Southridge, Blanche Ely among playoff-bound teams with chance to gain momentum | Opinion
Most of South Florida’s best teams have already wrapped up their schedules or handled business in regards to postseason heading into the second-to-last week of the regular season.
But there are still a few rivalry games or matchups between playoff-bound squads worth checking out.
Among them is a showdown between long time rivals down in Homestead and some battles between state title contenders in Broward County.
Also, a matchup between Davie Western and Pembroke Pines West Broward has even more importance after the Wildcats were forced to forfeit two victories earlier this season due to ineligible players. Miami Norland and Plantation American Heritage are both done with their regular seasons, but the Vikings had to also forfeit their win over Heritage, shifting that district championship to the Patriots and giving them home field advantage if they have a possible rematch in the playoffs.
Here’s a look at the last Miami Herald South Florida Top 20 before the playoffs and the week 11 slate.
THE TOP 20
1. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (8-2); 2. Miami Central (8-1); 3. Plantation American Heritage (6-3)*; 4. Miami Northwestern (6-3); 5. Miami Norland (6-3)*; 6. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (7-3); 7. Miami Columbus (6-3); 8. Miami Booker T. Washington (5-3); 9. Miami Southridge (7-2); 10. Miami Palmetto (6-2); 11. Coconut Creek Monarch (5-3); 12. Sunrise Piper (8-1); 13. Pompano Beach Ely (7-2); 14. Pembroke Pines West Broward (7-2); 15. Davie Western (3-6)*; 16. Miami Monsignor Pace (6-2); 17. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (5-3); 18. Miami Carol City (6-3); 19. Homestead South Dade (5-4); 20. Plantation (5-4); On the cusp: Homestead (4-4), Fort Lauderdale Dillard (5-2), Miami La Salle (7-1), Hialeah (8-2).
NOTE: *-records updated after forfeits due to ineligible players.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
9. Southridge (7-2) vs. 19. South Dade (5-4), 7:30, Friday, Harris.
These two went down to the wire and played a classic last season which ended with South Dade prevailing on a late touchdown pass. The Bucs rode that momentum to a second round playoff appearance before losing to eventual state champion Columbus.
South Dade’s 2024 season has had more uneven performances than its breakthrough a year ago. But the Bucs seem to be steering things in the right direction just before the postseason.
Southridge, however, saw its seven-game winning streak snapped unceremoniously by Booker T. Washington recently. The Spartans, who are playoff bound in Class 6A and likely the top seed in Region 4-6A, can solidify that status if they can bounce back in this one and earn some payback for last year’s painful defeat. Southridge’s balanced offense has been key all season and should be enough to carry it to a win here. Dre’s pick: Southridge 20, South Dade 12.
11. Monarch (5-3) at 13. Ely (7-2), 7, Friday.
Monarch secured its third consecutive district championship last week by upending previously unbeaten Piper. The Knights needed every phase of their game to step up in that win over the Bengals, clinching the victory with a blocked field goal late.
This week, Monarch will need its offense to perform better than it did last week overall against an explosive Ely offense led by quarterback Omari McNeill. The Tigers hit a couple of bumps earlier this season including a loss to Piper when McNeill was out with a concussion. Since his return, Ely has found its rhythm again and that’s good news as it warms up for a tough Class 5A region. Dre’s pick: Ely 21, Monarch 13.
