Closing the gap with rival Homestead, Southridge can score statement win this week | Opinion
Upsetting the status quo isn’t usually easy.
But things have been a little less predictable than normal over the first month of the high school football season.
And as the fall officially arrives, opportunities for upsets await for several South Florida teams looking to make statements.
This is usually the time, however, when the most talented teams begin to find their stride and we’ve begun seeing that from multiple area powerhouses.
I usually lean that way when it comes to weeks like this, but let’s take a look at some of the matchups with potential for eye-opening results in week 6 of the high school season, plus the new Miami Herald Top 20 rankings.
THE TOP 20
1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1); 2. Miami Central (4-1); 3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (3-2); 4. Miami Norland (3-1); 5. Miami Northwestern (2-2); 6. Plantation American Heritage (2-3); 7. Coconut Creek Monarch (3-1); 8. Miami Columbus (2-2); 9. Miami Southridge (4-1); 10. Plantation (4-0); 11. Miami Palmetto (2-2); 12. Miami Booker T. Washington (2-2); 13. Homestead South Dade (2-2); 14. Homestead (2-2); 15. Sunrise Piper (5-0); 16. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3-2); 17. Davie Western (1-3); 18. Pembroke Pines West Broward (3-2); 19. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (4-1); 20. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2-2); Dropped out: No. 19 Miami Carol City (2-2); On the cusp: Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (5-0), Miami La Salle (3-1), Miami Edison (3-2).
GAMES OF THE WEEK
9. Southridge (4-1) vs. 14. Homestead (2-2), 7:30, Friday, Harris.
Not long after Homestead’s re-emergence as a state championship contender roughly five years ago, Southridge followed with a gradual rebuild of its own. The teams have remained heated rivals, with the Spartans even scoring a huge win two seasons ago to claim their district championship before the Broncos avenged it in the playoffs.
This game more than likely decides the District 16-6A title and once again could be the first of two encounters should they rematch in the playoffs. Homestead is on a streak of back-to-back state runner-up finishes, but struggled the first couple of weeks with losses to Palmetto and South Dade. The Broncos recovered their scoring punch in wins at Vero Beach and at home vs. Southwest (77 points).
Southridge is one defensive stop from being unbeaten right now, narrowly losing its only game against Columbus in the closing seconds. The Spartans’ defense has been stingy this season, as shown in its huge win against Miami Palmetto. They also have an emerging star quarterback in James Perrone. So the question is, has Southridge closed the gap in this rivalry? We’ll see. Dre’s pick: Southridge 20, Homestead 19.
8. Columbus (2-2) vs. 13. South Dade (2-2), 7, Thursday, Harris.
South Dade was one of the breakout teams of 2023, making it to the second round of the playoffs. The Bucs have a chance for payback against the team that dispatched them from the postseason a year ago. The start of Columbus’ bid for a state championship three-peat has gotten off to a bumpy start thanks to the inconsistent play of its offense. Its defense, led by star defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald among others, continues to hold the line and lead the Explorers to key wins. Against a potentially explosive South Dade squad in its backyard, expect Columbus to lean on that side again to pull through this challenge. Dre’s pick: Columbus 16, South Dade 13.
10. Plantation (4-0) at 6. American Heritage (2-3), 7, Friday.
An interesting clash between neighborhood foes as the unbeaten Colonels aim high for what would be a signature win for first-year Plantation coach Darrell Strong. The Colonels have picked up wins against solid competition during the first month including victories against Dillard and West Broward. Heritage is a whole different story, though. The Patriots are sub-.500 only because they have dropped close games against nationally ranked competition (Milton, Central, Chaminade). Heritage’s brutal schedule won’t let up either, but this is a key district win it needs before its showdown Oct. 5 vs. Miami Norland. Dre’s pick: American Heritage 37, Plantation 17.
3. Chaminade-Madonna (3-2) at 17. Western (1-3), 7, Friday.
It has been a rough season for Western, which entered the season with state title aspirations and one of the most talented rosters it has ever had. After letting a win slip away against Hoover (Alabama) and getting embarrassed against American Heritage, the Wildcats pushed St. Thomas Aquinas for three quarters before losing that one.
A forfeit win against Coral Springs Taravella last week finally took the goose egg off Western’s win column, but it has yet to really beat a strong opponent. It’s tough to see that happening this week against Chaminade, which has one of the highest-powered offenses in the state and a defense that’s beginning to also play better. Dre’s pick: Chaminade 31, Western 14.
5. Northwestern (2-2) vs. Miami Jackson (3-2), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Some might look at this one as the chance to be the “Max Edwards revenge game.” The former Northwestern coach, who guided the Bulls to their three most recent state championships takes on his former club in his first season at the helm of rebuilding Jackson. Unfortunately for the Generals, there still appears to be a substantial talent gap between the longtime rivals in this Soul Bowl series in Northwestern’s favor as has shown from the Bulls’ performances both in victory and defeat. Dre’s pick: Northwestern 36, Jackson 6.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1) at Orlando Bishop Moore (4-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 41, Bishop Moore 20. Solid test on the road for the Raiders, who continue to impress.
