Unless Chaminade recovers defensive identity, expect struggles to continue vs. Heritage | Opinion
Who had Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna starting the season 0-2 on their bingo cards?
That’s the reality the Lions face after coming up short against national powerhouse St. John Bosco on opening weekend, and then dropping an overtime shocker to Pompano Beach Blanche Ely last week.
And it could get worse this week.
Chaminade hosts Plantation American Heritage, which has looked every bit ready to win a state championship and would love to deal the Lions another defeat after losing to them each of the past two seasons.
That intriguing plot highlights a few rivalry games on tap for week 3, which also include Miami Palmetto vs. Miami Southridge, Miami Central vs. Miami Booker T. Washington and Miami Northwestern vs. Miami Carol City.
And we could see the beginning of a new rivalry as perennial powerhouses Miami Columbus and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas play for the first time in decades.
Let’s take a look at the week 3 slate and how things could shake out.
THE TOP 20
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (1-1); 2. American Heritage (1-1); 3. Central (1-1); 4. Northwestern (1-1); 5. Miami Norland (2-0); 6. Blanche Ely (2-0); 7. Chaminade-Madonna (0-2); 8. Coconut Creek Monarch (1-0); 9. Palmetto (1-0); 10. Booker T. Washington (1-0); 11. Columbus (1-1); 12. Southridge (1-1); 13. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (1-1); 14. Davie Western (0-2); 15. Homestead South Dade (1-1); 16. Homestead (0-2); 17. Plantation (2-0); 18. Miami Carol City (1-1); 19. Coconut Creek (0-1); 20. Pembroke Pines West Broward (1-1); On the cusp: Fort Lauderdale Dillard (1-1), Sunrise Piper (2-0), Doral Academy (2-0), Miami Edison (1-1), Miami True North (1-0).
GAMES OF THE WEEK
2. American Heritage (1-1) at 7. Chaminade-Madonna (0-2), 7, Friday.
For all the offensive firepower Chaminade lost from last season, that side of the ball has not been the problem. Even with a sophomore Tyler Chance at quarterback and having to turn to Preston Wright after Chance got hurt last week vs. Ely, the Lions offense has been explosive.
It’s Chaminade’s defense, which was a major strength last season, that has been lacking through two games.
Remember that opportunistic unit that recorded 25 interceptions and forced 35 turnovers overall last season? The Lions have forced only one turnover in two games.
Unless it can start taking the ball away more often, Chaminade will continue to struggle against the opposition it will mostly face the rest of the way.
And it might be the only way it can beat Heritage, which is coming off an impressive 51-12 rout of Western. The Patriots are balanced as Dia Bell had the passing game humming with five TD passes last week and Byron Louis continues to pound it on the ground with 261 yards in two games.
The Lions have not lost three games in a row since 2014 - two years before Dameon Jones became their coach. While an 0-3 start will not jeopardize Chaminade’s playoff outlook, this team needs a major win to get its season going. It’s just hard to see it happening this week against a Patriots squad sure to be motivated after losing this game two consecutive seasons. Dre’s pick: Heritage 38, Chaminade 31.
11. Columbus (1-1) at 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (1-1), 7, Friday.
This could be the birth of a great annual series between two longtime South Florida powerhouses whose fanbases can turn this into a great event.
But I’m not sure how competitive this opening chapter will be based on how the first two weeks have gone for both sides.
It’s going to depend on Columbus’ defense, which has been the bright spot so far for the Explorers. Columbus has scored only one offensive touchdown in two games, but is one score away from being 2-0 right now.
If that unit can hold up against a potent Aquinas offense, which can run and pass the ball effectively, it will be a close game. But if quarterback Andrew Indorf picks apart Columbus’ defense and the Raiders establish an effective running game, this one could get ugly. While Columbus quarterbacks Jason Barket and Vicente Gonzalez have struggled so far, Indorf has thrived for Aquinas and should play well enough for the Raiders to pull away in the second half. Dre’s pick: Aquinas 24, Columbus 7.
3. Central (1-1) vs. 10. Booker T. Washington (1-0), 7, Saturday, Traz.
Something glaring was missing for Central in its opener against Lakeland - its running game.
The Rockets recovered their identity last Saturday and obliterated Miami Edison 54-7. Sure, Central switched quarterbacks, turning to a more mobile Anthony McQueen. But it was the commitment to running the football that was a welcome sight for a team that reminded everyone they are still the favorites in Class 3A.
Central has beaten Booker T. eight consecutive times although several of those meetings have been competitive. If McQueen starts this game, it’s likely to mean more as he’ll go head-to-head against the team he started for late last season in relief of then-BTW starter Claudell Sherman.
The Tornadoes have been a bit offensively challenged in the early part of the season and needed a Ben Hanks Jr. 103-yard INT return last week to stay with Palmetto for a half. Defense alone won’t cut it against this revived Rockets squad. Dre’s pick: Central 24, Booker T. 8.
