Another South Florida state championship sweep? It could come down to Columbus | Opinion
Makin’ the “Rally to Tally.”
That’s an old Miami Herald headline still remembered by hardcore South Florida football fans from one of the last times the state football finals were all held in Tallahassee.
This week, we’re back in Florida A&M University’s renovated Bragg Memorial Stadium for the first time since 1978.
But the best of the best this weekend will be the ones traveling north from the counties that are over 450 miles away.
This is the 13th consecutive season that Miami-Dade and Broward teams send at least four teams to the finals and there’s a strong chance it could be a four-game sweep in the Metro classes for the second year in a row.
One champion is guaranteed with Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Homestead set for a rematch for the Class 3M title.
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, ranked second nationally, looks untouchable in Class 1M, and Miami Norland’s amazing run in Class 2M appears destined to end with gold.
The big question is whether Miami Columbus can repeat for the first time in school history, conquer a major obstacle and earn some payback against a loaded Jacksonville Mandarin squad in Class 4M.
It’s state championship week. Let’s go!
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Note: All games will be played at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee.
Class 4M - Jacksonville Mandarin (11-3) vs. Columbus (12-2), 3, Friday.
Let’s start with the Explorers, who continue to roll despite injuries and some offensive inconsistency earlier in the playoffs. Columbus grabbed the momentum quickly last week thanks to a big run early by quarterback Alberto Mendoza and never looked back thanks to an efficient ground attack and another stout performance from its defense.
Both of these factors have to prevail if Columbus is to have a chance against Mandarin.
The last time these two met in the state final in 2018, it was a shootout and it was won, 37-35, by the Mustangs thanks largely to then-Mandarin quarterback Carson Beck, who you can catch later this month playing in the Orange Bowl for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Columbus CANNOT let this become a shootout this time.
Mandarin can run the ball with a tandem of backs in Tiant Wyche and Deshard Wescott, who both have amassed over 1,000 yards this season. A big reason is University of Miami commit Deryc Plazz, a 6-5, 289 guard/tackle, who destroyed Monarch’s defensive linemen last week during a 51-21 win. And then they have legit firepower in the passing game anchored by FSU commit Tramell Jones (2,940 yards, 31 touchdowns, 7 interceptions) and Alabama commit Jamie Ffrench (1,139 yards receiving, 12 TDs).
UM commit Daylen Russell, Stanford commit Dylan Stephenson and Nebraska commit Willis McGahee IV must have a huge game up front. Linebackers like Hector Chavez need to create turnovers and give those opportunities to a secondary that has done just that in recent playoff games led by Bryce Fitzgerald (five interceptions past two games).
Dre’s pick: Columbus 27, Mandarin 24.
Class 1M — Chaminade (13-0) vs. Clearwater Central Catholic (13-0), 10 a.m., Thursday.
Where does this 2023 Chaminade belong among the most talented teams in South Florida history?
It’s a tough group to crack, but I think the 2023 Lions, who will make their state-record eighth consecutive finals appearance, deserve a spot in there.
They have a wide receiver, Ohio State commit Jeremiah Smith, who I believe will be a rookie starter in the NFL.
But they also have Power 5 conference ready players in wide receiver Jojo Trader (UM commit), quarterback Cedrick Bailey (NC State commit), and running back Davion Gause (UNC commit) on offense.
Their defense, led by UM commit Zaquan Patterson, still incredibly doesn’t get talked about enough even after forcing 33 turnovers (23 interceptions) and sacking quarterbacks 57 times combined.
Clearwater Central Catholic is no slouch as evidenced by its throttling of Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons a few weeks ago. Jershaun Newton (1,926 yards 14 TDs passing and 1,020 yards, 13 TDs rushing) is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation. WRs Shamar Rigby, a Purdue commit and Caleb Goodloe, a 3-star recruit, will test Chaminade’s secondary. And a Marauders’ defense led by safety Andy Jaffe, an Ole Miss commit, will battle.
But this team has been on another level all season.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 42, Clearwater Central Catholic 20.
Class 2M — Norland (14-0) vs. Tampa Berkeley Prep (12-2), 10 a.m., Saturday.
It can’t be said enough what a great job the Vikings coaching staff led by veteran coach Daryle Heidelburg has done to get Norland to this point.
One thing is to bring tons of talent in. But then to have them all mesh and persevere through the toughest battles in state this season (including beating Central twice in overtime) deserves a lot of credit.
The leadership of Norland’s stalwarts like quarterback Ennio Yapoor and others played a huge role in this outcome. Now the Vikings look to secure the school’s third state title and first since 2011.
Berkeley Prep, led by four-star athlete Dallas Golden (1,284 yards and 18 TDs rushing and 30 catches for 356 yards and 4 TDs out of the backfield) can’t be taken lightly. The Bucs pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the postseason last week by knocking out American Heritage at Plantation and ruining one of the anticipated Dade vs. Broward battles at state.
Expect a defense led by Jamari Howard (FSU commit), Dimitry Nicolas (Auburn commit), Jeremiah Marcelin (Pitt commit), Tycoolhill Luman and Tyclean Luman (both Rutgers commits) to shut things down and lead the Vikings to a title.
Dre’s pick: Norland 24, Berkeley Prep 7.
Class 3M — St. Thomas Aquinas (13-1) vs. Homestead (12-1)
Last but not least, the one Dade-Broward final.
Homestead’s road back to state wasn’t pretty at times, but the Broncos delivered one of their best performances of the season last week in a 35-28 win over Orlando Jones. The Broncos
hung in there for a half in last season’s game against St. Thomas before the Raiders’ depth took over and Aquinas pulled away
.
This game is a chance to show how much Homestead progressed this season up front. The play of quarterback Joshua Townsend and Homestead’s offensive line of course will be important. But running back and Louisville commit Isaac Brown is going to be crucial in this game both in the backfield and on special teams.
Aquinas looks as monstrous as ever though.
Quarterback Andrew Indorf’s improvement and ability to lead the Raiders’ offense correlates with Aquinas steamrolling opponents since late September. A plethora of weapons like receivers Chance Robinson (a UM commit) and receiver James Madison (Missouri commit),
running backs Jordan Lyle (Ohio State commit) and Stacy Gage (UCF commit).
Then Aquinas brings a punishing defense into the mix led by safety Ryan Mack (UM commit), Romanas Frederique (UM commit), Earl Kulp (Purdue commit), Nicholas Rodriguez (Missouri commit). Aquinas’ depth as usual appears like too much for anyone to handle.
A Homestead win would be a tremendous story for a program that’s reached new heights these past two seasons.
But it seems like it’s time for St. Thomas Aquinas to make history yet again.
Dre’s pick: Aquinas 34, Homestead 20.
Dre’s record — Last week (Top 20): 5-2; Overall: 5-2. Season (Top 20): 178-27 (.868); Overall: 481-91 (.841).
This story was originally published December 5, 2023 at 1:16 PM.
