Two of Dade’s dominant defenses must hold up vs. two of Broward’s most explosive offenses | Opinion
Two of Miami-Dade’s dominant defenses vs. two of Broward’s most explosive offenses.
After rough starts for multiple South Florida powerhouses, the fifth week of the season offers state championship caliber matchups when Miami Norland travels to Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna and Plantation American Heritage travels to Miami to face Central.
All four remain state title contenders in their respective classifications.
Norland and Central have two of the top defenses in the country and offenses that are still finding their footing overall.
Meanwhile, neither Chaminade nor Heritage has any trouble putting up points as shown by that classic the two played two weeks ago that the Lions won 48-45.
Let’s take a look at each of these great matchups and more for Week 5.
But first, here’s the new Miami Herald’s South Florida Top 20, which saw some movement at the top once again.
THE TOP 20
1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1); 2. Miami Central (3-1); 3. Miami Norland (3-0); 4. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (2-2); 5. Plantation American Heritage (2-2); 6. Miami Northwestern (2-2); 7. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3-1); 8. Coconut Creek Monarch (2-1); 9. Miami Columbus (2-2); 10. Miami Southridge (3-1); 11. Miami Booker T. Washington (2-1); 12. Plantation (3-0); 13. Miami Palmetto (1-2); 14. Homestead South Dade (2-2); 15. Homestead (2-2); 16. Davie Western (0-3); 17. Pembroke Pines West Broward (2-2); 18. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3-1); 19. Miami Carol City (2-2); 20. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (1-2); On the cusp: Sunrise Piper (4-0), Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (4-0), Miami La Salle (3-1), Miami Monsignor Pace (2-1).
GAMES OF THE WEEK
5. American Heritage (2-2) vs. 2. Central (3-1), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
After nearly two years, we’re finally getting the rematch of the 2022 Class 2M state championship game when Central edged Heritage to win its fourth consecutive state title. There are still several players on both sides who played in or were in Orlando on the sidelines for that game.
Heritage receiver Malachi Toney is undoubtedly extra motivated this week to put that fumble in the closing seconds of that game even further behind him. Central linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin, who forced that turnover, has also not forgotten and hopes to play a key role this time around as well.
Toney is only one of the reasons the Patriots remain one of the most prolific scoring teams in the state. Quarterback Dia Bell has continued to get better. But it’s the strong running of Byron Louis that has paced this offense. Central switched quarterbacks in recent weeks and its own offense has flourished with Anthony McQueen taking the majority of the snaps. Will this be the game Jayden Ford takes over in the Rockets’ backfield?
If the Rockets can put pressure on Bell and hold up against Louis’ power on the ground, they won’t allow for a revenge game here. Dre’s pick: Central 23, American Heritage 20.
3. Norland (3-0) at 4. Chaminade (2-2), 7, Thursday.
Chaminade’s Preston Wright has been the quarterback to ignite this explosive Lions’ offense the past few weeks, which is finally finding its rhythm. But the Vikings’ defense will be the toughest they have faced to date by far. Last week, this squad willed Norland to a 21-17 comeback win over Northwestern. The issue for the Vikings is on offense where despite dual-threat quarterback Ennio Yapoor’s playmaking ability, Norland has struggled to produce the points it did a season ago on its run to state. Then again, as strong as Chaminade’s offense has been, its defense has yet to record an interception this season and has forced only five turnovers overall. It could come down to the kickers, who are both named Noah (Norland’s Noah Ali or Chaminade’s Noah Sidan). Sidan, who kicked for Norland last year, has proven himself in clutch moments. Dre’s pick: Chaminade 21, Norland 20.
9. Columbus (2-2) vs. 6. Northwestern (2-2), 7, Thursday, Traz.
Credit Columbus for finding ways to win this season thanks largely to a stingy defense and special teams. The Explorers have not scored more than 17 points in a game this season and have still broken even through four games against quality opponents.
Northwestern’s offense struggled to find a rhythm at times last week against Norland’s stingy defense and was held to a season-low 17 points.
The Bulls have shown their firepower on offense, though. Columbus has yet to really muster much offense at all this season. Dre’s pick: Northwestern 21, Columbus 7.
7. Blanche Ely (3-1) at Piper (4-0), 7, Friday.
Piper has recorded four shutouts to open its season. The Bengals are the only team in the state to not allow a point through four games. Piper’s opportunistic defense has forced 11 turnovers so far and are led by seniors Antonio Harris and Jahmar Midi. The reason to question the Bengals’ start is their opponents in those games are a combined 2-10 so far.