9. Palmetto (1-0) at 12. Southridge (1-1), 7:30, Friday.
The Panthers looked ready to score another huge win last weekend, leading Booker T. 10-9 at halftime before lightning suspended the game. It’s been an impressive start for Palmetto following a win against Homestead and that strong half. Next, the resumption of an old neighborhood rivalry as the Panthers take on Southridge, which could be 2-0 right now had the Spartans hung on to beat Columbus two weeks ago. Southridge pulled away from an improved Goleman squad last week, but needs more consistent play on offense if it’s to break through in Class 6A. Palmetto’s defense makes the difference in this one, setting the Panthers up for a huge clash with Columbus the following week. Dre’s pick: Palmetto 17, Southridge 14.
MORE TOP 20 GAMES
4. Miami Northwestern (1-1) vs. 18. Miami Carol City (1-1), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Northwestern 31, Carol City 6. The Bulls’ nearly pulled it off at Venice, and should rebound against a longtime rival.
5. Miami Norland (2-0): Bye
6. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (2-0) vs. Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (0-1), 7, Friday, Lockhart.
Dre’s pick: Blanche Ely 36, Stranahan 6. The Tigers ride their early wave of success to a comfortable win.
8. Coconut Creek Monarch (1-0): Bye
13. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (1-1): Bye
14. Davie Western (0-2): Bye
15. South Dade (1-1) at Kissimmee Osceola (1-1), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Osceola 24, South Dade 14. Tough test on the road for the Bucs coming off a huge win over Homestead.
16. Homestead (0-2) at Vero Beach (0-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Homestead 22, Vero Beach 19. This is where the Broncos turn the corner…right?
17. Plantation (2-0) vs. 20. Pembroke Pines West Broward (1-1), 7, Friday, PAL.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 20, West Broward 14. The Colonels have a pair of quality wins over Miramar and Dillard. They hold off an upstart Bobcats’ squad here.
19. Coconut Creek (0-1) at Chattanooga Baylor (TN) (2-0), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Baylor 30, Coconut Creek 23. Tough return to action for the Cougars two weeks after one of their worst losses in recent memory.
OTHER GAMES
Thursday - Miami-Dade: Killian vs. Edison (Traz), 7; Ed 28-12; Miami Beach at Coral Gables, 4; CG 27-17; Southwest vs. South Miami (Tropical), 7:30; SW 14-7; Miami High vs. Coral Reef (Curtis), 7; MHS 20-14; North Miami Beach at Delray Atlantic, 7; Atl 38-18; Reagan vs. Braddock (Doral Legacy), 3:30; RR 28-7; Sunset at Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 3:30; Sun 35-6; ABF Academy at Florida Christian, 7:30; FC 44-13; Miami Country Day at Fort Myers Canterbury, 5; Canterbury 34-17; Broward: Pines Charter at North Broward Prep, 7; PPC 20-16.
Friday - Miami-Dade vs. Broward: St. Brendan at Archbishop McCarthy, 7; AM 30-21; Coral Springs Charter at Ransom Everglades, 7:30; RE 38-12; TRU Prep at Calvary Christian, 7; CC 45-6; Everglades Prep at Avant Garde, 7; EP 34-21; Miami-Dade: Belen at La Salle (Tropical), 7; LaS 24-21; American vs. Goleman (Traz), 3:30; Gol 37-13; Hialeah at Doral, 7; Doral 27-13; Krop vs. North Miami (Ives), 7; NM 26-8; Somerset Silver Palms vs. Jackson (Curtis), 7; Jac 23-7; True North at Monsignor Pace, 7:30; TN 17-14; Mater Academy at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30; MA 20-8; Westland Hialeah at Ferguson, 3:30; Ferg 28-6; Mourning at Varela, 3:30; ATM 24-7; Kings Academy at Gulliver, 4; KA 35-17; Archbishop Carroll at Palmer Trinity, 4; AC 31-27; Westminster Christian at Moore Haven, 7; MH 19-14; Coral Shores at Palm Glades Prep, 7; CS 44-7; Broward: Cooper City at South Broward, 7; SB 26-7; Stoneman Douglas at Deerfield Beach, 7; DB 30-14; Everglades at Flanagan, 7; Ever 17-7; Miramar at McArthur, 7; Mir 16-6; Dillard at Northeast, 7; Dil 38-3; South Plantation at Piper, 7; Pip 42-7; Fort Lauderdale at Boyd Anderson, 7; FTL 22-8; Coral Springs at Coral Glades, 7; CG 13-6; NSU University School at Somerset Academy, 7; US 34-12; Garcia at Hollywood Hills, 4; HH 20-12; Vero Beach St. Edwards at Pine Crest, 6; StEd 27-14; Pompano Beach at Taravella, 7; PB 6-3; Westminster Academy at Boca St. John Paul II, 7; WA 28-14; Nova at Fort Pierce Central, 7; FPC 24-6; Somerset Key at Oxbridge Academy, 7; Ox 17-10.
ANDRE’S RECORD
Last week - Top 20 games: 10-3; Overall: 40-5; Season - Top 20 games: 19-9 (.679); Overall: 80-20 (.800).
