A loaded first weekend sees South Florida’s best hold its own vs. nation’s best | Opinion
It’s easy to sound like I’m speaking or writing in hyperbole when it comes to how good high school football is in South Florida.
It’s also easy to sound like hyperbole when I say how stacked this first week of the season.
The third annual Broward Football Showcase has outdone itself again with great matchups pitting the best in the nation against the best from South Florida.
There are also some intriguing matchups between two of the most successful programs in state history like Miami Central and Lakeland. Good rivalry games like Homestead and Miami Palmetto. Big opportunity games for upstart teams like Miami Southridge against Miami Columbus.
And Teddy Bridgewater’s official debut as Miami Northwestern’s coach against Coconut Creek.
As the Joker said in “The Dark Knight”: “And here…we…Go!”
THE TOP 20
1. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna; 2. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas; 3. Central; 4. Plantation American Heritage; 5. Homestead; 6. Coconut Creek Monarch; 7. Miami Norland; 8. Northwestern; 9. Coconut Creek; 10. Davie Western; 11. Columbus; 12. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons; 13. Southridge; 14. Fort Lauderdale Dillard; 15. Miami Booker T. Washington; 16. Homestead South Dade; 17. Miami Palmetto; 18. Carol City; 19. Plantation; 20. Pembroke Pines West Broward. Dropped out: 17. Miami Edison; On the cusp: True North, Miramar, Doral Academy, Hollywood South Broward.
THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES
1. Chaminade vs. St. John Bosco (California), 8, Aquinas, Saturday.
The Lions lost one of the best receivers to ever come of out of South Florida in Jeremiah Smith and a host of others, but reloaded on both sides to make a run at the national title. The schedule is replete with tough competition starting with Bosco, a team that beat St. Thomas Aquinas 20-7 in last year’s Broward Showcase.
Chaminade defeated two D.C./Maryland area powerhouses in St. Frances Academy and St. John’s in each of the past two years in this event. This will be its toughest challenge yet. Dre’s pick: Chaminade 21, St. John Bosco 20.
Las Vegas Bishop Gorman (1-0) at 2. St. Thomas Aquinas, 4, Saturday.
The first of the two national showdowns on ESPN networks this Saturday pits two teams that stack up against anyone in the nation in terms of program pedigree. Gorman has been the standard the past few years, winning 22 in a row, including wins over Chaminade in 2022 and Miami Central last season. Their combo of size and skill presents a formidable challenge for a Raiders squad looking to extend their state-record state championship streak to six in a row. Aquinas shouldn’t have trouble doing that. But this is a monster obstacle to open the season. Dre’s pick: Bishop Gorman 27, St. Thomas Aquinas 17.
Lakeland vs. 3. Central, 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Rarely does Lakeland leave the crib in Polk County to face a South Florida opponent. But the Dreadnaughts have to feel confident with one of their deepest squads in some time and feel like they can make an early statement. The Rockets showed glimpses of their offensive firepower and reloaded defense last week in a preseason 32-0 win over Ocala Vanguard. This one might have a playoff feel already in week 1. Dre’s pick: Central 22, Lakeland 20.
Milton (Georgia) (1-0) vs. 4. American Heritage, 7, Friday.
Milton, led by four-star quarterback and Miami commit Luke Nickel, is already off to a hot start after beating Buford (Georgia) last week. The Eagles lost an ugly game in last season’s contest to Western, but come into this year’s event as favorites against a top 20 Heritage squad eager to finish what it’s come so close to doing the past two seasons - win a state title. Quarterback play on the other side will also dictate how this goes as Patriots starter Dia Bell, a Texas commit, has high expectations to live up to this season. Dre’s pick: Heritage 28, Milton 27.
8. Miami Northwestern at 9. Coconut Creek, 8, Thursday.
The Bulls are already showing how much better they are after a 42-7 rout of Miami Palmetto in a preseason game last week. They face a stiffer test in Creek, which is big up front on both sides and eager to build off last year’s regional final finish. Expect Northwestern’s overall skill to take over late and Bridgewater to win his first official game as coach. Dre’s pick: Northwestern 16, Coconut Creek 13.
REST OF TOP 20
5. Homestead vs. 17. Palmetto, 7:30, Tropical, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Homestead 22, Palmetto 7. This opener has been a good one with the teams splitting each of the past two meetings. The Broncos might have a little more though as they showed last week blanking West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman 22-0.
6. Monarch vs. Peachtree Ridge (Georgia) (0-1), 4, Thursday, Coconut Creek.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 34, Peachtree Ridge 14. The Knights kick off the Broward Showcase with a W for South Florida as their offense continues to show off its explosiveness.