Ely will easily be its toughest challenger, and is going to be motivated to get back on track after a tough loss to Delray Beach Atlantic. The Tigers were averaging 53 points per game until they were held to 13 last week by the Eagles. Piper should be competitive but look for both the shutout and winning streaks to end if Ely recovers its prior form. Dre’s pick: Ely 28, Piper 14.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
Hollywood McArthur (1-2) at 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 51, McArthur 3. The Raiders survived a close one last week, but should have no trouble here.
8. Monarch (2-1) vs. Fort Lauderdale (0-2), 7, Friday, Coconut Creek.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 42, Fort Lauderdale 2. The Knights nearly knocked off one of the top state title contenders in Class 7A. They’ll get back on track this week.
10. Southridge (3-1) at Doral Academy (2-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Southridge 30, Doral 13. The Spartans are one late touchdown allowed vs. Columbus from being unbeaten.
11. Booker T. (2-2) at Lakeland (3-0), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Lakeland 34, Booker T. 20. The Tornadoes are young and competitive, but the Dreadnaughts showed earlier this season they’re legit title contenders again.
12. Plantation (3-0) at Hollywood South Broward (1-3), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 28, South Broward 6. The Colonels continue their solid start to the season.
13. Palmetto (1-2) vs. Miami Killian (2-2), 7:30, Friday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 34, Killian 6. The Panthers shake off that bad taste from the Columbus loss with another Big Cat Trophy.
14. South Dade (2-2): Bye
15. Homestead (2-2): Bye
16. Western (0-3) at Coral Springs Taravella (1-3), 4, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Western 57, Taravella 2. The Wildcats take out their frustrations on an overmatched Trojans’ squad.
Pembroke Pines Flanagan (1-1) vs. 17. West Broward (2-2), 7, Friday, Ansin.
Dre’s pick: West Broward 38, Flanagan 6. The Bobcats carry over the momentum from that wild win over Gibbons.
19. Carol City (2-2): Bye
18. Dillard (3-1) at Miramar (1-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Dillard 24, Miramar 7. The Panthers are picking up momentum and could be a dangerous team come playoff time.
Coconut Creek (0-2) at 20. Cardinal Gibbons (1-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Gibbons 20, Coconut Creek 17. Creek will be playing its second game in five days, but both teams need this one.
MORE GAMES
Tuesday - Miami-Dade: Krop at Miami Beach, 3:30; MB 21-6.
Thursday - Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Mater Academy vs. Everglades (Milander), 7; Mater 21-7; Miami-Dade: Hialeah vs. Miami High (Curtis), 7; Hia 26-7; Ferguson vs. Southwest (Tropical), 7; Ferg 17-14; Westland Hialeah vs. South Miami (Tropical), 3:30; WH 7-6; ABF Academy at Somerset South Homestead (Harris), 7; SASH 8-7; Palm Glades Prep at Marathon, 7; PGP 13-10; SmartEn Sports Academy at Miami Country Day, 7; MCD 35-7; Broward: Stranahan vs. Cypress Bay (Lockhart), 7; Stran 34-19; Boyd Anderson at Stoneman Douglas, 7; MSD 13-12; Cooper City at Pines Charter, 5:45; PPC 19-7; Orlando Lake Highland Prep at NSU University School, 6; US 35-31; Coral Springs Charter vs. Pompano (Coral Glades), 7; Pomp 35-24; Somerset Prep at Kings Academy, 6:30; KA 31-14.
Friday - Miami-Dade vs. Broward: North Miami at Calvary Christian, 7; CC 24-16; Pine Crest at Ransom Everglades, 7; RE 31-14; Avant Garde at Florida Christian, 7; FC 42-14; Miami-Dade: Goleman at Hialeah Gardens (Milander), 7:30; Gol 42-6; Edison at Monsignor Pace, 7:30; Ed 20-18; Archbishop Carroll vs. Jackson (Curtis), 7:30; AC 24-16; Coral Park vs. Braddock (Tropical), 3:30; CP 17-3; Mourning at Sunset, 3:30; ATM 28-20; Miami Springs at Somerset Silver Palms, 7; MS 28-17; St. Brendan at Westminster Christian, 4; StB 30-21; Coral Reef vs. Reagan (Southridge), 7:30; Reef 27-10; Gulliver at Naples Lely, 7; Lely 34-20; True North at Everglades Prep (Harris), 7; TN 28-12; Broward: Hallandale at Coral Glades, 7; Hall 16-6; South Plantation at Coral Springs, 7; SP 13-6; Somerset Canyons at Archbishop McCarthy, 7; AM 20-14; St. Andrews at North Broward Prep, 6; SA 27-14; Westminster Academy at Tampa Cambridge Christian, 7; WA 30-14.
Saturday - Miami-Dade: NMB vs. American (Traz), 7; NMB 22-14.
ANDRE’S RECORD
Last week - Top 20 games: 11-4; Overall: 31-14; Season - Top 20 games: 38-15 (.717); Overall: 155-42 (.787).
