After two overtime heartbreakers a year ago, Central seeks payback vs. Norland | Opinion
A little less than a month remains before the playoffs.
And with multiple district championships still up for grabs, week 9 of the season is full of highly-anticipated matchups between contenders in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
The Greater Miami Athletic Conference’s annual championship is an example as it once again pits two of the state’s best with Miami Central taking on Miami Norland as well as other big showdowns like Miami Columbus vs. Miami Northwestern.
Meanwhile in Broward, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas tries to get back on track against a hungry Coconut Creek Monarch squad, Sunrise Piper tries to continue its ascent against Plantation and longtime rivals Fort Lauderdale Dillard and Pompano Beach Ely clash in the Soul Bowl.
Here are my predictions for this week’s slate and the new Miami Herald South Florida Top 20 rankings:
THE TOP 20
1. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (6-2); 2. Central (5-1); 3. St. Thomas Aquinas (6-2); 4. Norland (6-1); 5. Northwestern (4-3); 6. Plantation American Heritage (3-4); 7. Columbus (5-2); 8. Miami Southridge (7-1); 9. Monarch (4-2); 10. Miami Palmetto (4-2); 11. Sunrise Piper (6-0); 12. Ely (5-2); 13. Homestead (3-3); 14. Davie Western (3-4); 15. Miami Booker T. Washington (3-3); 16. Plantation (5-2); 17. Dillard (4-1); 18. Pembroke Pines West Broward (4-2); 19. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (4-2); 20. Homestead South Dade (3-4); On the cusp: Miami Edison (4-3), Miami La Salle (5-1), Monsignor Pace (5-2), Miami Carol City (4-3).
GAMES OF THE WEEK
GMAC championship: 2. Central (5-1) vs. 4. Norland (6-1), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Fans are probably thrilled the GMAC brought these two together. Last season, Norland outdueled Central twice in overtime on its way to advancing to the Class 2M state championship game.
This year, they were split into separate classifications thanks to the Florida High School Athletic Association’s realignment.
But the GMAC championship match gives the Rockets an opportunity to exact some payback. It won’t be easy as the Vikings appear to be clicking at the perfect time as they showed against American Heritage.
Central will be the fresher team, although it will begin an active stretch of three games in eight days to make up for some postponements. The Rockets balanced their offense at the start of the season with Anthony McQueen at quarterback, but must be able to limit turnovers and run the ball against an aggressive Norland defense. Norland quarterback Ennio Yapoor remains a major factor in this matchup. But special teams were also decisive in the outcome of last year’s games. And that’s where this time, the Rockets seem to have an edge. Dre’s pick: Central 24, Norland 20.
9. Monarch (4-2) at 3. St. Thomas Aquinas (6-2), 7, Friday.
Aquinas was run over in the second half by a potent Chaminade rushing attack in last week’s 29-22 loss. The Raiders will face a prolific passing game this week as the Knights have shown they can hurl it.
But St. Thomas rarely loses back-to-back games or any games, period. At home, expect a recovery game against a solid opponent as the Raiders look to build toward another state title run. Dre’s pick: Aquinas 31, Monarch 14.
7. Columbus (5-2) vs. 5. Northwestern (4-3), 7, Thursday, Traz.
The GMAC week provides these teams with another chance to play a game that was rained out a month ago. The Bulls crushed Key West last week and are gearing up for a seemingly inevitable rematch with Central. Meanwhile, Columbus has been good on defense all season. The offense seems to be catching up. But is it enough to upset Northwestern on home soil? Dre’s pick: Northwestern 17, Columbus 10.
15. Booker T. (3-3) at 8. Southridge (7-1), 7:30, Friday.
Southridge coach Pierre Senatus has done a great job in another breakthrough season for the Spartans, who are district champs and looking for more in Class 6A. Here comes his mentor, Booker T. coach Tim “Ice” Harris, and a young Tornadoes squad which wants to stay in the fight in Class 2A. It should be a great matchup of teacher and student … with the apprentice prevailing. Dre’s pick: Southridge 14, Booker T. 12.
16. Plantation (5-2) at 11. Piper (6-0), 7, Friday.
Piper continues to show its improvement this season. The Bengals, though, have been sitting around for over a week after their game last week was postponed and must regain their sharpness against a challenging Plantation team that’s been battle tested. Dre’s pick: Piper 24, Plantation 22.
12. Ely (5-2) at 17. Dillard (4-1), 7, Saturday.
As it has been in recent years, the Soul Bowl has had renewed life with both programs now consistent playoff teams again. With the teams in different classifications again, this will be the only time they play so look for the emotions to be high as bragging rights and power ranking points will be on the line. Dre’s pick: Ely 18, Dillard 14.
MORE TOP 20 GAMES
Hollywood Avant Garde (1-6) at 1. Chaminade (6-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 57, Avant Garde 6. The Lions have made it through the gauntlet of their schedule and now rest up for the postseason.
