Western confident it can navigate tougher road to elusive first trip to state | Opinion
The path to earn the right to play for a state championship at home at Pitbull Stadium from Dec. 11-14 has been laid out for Miami-Dade and Broward County’s best.
They begin to walk it this weekend with the start of the state playoffs.
Let’s take a look at the new Miami Herald Top 20 rankings, the first-round playoff picture and a couple of other championships at stake this weekend.
THE TOP 20
1. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (8-2); 2. Plantation American Heritage (7-2); 3. Miami Norland (7-2*); 4. Miami Northwestern (7-2); 5. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (7-3); 6. Miami Columbus (6-3); 7. Miami Booker T. Washington (7-2); 8. Miami Southridge (8-2); 9. Coconut Creek Monarch (6-3); 10. Davie Western (4-6*); 11. Miami Palmetto (6-4); 12. Sunrise Piper (9-1); 13. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (7-3); 14. Miami Monsignor Pace (8-2); 15. Miami Carol City (7-3); 16. Plantation (6-4); 17. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (8-2); 18. Pembroke Pines West Broward (7-3); 19. Miramar (6-4); 20. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (6-4); Dropped out: No. 2 Central (0-9*); On the cusp: Homestead (4-4), Miami La Salle (9-1), Miami Edison (6-4), Hialeah (8-2), Homestead South Dade (5-5), Miami True North (7-3).
NOTE: *-Record updated after forfeits.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
10. Western (4-6) vs. 11. Palmetto (6-4), 7:30, Friday, Tropical.
One spot in the rankings separated Western from facing two-time defending state champion Columbus in the first round and entering the playoffs as the No. 7 seed and facing Palmetto. If you ask the Wildcats, whose playoff status changed dramatically after having to forfeit two victories this season, they don’t care what path they need to take to try and bring home the school’s first state title.
Western has been peaking on the field during the past month with a balanced offense and playmaking defense, which led it to a huge win against West Broward last week. Now, it gets a Palmetto team, which lost to Fort Myers Bishop Verot, but has had plenty of success since getting its running game going earlier this season. The key in this game could come down to turnovers in a game between two potential shutdown defenses. Dre’s pick: Western 13, Palmetto 10.
15. Carol City (7-3) at 20. Cardinal Gibbons (6-4), 7:30, Friday.
A rare meeting between these two schools both nicknamed the Chiefs.
Carol City enters the playoffs on a five-game winning streak and has been rolling thanks to its defense, which has allowed only 18 points during that span. Gibbons has yielded plenty of points this season, but has also been able to score on just about everyone. One has to give. Typically, defense wins big games in the playoffs. Dre’s pick: Carol City 16, Cardinal Gibbons 14.
Homestead (4-4) at 9. Monarch (6-3), 7:30, Friday, Coconut Creek.
Entering the season, this was the game many thought would be played in the regional finals as both teams entered as favorites in Class 6A. After some early struggles, Monarch has been picking up momentum in recent weeks, starting with its close victory against Piper for the district title. The Knights’ high-powered offense presents an interesting matchup against the well-rested Broncos, who have not played a game since Oct. 24. If Homestead’s offense is sharp and can run the ball, it will have a shot at fulfilling its hopes of finally winning a state title after coming up short two consecutive seasons in the state final. Dre’s pick: Monarch 22, Homestead 20.
Miami Ferguson (5-5) vs. Miami Coral Reef (8-1), 7, Thursday, Southridge.
The past two GMAC independent conference champions will now clash for that same title. Coral Reef is seeking its second such crown in the past three seasons while Ferguson is trying to repeat.
And while Coral Reef has had the more dominant season in terms of wins and losses, throw the records out in this one. Reef prevailed in the first meeting between the schools during the regular season, 22-21, on a game-clinching two-point conversion pass from quarterback Isaac Roque to Roger Rodriguez.
Both teams have enjoyed success when they have been able to establish their respective running games to set up big plays through the air. The winner may need a huge play on defense to tip the scales. Dre’s pick: Coral Reef 27, Ferguson 24.
NSU University School (9-2) vs. Oviedo Master’s Academy (10-1), 7, Saturday, The Villages.
The Sharks had a disappointing finish to 2023 when they lost a rematch in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference semifinals to Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy after beating the Lions during the regular season. With most of its core of players returning, NSU University School took the next step and completed a run to the SSAC state championship game.
The Sharks have been led by a prolific running game powered by Jacques Dixson (745 yards, 10 touchdowns), and their passing attack is led by quarterback Jayden Miller (15 TD passes) and Carlos Avila-Lopez (872 yards, 7 TDs receiving). Shawn Garcon (105 tackles) and Justice Martin (12 sacks) anchor University on defense.
