Quarterback play should give St. Thomas Aquinas an edge in showdown with Chaminade | Opinion
With a month left before the high school football playoffs begin, four of the top teams in South Florida — all ranked in the top 50 nationally — are set to collide, weather permitting.
Unfortunately, another storm — Hurricane Milton — is bearing down on Florida this week, putting most of this week’s schedule in doubt with the bulk of the games scheduled for Thursday due to Yom Kippur.
But for now, here’s where things stand in the latest Miami Herald South Florida Top 20 poll followed by my breakdown of week 8’s games.
THE TOP 20
1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1); 2. Miami Central (5-1); 3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (5-2); 4. Miami Norland (5-1); 5. Plantation American Heritage (3-3); 6. Miami Northwestern (3-3); 7. Miami Columbus (4-2); 8. Miami Southridge (6-1); 9. Coconut Creek Monarch (4-2); 10. Miami Palmetto (4-2); 11. Sunrise Piper (6-0); 12. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (5-2); 13. Homestead (3-3); 14. Davie Western (2-4); 15. Miami Booker T. Washington (2-3); 16. Plantation (4-2); 17. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (4-1); 18. Pembroke Pines West Broward (4-2); 19. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (4-2); 20. Homestead South Dade (2-4); On the cusp: Miami Edison (4-3), Miami La Salle (4-1), Monsignor Pace (4-2), Coconut Creek (2-3), Miami Carol City (3-3).
GAMES OF THE WEEK
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1) vs. 3. Chaminade (5-2), 7, Friday, FIU.
In what has been a turbulent season for many of South Florida’s best, the irony is that the team with the most state titles — St. Thomas — was the one many speculated wasn’t as strong as in years past.
And yet the Raiders have been the most consistent of all of them.
After coming up painfully short in a 29-21 loss to Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, Aquinas has won six in a row and barely been challenged aside from a 23-15 win over Western. The Raiders have outscored their opponents 286-36 during that span and remain South Florida’s only program ranked in the top 10 nationally. Led by quarterback Andrew Indorf and a balanced running attack which has amassed nearly 1,200 yards, the Raiders enter the game ranked No. 9 by MaxPreps.
Chaminade followed a similar recovery trend after a couple of early losses and appears on course to win a ninth state title. But the Lions have dealt with a revolving door at quarterback due to injuries and have needed to improvise with converted running backs and receivers playing the position of late. Miami Central transfer Bekkem Kritza could be ready to start this game or split time with others such as receiver Jaquari Lewis, who did a solid job in last week’s win against Monarch.
But Aquinas has a definite passing advantage with Indorf. Defenses could play a significant role in this — and namely who can be the most disruptive against the other’s potent running game. Dre’s pick: Aquinas 28, Chaminade 21.
5. American Heritage (3-3) vs. 4. Norland (5-1), 7, Saturday, Traz.
Last week, a pair of rivals (Central and Northwestern) played the first of likely two games this season. The same applies to these two in Class 4A as they enter as the top two seeds in Region 4-4A. But there’s even more at stake here as the winner claims the District 15-4A title and home field advantage for that likely rematch down the road.
American Heritage especially would love to have that decisive encounter at their school and have the weapons to make it happen, especially if running back Byron Louis, an FSU commit, is back from suspension after sitting out two weeks ago vs. Plantation.
Norland has one of the best defenses in the country and has shown it in almost every crucial game this season with an ability to create turnovers and pressure the quarterback. That will be vital vs. Heritage starter Dia Bell and the Patriots’ speedy receivers. But one of the biggest keys is Norland’s offense, which seems to have finally found some rhythm recently as it showed against Cocoa. If Norland can keep that going, expect the Vikings to send a message to the rest of the state this week. Dre’s pick: Norland 21, American Heritage 17.
15. Booker T. Washington (2-3) vs. 13. Homestead (3-3), 7, Thursday, Harris.
Assuming this one is played, it is a huge one despite being a nondistrict clash as both teams have not performed up to expectations so far this season. Booker T. is coming off a disappointing road loss at Vero Beach, but could rebound quickly with a triumph here. Homestead lost a tough one to Southridge, but its offense appears to be rounding into form after the return of star receiver Cortez Mills, an Oklahoma commit. Dre’s pick: Homestead 27, Booker T. 20.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (2-3) vs. 2. Central (5-1), 7, Thursday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Central 49, Stranahan 6. The Rockets should have no trouble moving closer to a district title.
6. Northwestern (3-3) at Key West (5-2), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Northwestern 38, Key West 16. The Bulls will pick up the key district victory in a tough environment.
Coral Gables (3-2) at 7. Columbus (4-2), 6, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Columbus 42, Coral Gables 7. The Explorers already locked up their district, but can use this one to continue to fine-tune their offense ahead of the playoffs.
