Aquinas, Chaminade extend title streaks, Central is back in another banner year | Opinion
Goodbye, Metro and Suburban.
Open division playoffs? That might prove interesting, but not for two more seasons.
For now, South Florida teams once again have a chance to rack up state championships in bunches as they’ve been doing for over a decade.
Even with only four possible state titles up for grabs, Miami-Dade and Broward combined for three of them and nearly swept all four for the second consecutive season had it not been for Tampa Berkeley Prep’s upset win over Miami Norland.
With the state moving back to eight classifications, even more hardware is available and South Florida should take full advantage.
Here’s a breakdown of the road to the state finals, which still to be determined is the site where they will be played.
CLASS 7A
Columbus is still king after knocking off a powerful Jacksonville Mandarin squad in last year’s Class 4M final. But the Explorers have a very important void to fill heading into the season at quarterback after two-time champion Alberto Mendoza graduated. The Explorers have a competition going between transfer Jason Barket and Vicente Gonzalez. Columbus still has plenty of weapons on offense including Bryce Fitzgerald and a stout defense led by Hector Chavez. But ultimately, it’s the quarterback position that has made the difference when this program has won it all.
Western might be in a perfect spot to pounce if Columbus slips. The Wildcats need to keep their own quarterback upright in November, but have the depth to finally break through and win a title. Down south the battle figures to be between those two once again, but Palmetto, South Dade and an improved West Broward should be playoff teams.
If the Explorers shore up their QB situation, they’ve proven they have the coaching and experience to get back to state. The issue will be if they run into Lake Mary, Sanford Seminole or Venice along the way. Lake Mary, in particular, looks as menacing as it has ever been led by quarterback Noah Grubbs, a Notre Dame commit, who might finish the season with a state record for touchdown passes.
CLASS 6A
For three consecutive seasons, Homestead has been denied by national powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas.
But the realignment has separated the two teams and created a different path for the two-time state runner-up Broncos to earn another shot at the title.
It doesn’t mean it suddenly got easier though as this class also includes last year’s 4M runner-up Jacksonville Mandarin as well as perennial power Seffner Armwood.
Add in Coconut Creek Monarch, which advanced to the 4M semifinals last season and appears to be ready to make it further this season.
Homestead graduated several key starters including starting quarterback Josh Townsend, but replaced him with senior Malachi “Bubba” Lewis. The transfer from New Jersey showed in the offseason how skilled he is and how quickly he was able to gel with the rest of the Broncos including star receiver Cortez Mills.
Monarch is in a similar spot with sophomore Jack Spaeder taking over for A.J. Hairston. But the Knights fortified their offensive line and defensive fronts and still have plenty of weapons like receiver Samari Reed to lead the way.
Expect the final four here to include whoever survives between Homestead and Monarch, Armwood, Mandarin and perhaps a much-improved West Boca Raton squad. If Lewis is up to the task, this could finally be the Broncos’ moment.
CLASS 5A
St. Thomas Aquinas made history last season, becoming the first team in Florida history to win five state titles in a row. The Raiders’ move to this class is bad news for everyone in it. Aquinas plays a tough schedule that begins with Las Vegas Bishop Gorman on Aug. 24 and continues with matchups against American Heritage and Chaminade.
The Raiders are replete with depth and talent at every position and quarterback Andrew Indorf has another year of experience to make him an even better leader.
Coconut Creek is likely the only other major contender from Broward after a breakthrough season that ended in the regional finals last year. The Cougars added transfer quarterback Devin Gonzalez and have a stout defense led by Nimari Brantley.
The finish to this class could go retro as Aquinas looks like it will be on a collision course with an old nemesis - Lakeland. The Dreadnaughts have beaten Aquinas in five of six meetings all-time in the state finals including that thriller in double-overtime in 2006. The Raiders won’t let them end their title streak.
CLASS 4A
Both Norland and Plantation American Heritage had their dream seasons ruined by Berkeley Prep in consecutive weeks.
This season, neither will have to deal with the Bucs, who have moved to Class 2A. Instead the Vikings and Patriots will have to contend with each other if they want a chance at redemption.
Norland returns Ennio Yapoor at quarterback while Heritage returns Texas commit Dia Bell behind center.
Heritage lost in the state final in 2022 and the state semis last year. The Patriots likely have all the pieces necessary to finally kick the door down and make it happen this season. If Norland reloaded enough after some losses to graduation and transfers, it won’t be easy though.
Orlando Jones, Tampa Jesuit and St. Augustine loom as major obstacles on the north end as well.
CLASS 3A
Central had its run of four consecutive state titles snapped in heartbreaking fashion after losing on a field goal to Norland twice. The Rockets won’t get their shot at payback this season as the Vikings are not on the schedule or in 3A. But expect Central to recapture what it has won nine times already - a state championship.
All four of the Rockets’ losses were by single digits last season and to nationally-ranked opponents. Central returns a stingy defense led by Ezekiel Marcelin, who knows what it takes to win a title having made the game-winning forced fumble in the 2022 final vs. Heritage.
Central could face tough teams if it gets back to the final such as Orlando Bishop Moore and Bushnell South Sumter.
But a familiar foe will be its toughest competition in the class. Miami Northwestern should be much improved in Year One under new coach Teddy Bridgewater and expect them to push the Rockets to the brink. This rivalry will be restored, but unclear whether the Bulls are ready to take the crown from Central just yet.
CLASS 2A
Two perennial contenders - Cardinal Gibbons and Booker T. Washington - also get away from overloaded Class 2M and figure to have a great chance to make a run at a state title. Booker T. has been building itself back to this since Tim “Ice” Harris returned in 2022. Gibbons is looking to restore what it had when it won back-to-back state titles in 2020 and 2021.
The bad news for both is nationally-ranked Cocoa resides in this class and looks as monstrous as it’s ever been. Add Berkeley Prep to the mix as it looks to repeat and this class is stacked.
CLASS 1A
There’s no doubt in my mind that Chaminade will repeat here. The question is who will step up and lead them to it?
The Lions have a lot of new, yet talented players on this roster like receiver Jabari Brady, who have big shoes to fill. The first big test will be St. John Bosco next week. Another brutal schedule should get them ready to make it four in a row and seven in eight seasons.
If anyone will slow them down, it could be a young Orlando First Academy squad which hopes to become a roadblock for Chaminade for the next few years.