University has a major challenge on its hands this week though as Master’s Academy is the defending state champion in this division. The Eagles also returned most of their team including prolific passing freshman quarterback Jackson Stecher (2,449 yards, 34 TDs, 2 INTs). The only way the Sharks even have a chance is by effectively running the ball and creating turnovers. Dre’s pick: Master’s Academy 34, University School 20.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
4-1A: Boca Raton St. John Paul II (4-5) at 1. Chaminade (8-2), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 52, St. John Paul II 3. I wouldn’t expect the Lions to be challenged much, if at all, in this region.
4-4A: Jensen Beach (7-3) at 2. American Heritage (7-2), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: American Heritage 44, Jensen Beach 14. The Patriots begin what they hope is a march to a state title.
4-4A: 3. Norland (7-2) vs. Hialeah (8-2), 7:30, Friday, Milander.
Dre’s pick: Norland 38, Hialeah 13. Another strong regular season for the T-Breds, but here comes a Vikings squad that’s on another level.
4-3A: Naples Barron Collier (5-5) at 4. Northwestern (7-2), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Northwestern 42, Barron Collier 6. The path has been laid out for the Bulls to get back to state. This is the first step.
4-5A: North Miami (6-4) at 5. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-3), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Aquinas 47, North Miami 8. The Raiders are the No. 2 seed in the region, but the prohibitive favorite in the eyes of many to repeat in this class.
4-7A: Boca Raton Spanish River (7-3) at 6. Columbus (6-3), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Columbus 34, Spanish River 7. The Explorers shouldn’t have much trouble this early in the playoffs as they start their bid for a three-peat.
4-2A: North Miami Beach (3-7) vs. 7. Booker T. Washington (7-2), 7:30, Thursday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Booker T. 34, NMB 12. The Tornadoes get a jump start on the rest of the playoff field
4-6A: Hollywood South Broward (4-6) at 8. Southridge (8-2), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Southridge 38, South Broward 3. The Spartans should have little trouble at home in this one as they await either a rematch with longtime rival Homestead or one of Broward’s best in Monarch in round 2.
4-6A: Doral Academy (5-4) at 12. Piper (9-1), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Piper 27, Doral 6. The Bengals made it to the first round last year, but didn’t stay long. Expect a longer playoff run this year following a great season.
4-5A: Coconut Creek (4-5) at 13. Blanche Ely (7-3), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Ely 37, Creek 16. Not long ago this was a district clash. No love lost in this one. Expect Ely to light up the scoreboard early and often and set up the matchup it wanted in round 2.
4-2A: Miami Ransom Everglades (6-3) at 14. Monsignor Pace (7-2), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Pace 27, Ransom 14. Ransom freshman quarterback Neimann Lawrence is very good, but the Spartans have a talented defense and their own playmakers on offense tested by a tough schedule.
4-4A: Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (6-4) at 16. Plantation (6-4), 7, Thursday, PAL.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 27, McCarthy 7. The Colonels make it two victories in this matchup after taking down the Mavericks earlier this season as well.
4-4A: 17. Dillard (8-2) at Fort Pierce John Carroll (10-0), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Dillard 19, John Carroll 14. The Panthers’ defense makes the key plays late to move on.
4-6A: Pembroke Pines Flanagan (7-3) at 18. West Broward (7-3), 7:30, Friday, Cypress Bay.
Dre’s pick: West Broward 35, Flanagan 7. The Bobcats continue their breakthrough season with a convincing win over a neighborhood rival.
4-5A: Palm Bay Heritage (5-5) at 19. Miramar (6-4), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Miramar 24, Heritage 14. The Patriots follow up an eye-opening win over Gibbons by advancing to the regional semis.
MORE GAMES
Thursday - 4-1A: Deerfield Beach Somerset Key at Edison, 3:30; Edi 48-6.
Friday - 4-7A: South Dade at Lantana Santaluces, 7:30; SD 24-20; Hialeah Goleman at Boca Raton, 7:30; BR 34-16; 4-5A: Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy at Delray Beach Atlantic, 7:30; Atl 44-7; 4-4A: Miami Jackson at Naples Lely, 7:30; Lely 24-23; Fort Myers Cypress Lake at Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (Ansin), 7:30; Som 26-23; 4-2A: La Salle at Pinecrest Gulliver Prep, 3; LaS 21-13; 3-2A: West Palm Beach Kings Academy at Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian, 7:30; Calv 35-28; 4-1A: Archbishop Carroll at Boca Raton St. Andrews, 7:30; SA 28-21; True North at Palmer Trinity, 2:45; TN 34-13.
ANDRE’S RECORD
Last week — Top 20 games: 2-0; Overall: 13-1; Season — Top 20 games: 118-26 (.819); Overall: 415-103 (.801).