Southwest Miami (3-4) at 8. Southridge (6-1), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Southridge 41, Southwest 6. The Spartans officially lock up a district title and continue to build momentum for the postseason.
9. Monarch (4-2): Bye
10. Palmetto (4-2): Bye
Fort Lauderdale (1-3) at 11. Piper (6-0), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Piper 42, Fort Lauderdale 3. The Bengals cruise and set themselves up for two big games the next two weeks vs. Plantation and Monarch.
12. Blanche Ely (5-2): Bye
Hialeah Goleman (4-2) at 14. Western (2-4), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Western 35, Goleman 14. The Wildcats finally enjoyed a victory on the field and a huge one at that. Don’t expect a letdown here.
Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (4-1) vs. 16. Plantation (4-2), 7, Thursday, PAL.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 27, McCarthy 14. An important game for playoff seeding for these two as they are both looking up at Norland and Heritage in their district.
West Palm Beach Dr. Garcia (6-1) at 17. Dillard (4-1), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Dillard 35, Garcia 13. Panthers can secure a district championship here with their annual Soul Bowl clash on the horizon.
18. West Broward (4-2) vs. Miami Beach (3-3), 7, Thursday, Memorial.
Dre’s pick: West Broward 45, Miami Beach 14. The Bobcats can run the ball with the best of them thanks to speedy back Amos Bradford.
Deerfield Beach (1-4) at 19. Cardinal Gibbons (4-2), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Gibbons 38, Deerfield Beach 8. If the Chiefs can bolster their defense, they’ll have a shot to make a run in Class 2A.
20. South Dade (2-4) vs. Miami High (3-3), 7, Thursday, Curtis.
Dre’s pick: South Dade 24, Miami High 7. A “get back on track” game for the Bucs after two consecutive rough weeks.
MORE GAMES
Wednesday — Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Mater Academy at Pines Charter, 5:45; PPC 28-24; Miami-Dade: Miami Springs vs. La Salle (Milander), 7; LaS 42-7; Broward: Pompano Beach at Somerset Academy, 3:30; Som 27-14.
Thursday — Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Krop at Flanagan, 7; Flan 16-14; NSU University School at Ransom Everglades, 4; US 35-31; Everglades vs. North Miami (St. Thomas U), 7; NM 29-13; Miami-Dade: Reagan vs. Hialeah Gardens (Milander), 7; RR 34-7; South Miami at Belen, 7; Bel 44-3; Jackson at St. Brendan, 7; Jax 37-14; North Miami Beach vs. Carol City (Betty Ferguson), 7; CC 28-20; Sunset at Ferguson, 3:30; Ferg 24-14; Coral Reef at HML, 3:30; Reef 42-2; Varela vs. Braddock (Tropical), 7:30; Var 27-7; Westland Hialeah at Monsignor Pace, 7:30; Pace 49-6; Mourning at Coral Park, 3:30; ATM 34-14; Palmer Trinity at Miami Country Day, 7; PT 24-17; Palm Glades Prep at Somerset South Homestead (Harris), 3:30; PGP 34-13; Broward: Coconut Creek at Delray Atlantic, 7; Atl 38-23; Nova at Cooper City, 7; Nova 27-17; Boyd Anderson at McArthur, 7; BA 26-7; Coral Glades at Boca Raton, 7; Boca 38-7; Taravella at Cypress Bay, 7; CB 24-6; South Broward at South Plantation, 7; SB 30-20; Boca Spanish River at Stoneman Douglas, 7; SR 38-7; Coral Springs Charter at Pine Crest, 7; CSC 14-13; Hollywood Hills at Hallandale, 7; Hall 16-13; Boynton Beach at Northeast, 7; Boynton 17-3; North Broward Prep at Calvary Christian, 7; Calv 44-20; Somerset Key at Boca St. Andrews, 7; SA 35-21.
Friday - Miami-Dade vs. Broward: TRU Prep at Avant Garde, 7; AG 12-8; Miami-Dade: Melbourne Central Catholic vs. True North (Tropical), 7; MCC 35-28; Somerset Silver Palms at Gulliver, 4; SSP 16-14; Florida Christian at Everglades Prep, 7; FC 28-12; Coral Shores at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30; AC 34-21; Broward: Westminster Academy at Riviera Beach Inlet Grove, 6:30; WA 27-20.
Saturday - MIami-Dade vs. Broward: Somerset Prep at Westminster Christian, 1; WC 20-12; American vs. Hialeah (Milander), 7; Hia 34-6.
ANDRE’S RECORD
Last week — Top 20 games: 12-2; Overall: 42-6; Season - Top 20 games: 74-18 (.804); Overall: 266-69 (.794).
This story was originally published October 7, 2024 at 2:59 PM.
