going to be worth the price of admission if you’re attending this one. Monarch quarterback and UMass commit AJ Hairston, receivers Samari Reed and Jabari Brady are at the head of a potent offense which has propelled the Monarchs to their first state semifinal. But they will be challenged by a secondary that includes senior cornerbacks and Penn State commits Jon Mitchell and Antoine Belgrave-Shorter and junior 4-star safety Hylton Stubbs. Monarch’s defense, led by Santana Harrison and lineman Gabriel Birnbaum, have been unsung heroes for the Knights and will be tested up front by Mandarin 3-star offensive lineman Deryc Plazz, a Miami commit, as well as 2025 four-star receiver Jaime Ffrench, an Alabama commit, and three-star quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., an FSU commit.
By far, this is Monarch’s toughest test both physically and mentally as it will face the pressure of a trip to state on the line for the first time. But this Knights team has the look of a team destined for a great run. Dre’s pick: Monarch 42, Mandarin 40.
Class 4M - Tampa Plant (11-2) vs. Columbus (11-2), 6, Tropical.
Columbus was on the brink of elimination last week before its defense kept it alive forcing six turnovers against Western including four in the fourth quarter. The Explorers will need more from its offense against Plant, but likely another resilient defensive performance will be required. The Panthers’ potent passing attack has amassed 2,477 yards and 32 touchdowns this season and quarterback J.C. Mirasola can fling it. Junior running back Waltez Clark, a four-star University of Florida commit, has 15 rushing touchdowns.
It’s going to be up to Willis McGahee IV, Hector Chavez, Daylen Russell, Bryce Fitzgerald and the rest of that Columbus defense to clinch its second consecutive trip to state. Dre’s pick: Columbus 17, Plant 14.
Dre’s record - Last week (Top 20): 6-2; Overall: 6-2. Season (Top 20): 173-25 (.874); Overall: 476-89 (.843).