14. West Broward (7-2) vs. 15. Western (3-6)*, 7, Friday, Everglades.
This will be a major gauge for West Broward, another playoff team in Class 6A, to see if it can contend in the coming weeks. The Bobcats have been led by a tough ground attack with Amos Bradford and a potent passing game with University of Miami commit Joshua Moore in that mix. Western was just forced by the FHSAA to forfeit two wins and is no longer a district champion after one of those forfeits came against Miami Goleman, which is now the champion in District 15-7A. The Wildcats need this victory to boost their power ranking and secure a playoff spot. Dre’s pick: Western 27, West Broward 14.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
1. Chaminade-Madonna (8-2): Regular season complete
2. Central (8-1): Regular season complete
3. American Heritage (6-3)*: Regular season complete
4. Northwestern (6-3): Regular season complete
5. Norland (6-3)*: Regular season complete
6. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-3): Regular season complete
7. Columbus (6-3): Regular season complete
8. Booker T. Washington (5-3): Bye
10. Palmetto (6-2) at Fort Myers Bishop Verot (5-3), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 28, Bishop Verot 27. This would be a great road win for a Panthers team eager to prove it can make a run in Class 7A.
12. Piper (8-1) at Hollywood South Broward (4-5), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Piper 42, South Broward 3. The Bengals complete a busy final week and prepare for a tough road in the Class 6A playoffs.
16. Monsignor Pace (6-2) vs. Hialeah Goleman (6-3)*, 7:30, Friday, Milander.
Dre’s pick: Pace 20, Goleman 14. Solid test for both sides as they prepare for the playoffs.
17. Cardinal Gibbons (5-3) at Miramar (5-4), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Cardinal Gibbons 30, Miramar 14. The Chiefs are rounding into form as the playoffs draw closer and can lock up the region’s top seed.
North Lauderdale Somerset Prep (2-6) vs. 18. Carol City (6-3), 3:30, Thursday, Traz
Dre’s pick: Carol City 44, Somerset Prep 6. A big second-half for these Chiefs sends them to the playoffs with lots of momentum.
20. Plantation (5-4) vs. South Plantation (4-5), 7, Thursday, PAL.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 34, South Plantation 7. It’s a rivalry game, but the Colonels will continue to dominate as they have in recent years.
MORE GAMES
Wednesday - Miami-Dade: Miami Springs vs. Westland Hialeah (Monsignor Pace), 7; MS 30-6.
Friday - Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Tru Prep vs. Avant Garde (Ansin), 7; AG 9-7; Miami-Dade: GMAC independent semifinals - Ferguson at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30; Ferg 24-21; Mourning vs. Coral Reef (Southridge), 7; CR 27-17; American vs. North Miami (Traz), 7:30; NM 18-14; Killian at Belen, 7; Bel 24-14; Krop at La Salle, 7; LaS 28-6; Gulliver at St. Brendan, 7; Gull 20-7; Southwest vs. Coral Gables (Tropical), 7:30; CG 28-7; Miami Beach vs. Mater Academy (Milander), 3; Mater 34-24; North Miami Beach at Lake City Columbia, 7; Col 34-22; True North at Somerset Canyons, 7; TN 35-20; Florida Christian at Palmer Trinity, 4; FC 21-14; Somerset South Homestead at Westminster Christian, 4; WC 27-12; Palm Glades Prep at Somerset Silver Palms, 7; SP 30-14; Broward: Coconut Creek at Stoneman Douglas, 7; Creek 34-12; Cooper City at Flanagan, 7; Flan 24-17; Coral Springs at Taravella, 7; CS 7-6; Cypress Bay at Hallandale, 7; CB 30-16; Deerfield Beach at Dillard, 7; Dil 38-6; Everglades at McArthur, 7; Ever 14-7; Nova at Hollywood Hills, 7; Nova 27-14; Northeast at Pompano Beach, 7; Pomp 16-6; Coral Glades at Boca Raton, 6:30; Boca 35-10; Fort Lauderdale vs. Stranahan (Lockhart), 7; Stran 27-12; Archbishop McCarthy at Kings Academy, 6:30; KA 35-34; Marathon at Pine Crest, 3; Mar 24-14; Somerset Academy at St. John Neumann, 7; Neumann 31-17.
ANDRE’S RECORD
Last week — Top 20 games: 14-2; Overall: 38-9; Season — Top 20 games: 109-23 (.826); Overall: 374-93 (.801).
This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 8:00 AM.
