Miami Northwestern takes another step forward, plus Broward powerhouses rebound | Opinion
Ouch.
Insert any other pained expression you’d like, but I don’t have many better ways to convey how bad things went for teams from the 954 at the third annual Broward County National Football Showcase.
Broward teams went 1-6 against California, Georgia and Las Vegas’ best, albeit in competitive fashion in the cases of Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna and Plantation American Heritage.
Coconut Creek Monarch picked up the lone victory by just barely squeaking past Georgia’s Peachtree Ridge, 30-29.
In Miami-Dade County, Miami Central didn’t do much better, losing to perennial state powerhouse Lakeland in its opener.
And its fiercest rival, Miami Northwestern, stole the show in week 1.
The Bulls are back and looking like a legit state championship contender again. It’s not an overreaction to think they are not at least a threat to deny Central a comeback season and claim the crown themselves.
That and more interesting storylines carry into the second week of the regular season.
THE SOUTH FLORIDA TOP 20
1. Chaminade-Madonna (0-1); 2. St. Thomas Aquinas (0-1); 3. American Heritage (0-1); 4. Northwestern (1-0); 5. Central (0-1); 6. Monarch (1-0); 7. Miami Norland (1-0); 8. Miami Columbus (1-0); 9. Miami Palmetto (1-0); 10. Homestead (0-1); 11. Davie Western (0-1); 12. Miami Booker T. Washington (1-0); 13. Miami Southridge (0-1); 14. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (0-1); 15. Miami Carol City (1-0); 16. Coconut Creek (0-1); 17. Plantation (1-0); 18. Pembroke Pines West Broward (1-0); 19. Homestead South Dade (0-1); 20. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (1-0). Dropped out: 14. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (0-1); On the cusp: Miami Edison (1-0), Sunrise Piper (1-0), Hialeah Goleman (1-0), Doral Academy (1-0), Miami True North (1-0).
GAMES OF THE WEEK
4. Northwestern (1-0) at Venice (1-0), 7:30, Friday.
The Bulls have made the strongest impression of any team in South Florida over the first two weeks of games. Northwestern thoroughly dominated two teams (Miami Palmetto and Coconut Creek), which made it to at least the second round of the playoffs last season and are each expected to make it again this year. Palmetto bounced back last week with a huge win over Homestead, further adding to the legitimacy of that victory.
In terms of size, speed and physicality, Northwestern looks the part again of a team capable of competing with anyone in the state.
More importantly, the Bulls look balanced and disciplined. They can run the ball. They can throw the ball. They can defend. They can play good special teams. And they don’t commit an exorbitant amount of penalties.
Venice should give Northwestern a much stronger test than its first two opponents, as it showed off its prolific offense in a 63-40 win over Class 5A contender Tampa Bay Tech. The Bulls are familiar with this foe, having lost a 63-46 shootout last season at Traz. A much stronger Northwestern squad should have enough to clear this hurdle as well. Dre’s pick: Northwestern 42, Venice 34.
11. Western (0-1) at 3. American Heritage (0-1), 7:30, Friday.
Heritage had its hands full with Georgia powerhouse Milton’s high-powered offense last week and dropped its opener, 37-28. The Patriots’ offense had its positive moments, but faces another tough challenge against the Wildcats, who are also lamenting a missed opportunity against Hoover (AL) in last week’s game. Western made numerous mistakes and a poor fourth quarter led to a narrow defeat.
Heritage’s schedule doesn’t let it up this season, and the Patriots should score a victory against another balanced opponent. Dre’s pick: American Heritage 30, Western 14.
15. Carol City (1-0) vs. 7. Norland (1-0), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Northwestern had its breakthrough victories the past two weeks. Could Carol City be next?
The Chiefs were the talk of the offseason as one of the potential major turnarounds this year coming off a 1-9 season. An influx of talent was on display last week as Carol City beat Hialeah 28-16 in its opener.
Norland presents a much tougher challenge in what should be a return to being a competitive game between two longtime rivals. The Vikings were handled up front in the preseason by Seffner Armwood, but returned the favor against Miramar last week. Norland’s offense can put up points, but it’s the battles in the trenches which will determine if it’s good enough to return to state. This is a good barometer game for both sides. Dre’s pick: Norland 20, Carol City 7.
Our Lady of Good Counsel (Md.) (0-0) vs. 8. Columbus (1-0), 7:30, Friday, Tropical.
Columbus survived a major push by Southridge last week on a Jason Barket touchdown pass to Khamari Marceus with 23 seconds left. The Explorers are going through some growing pains on the offensive end, which is to be expected with multiple new starters on that side including Barket. The visiting Falcons, ranked No. 40 nationally by MaxPreps, will be an even tougher challenge led by four-star safety Faheem Delane, an Ohio State commit, and three-star Grant Grayton, a Minnesota commit. Good Counsel’s offense is also strong, led by receiver DaMarion Fowlkes, a Pitt commit. We’ll see if the Explorers can buck the recent trend of South Florida teams losing to out-of-state powerhouses. Dre’s pick: Good Counsel 17, Columbus 10.