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (2-3) vs. 2. Central (5-1), 7, Monday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Central 49, Stranahan 6. The Rockets should have no trouble moving closer to a district title after the big game with Norland.
Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (4-2) at 6. American Heritage (3-4), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Heritage 37, McCarthy 14. A bounce back win over McCarthy is just what the Patriots need.
Edison (4-3) vs. 10. Palmetto (4-2), 7, Thursday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 20, Edison 8. If the Panthers keep running the ball the way they have of late, they could be dangerous.
Miami Carol City (4-3) vs. 13. Homestead (3-3), 4, Friday, Harris.
Dre’s pick: Homestead 27, Carol City 12. The Broncos are turning the corner and pick up another solid win.
Weston Cypress Bay (3-3) at 14. Western (3-4), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Western 38, Cypress Bay 6. The Wildcats are surging at the right time.
18. West Broward (4-2) at Naples Gulf Coast (5-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: West Broward 37, Gulf Coast 34. Bobcats finish a busy week with another victory.
18. West Broward (4-2) vs. Miami Beach (3-3), 3, Monday.
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.
Boca Raton (6-0) at 19. Cardinal Gibbons (4-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Gibbons 34, Boca Raton 31. Another solid win for the Chiefs, who are trying to build momentum for the playoffs.
Miami Jackson (4-3) vs. 20. South Dade (3-4), 7, Thursday, Harris.
Dre’s pick: South Dade 16, Jackson 8. The Bucs’ bounce back win last week might get them back on course for the postseason.
OTHER GAMES
Thursday — Miami-Dade: Southwest vs. Coral Reef (Southridge), 7; Reef 21-14; Ferguson vs. American (Milander), 7; Amer 15-8; Sunset at Reagan, 3:30; RR 20-7; South Miami at Varela, 3:30; Var 24-7; Coral Park at Braddock, 3:30; Brad 37-10; Broward: Taravella at Coral Glades, 7; CG 27-17; Pines Charter at Everglades, 7; PPC 30-21; McArthur vs. Fort Lauderdale (Lockhart), 7; McA 14-7; Hollywood Hills at Pompano Beach, 7; HH 27-21; Somerset Prep at Somerset Academy, 7; SA 34-8; Coral Springs Charter at North Broward Prep, 6; CSC 20-14.
Friday — Miami-Dade: North Miami vs. Killian (Tropical), 7:30; NM 20-18; Goleman vs. Hialeah (Milander), 7:30; Gol 14-13; Coral Gables vs. Miami High (Curtis), 7:30; CG 14-8; Hialeah Gardens vs. Krop (Ives), 3:30; Krop 17-14; Mourning vs. Miami Beach (N. Miami), 3:30; Beach 34-14; Westland Hialeah at Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 3:30; WH 34-2; Belen at Gulliver, 4; Gul 16-14; Doral at Boca Raton Spanish River, 7; SR 34-28; Mater Academy at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30; AC 38-14; La Salle at St. Brendan, 7; LaS 20-13; True North at Kings Academy, 6:30; TN 40-37; Everglades Prep at Palmer Trinity, 4; PT 27-16; Somerset South Homestead at Ransom Everglades, 7; RE 44-8; Broward: Miramar at Coconut Creek, 7; Creek 14-6; Delray Atlantic at Deerfield Beach, 7; ATL 37-6; Stoneman Douglas at Coral Springs, 7; CS 10-9; Stranahan at Boyd Anderson, 7; BA 30-21; South Plantation at Cooper City, 7; Coop 20-12; Hallandale at Flanagan, 7; Flan 20-18; Nova at South Broward, 7; SB 30-14; Riviera Beach Suncoast at Northeast, 7; Sun 16-6; Pine Crest at Orlando Lake Highland Prep, 7; LHP 34-13; Fort Myers Evangelical Christian at Westminster Academy, 7; WA 33-30; Boca St. Andrews at Calvary Christian, 7; Calv 35-31; ABF Academy at NSU University School, 7; US 45-6; Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Somerset Key at Miami Country Day, 7; MCD 28-6.
Saturday — Miami-Dade: Miami Springs vs. North Miami Beach (Traz), 7; NMB 42-3.
Monday — Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Krop at Flanagan, 7; Flan 16-14; Everglades vs. North Miami (St. Thomas U), 7; NM 29-13; Broward: Hollywood Hills at Hallandale, 7; Hall 16-13; Pompano Beach at Somerset Academy, 3:30; Som 27-14; Cooper City at Pines Charter, 6; PPC 27-10.
ANDRE’S RECORD
Last week — Top 20 games: 7-1; Overall: 24-4; Season — Top 20 games: 81-19 (.810); Overall: 290-73 (.799).
This story was originally published October 15, 2024 at 12:34 PM.