7. Norland at Miramar, 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Norland 27, Miramar 7. The Vikings need a bounce-back week after being bullied up front by a stout Seffner Armwood squad.
Hoover (Alabama) at 10. Western, 7, Saturday.
Dre’s pick: Western 37, Hoover 14. The Wildcats can start showing people what all the fuss is about with a solid win in the Broward Showcase.
11. Columbus at 13. Southridge, 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Columbus 17, Southridge 14. Upset watch in this one as this is a chance for the Spartans to show how improved they are.
Lake Mary at 12. Cardinal Gibbons, 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Lake Mary 24, Cardinal Gibbons 20. Two solid teams with state title aspirations. Lake Mary quarterback Noah Grubbs, a Notre Dame commit, makes the difference.
14. Dillard vs. 19. Plantation (PAL), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Dillard 27, Plantation 21. Fresh off an eye-opening win over Booker T., the Panthers pick up more momentum.
16. South Dade vs. 15. Booker T. (Traz), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Booker T. 16, South Dade 14. Not ready to count the Tornadoes out, but Bucs are quite capable of scoring a major win here.
18. Carol City vs. Hialeah (Milander), 7, Saturday.
Dre’s pick: Carol City 24, Hialeah 8. Are the Chiefs good again? Here’s a chance to show it against a T-Breds squad that won its district last year and went 9-2.
South Broward vs. 20. West Broward (Ansin), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: West Broward 24, South Broward 13. The Bobcats are looking for a breakthrough season. Winning this win furthers that goal.
OTHER GAMES
Thursday — Miami-Dade: American at Edison, 3:30; Edison 34-8; Ferguson at Coral Gables, 4; CG 20-17; La Salle at Miami High (Curtis), 7; LaS 24-16; St. Brendan at Krop (Ives), 7; StB 30-14; Coral Park vs. Southwest (Tropical), 7; SW 14-7; Miami Springs vs. Miami Beach (Milander), 3:30; MS 27-14; Westland Hialeah at HML, 3:30; WH 16-3; Broward: Coral Springs Charter at NSU University School, 7; US 34-14; Northeast at Pines Charter, 5:45; PPC 28-6.
Friday — Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Flanagan vs. Goleman (Milander), 7:30; Gol 27-13; Calvary Christian at Belen Jesuit, 7; Bel 17-14; Miami-Dade: TRU Prep vs. True North (Tropical), 3:30; TN 41-7; Gulliver at Doral, 7; Doral 31-10; North Miami vs. Jackson (Curtis), 7:30; Jac 27-8; South Miami vs. Coral Reef (Southridge), 7:30; Reef 28-6; Braddock vs. Mourning (N. Miami), 3:30; Brad 34-7; Hialeah Gardens at Varela, 3:30; Var 28-7; NMB at Auburn (AL), 7; Aub 42-18; Mater Academy at Somerset Silver Palms, 7; SSP 14-13; Cardinal Newman at Monsignor Pace, 7:30; CN 27-20; Archbishop Carroll at Florida Christian, 7; Carroll 34-13; Delray Heritage at Westminster Christian, 4; AH 34-24; SmartEn Sports Academy at Palmer Trinity, 4; PT 30-7; ABF Academy at Palm Glades Prep, 4; ABF 17-14; Somerset South Homestead at Coral Shores, 7; CS 35-7; Broward: Boyd Anderson at Blanche Ely, 7; Ely 38-14; Fort Lauderdale at Everglades, 7; Ever 27-15; McArthur at Hallandale, 7; McA 27-12; Douglas at Cypress Bay, 7; CB 28-20; Deerfield Beach at Piper, 7; Pip 35-12; Coral Glades at Cooper City, 7; CG 14-13; Hollywood Hills at Taravella, 7; HH 20-6; Moore Haven at Nova, 7; MH 23-21; Archbishop McCarthy at Naples Community School, 7; CSN 21-10; Palm Beach Lakes at Coral Springs, 7; PBL 34-7; Somerset Academy at North Broward Prep, 6; Som 24-14; Avant Garde at Riviera Beach Inlet Grove, 6:30; AG 20-6; Pompano Beach at Marathon, 7:30; Mar 30-7; Pine Crest at Oxbridge Academy, 7; Ox 31-21; Westminster Academy at Tradition Prep, 7; WA 34-13; Somerset Prep at Somerset Key, 4; SomPrep 28-12.
Saturday — Miami-Dade: Everglades Prep vs. Killian (Southridge), 7; Kil 30-16.
This story was originally published August 19, 2024 at 5:04 PM.