9. Palmetto (1-0) vs. 12. Booker T. (1-0), 7, Thursday, Traz.
Is it Palmetto just seems to have Homestead’s number the past two years or is this Panthers squad ready to make a return to true state title contention? Palmetto was there in 2020 when it advanced to the state semifinals led by a monster defense that included University of Miami standout Leonard Taylor. A victory against the Tornadoes would really add credence to this belief early in the season. The Panthers have another defensive stalwart leading the way this year in Davion Dixon, a Notre Dame commit. He and Palmetto will be tested by an explosive Booker T. offense, which found some rhythm last week against South Dade and a defense led by four-star prospect corner Ben Hanks Jr. Dre’s pick: Booker T. 15, Palmetto 14.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
1. Chaminade (0-1) at 20. Blanche Ely (1-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 38, Blanche Ely 6. The Lions came within seconds of upending California’s St. John Bosco, and should pick up a nice bounce-back win here.
Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson (0-1) at 2. St. Thomas Aquinas (1-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Aquinas 55, Boyd Anderson 3. A comfortable rebound win for the Raiders before their schedule picks up again next week.
Edison (1-0) vs. 5. Central (0-1), 7, Saturday, Traz Powell.
Dre’s pick: Central 28, Edison 12. The Rockets need to find their rhythm on offense.
Deerfield Beach (0-1) vs. 6. Monarch (1-0), 7, Friday, Coconut Creek.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 37, Deerfield Beach 7. The lone victor of the Broward Showcase remains unbeaten for another week.
10. Homestead (0-1) vs. 19. South Dade (0-1), 7:30, Friday, Harris.
Dre’s pick: Homestead 24, South Dade 6. The Broncos took a setback in week 1, but should pick up their first win in this longtime rivalry game.
Goleman (1-0) at 13. Southridge (0-1), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Southridge 21, Goleman 10. The Spartans came close to the upset of Columbus, and should get a win over a solid Gators squad.
South Broward (0-1) at 14. Cardinal Gibbons (1-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Cardinal Gibbons 42, South Broward 8. The Chiefs should recover from a tough loss to Lake Mary.
16. Coconut Creek (0-1): Bye week
Miramar (0-1) vs. 17. Plantation (1-0), 7, Friday, PAL.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 24, Miramar 20. Year 1 for the Colonels under Darrell Strong got off to a great start after beating Dillard. This would make it even better.
18. West Broward (1-0) at Camden County (Ga.) (2-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Camden County 37, West Broward 24. Time to find out just how much better the Bobcats really are.
MORE GAMES
Wednesday - Miami-Dade: Doral vs. Mater Academy (Milander), 7; Doral 27-14.
Thursday - Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Flanagan at Coral Gables, 3:30; CG 17-14; Miami-Dade: Miami High vs. South Miami (Tropical), 7; MHS 16-13; Killian at Krop (Ives), 7; Kil 20-7; Belen vs. Hialeah (Milander), 7; Hialeah 26-14; Sunset vs. Coral Reef (Southridge), 7; Reef 17-6; Coral Park at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30; HG 14-7; Everglades Prep vs. Miami Beach (Memorial), 7; Beach 24-20; Palm Glades Prep at St. Brendan, 7; StB 34-6; Broward: Cooper City at Stoneman Douglas, 7; MSD 28-7; Coral Glades at South Plantation, 7; SP 27-14; Hallandale vs. Fort Lauderdale (Lockhart), 7; FTL 30-8; Taravella at Northeast, 7; NE 10-3; Somerset Key at Berean Christian, 4; SomKey 13-10
Friday - Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Hollywood Hills at Mourning, 3:30; ATM 20-14; Westland Hialeah at Avant Garde (Ives), 7; AG 35-7; Miami-Dade: Jackson at La Salle, 7; LaS 20-12; Miami Springs vs. Southwest (Milander), 7; MS 24-7; Monsignor Pace at Gulliver, 4; Pace 16-13; North Miami at Orange City University, 7:30; University 45-20; Varela at Ferguson, 3:30; Ferg 28-10; Reagan at HML, 3:30; Reagan 35-3; Ransom Everglades at Westminster Christian, 4; RE 28-14; Somerset Silver Palms at Naples Palmetto Ridge, 7:30; PR 22-8; ABF Academy at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30; Carroll 38-7; Marathon at Florida Christian, 7:30; FC 30-13; Palmer Trinity at Tavernier Coral Shores, 4; CS 30-16; IMG White at Key West, 7; KW 24-21; Broward: Dillard vs. Stranahan (Lockhart), 7; Dillard 26-8; Everglades at Richmond Hill (Ga.), 7; RH 34-12; Coral Springs at Nova, 7; Nova 27-7; Coral Springs Charter vs. Pines Charter (Coral Glades), 7; PPC 28-7; Archbishop McCarthy at Cypress Bay, 7; CB 34-24; Somerset Prep at Piper, 7; Pip 44-14; North Broward Prep at Westminster Academy, 7; WA 27-17; NSU University School at Calvary Christian, 7; Calv 35-24; Pine Crest at Pompano Beach, 7; PC 16-6; Somerset Academy at Somerset Canyons, 7; Canyons 28-21.
Andre’s record - Last week (Top 20 games): (9-6) 40-15 (.727); Season (Top 20 games): (9-6) 40-15 (.727).
This story was originally published August 26, 2024 at 2:02 PM.