2. Central (4-1): Bye
4. Norland (3-1) at Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (4-0), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Norland 34, Archbishop McCarthy 7. The Mavericks have come a long way, but Norland is on another level.
7. Monarch (3-1) at Coral Springs (0-5), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 50, Coral Springs 2. A comfortable district win for the Knights as they pick up momentum.
11. Palmetto (2-2) vs. Coral Gables (2-1), 3:30, Friday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 34, Coral Gables 7. The Panthers settle in and pick up a bounce back district win.
12. Booker T. Washington (2-2) vs. Miami Springs (3-1), 7, Thursday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Booker T. 47, Miami Springs 3. The Tornadoes should have little trouble rebounding from a tough road loss.
15. Piper (5-0): Bye
16. Blanche Ely (3-2) at Deerfield Beach (1-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Ely 43, Deerfield Beach 8. The Tigers should recover from that tough loss to Piper.
18. West Broward (3-2) at Miramar Everglades (2-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: West Broward 44, Everglades 7. The Bobcats’ running game is one of the most potent in South Florida.
19. Dillard (4-1) at Riviera Beach Suncoast (2-3), 6, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Dillard 42, Suncoast 6. The Panthers edged Miramar in a defensive struggle last week, but should score more this time.
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (5-0) at 20. Cardinal Gibbons (2-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Cardinal Gibbons 39, Calvary Christian 21. It’s been a little rough early for the Chiefs, but they hold off a solid Eagles squad.
MORE GAMES
Tuesday - Miami-Dade: Coral Reef vs. Reagan (Southridge), 7:30; Reef 27-10; Broward: Cooper City at Hollywood Hills, 4:30; Hills 17-14.
Thursday - Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Edison at Avant Garde (Ives), 7; Ed 42-3; Miami-Dade: Westland Hialeah vs. NMB (Traz), 3:30; NMB 44-3; Krop at Doral, 7; Dor 34-8; Archbishop Carroll vs. True North (Tropical), 3:30; TN 34-20; Gulliver vs. Killian (Tropical), 7:30; Kil 14-13; Ransom Everglades at La Salle, 6; LaS 30-21; HML at Mourning, 3:30; ATM 38-2; Key West at St. Brendan, 7; StB 24-21; Reagan at Coral Park, 3:30; RR 27-7; Mater Academy at North Miami (Milander), 3; NM 30-18; Hialeah vs. South Miami (Milander), 7; Hia 42-2; Palm Glades Prep at Palmer Trinity, 4; Palmer 24-20; Broward: Miramar at Pines Charter, 5:45; Mir 20-7; Coral Springs Charter at Taravella, 7; CSC 13-7; Northeast at South Plantation, 7; SP 28-12; Oxbridge Academy at NSU University School, 6; US 41-21.
Friday - Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Miami Beach at Flanagan, 7; Flan 14-13; Miami-Dade: Braddock vs. Ferguson (Tropical), 7:30; Ferg 28-7; Miami High at Braden River, 7; BR 21-20; Belen vs. American (Milander), 7:30; Am 15-14; Monsignor Pace vs. Carol City (Betty Ferguson), 7:30; CC 28-16; Coral Reef vs. Varela (Southridge), 7:30; Reef 27-14; Somerset Silver Palms at Westminster Christian, 4; SSP 30-28; Coral Shores at Florida Christian, 7; FC 35-28; Miami Country Day at Berean Christian, 4; MCD 35-14; Somerset South Homestead at Marathon, 7; Mar 30-16; Broward: Boyd Anderson at Coconut Creek, 7; Creek 34-12; Fort Lauderdale at Cooper City, 7; FTL 17-16; Hallandale at Nova, 7; Nova 20-16; McArthur at Hollywood Hills, 4; McA 23-20; Stoneman Douglas at Boca Raton, 7; Boca 42-14; Somerset Academy vs. Stranahan (Lockhart), 7; Stran 24-23; Boca Raton Spanish River at Coral Glades, 7; SR 35-7; Pompano Beach at Boca Raton Christian, 7; Pomp 17-12; Westminster Academy at Delray American Heritage, 7; AH 24-21; Boca St. John Paul II at Pine Crest, 7; PC 27-24; North Broward Prep at Somerset Key, 7; Key 31-21; Somerset Prep at Boca St. Andrews, 7; SA 34-14.
Saturday - Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Cypress Bay vs. Goleman (Milander), 7:30; Gol 27-14.
ANDRE’S RECORD
Last week - Top 20 games: 12-1; Overall: 31-10; Season - Top 20 games: 50-16 (.758); Overall: 186-53 (.778).
This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 1:34 PM.
