Can South Florida’s state champions survive the road to play for more titles at home? | Opinion
The road to this year’s state championships ends in Miami.
Ironically, in order to get there, several of Miami-Dade and Broward County’s surviving teams must travel far first to reach that last stop.
Five of the remaining seven teams left in the postseason must travel north in this week’s state semifinals including five-time reigning state champion Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and two-time defending state champion Miami Columbus.
Three-time defending state champion Hollywood Chaminade and Plantation American Heritage earned the right to stay home after securing the top seeds in their respective classes.
One final hurdle remains before the state finals begin at Pitbull Stadium Dec. 11-14.
Let’s take a look at what each of the seven teams must overcome to get the big dance:
NOTE: All games to be played Friday.
▪ 1A: Jacksonville Trinity Christian (10-3) at Chaminade (11-2), 7
Chaminade has made it to a state-record eight consecutive state finals, winning six state titles during that span. The only team that has defeated the Lions during that stretch, thus denying them two additional state titles is Trinity Christian.
The Conquerors, who have won nine state titles all-time led by veteran coach Verlon Dorminey, are back in Chaminade’s way this Friday.
But signs would indicate this is a bigger mismatch than in prior years of this contest. Trinity Christian’s offense is still among the more potent in the state led by freshman Terel Dallas. But the Lions appear to have too many weapons all over the field on offense, defense and special teams.
Chaminade has yet to pay back Trinity for those two defeats. That changes Friday. Dre’s pick: Chaminade 42, Trinity Christian 14.
2A: Booker T. (10-2) at Havana Gadsden County (12-1), 7:30
Miami Booker T. Washington has been chasing a return to the mountaintop since Tim “Ice” Harris’ return to the sideline in 2022. It has been five years since the Tornadoes hoisted a state championship trophy.
Booker T. didn’t start the season looking like a state title contender despite preseason expectations. But a year that started with losses to Miami Central (prior to the Rockets’ subsequent forfeit), Lakeland and Vero Beach toughened this young squad to play its best football in the postseason. The Tornadoes outscored their three regional opponents (North Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons and Miami La Salle) 119-19.
Gadsden County is in the state semis for the first time since 2020, chasing its first state championship, and coming off an impressive 21-9 win against Jacksonville Bolles last week. The Jaguars sport a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in seniors Kemarrion Battles and Tristen Davis, who have run behind a line anchored by Maryland commit Lamar Williams. Georgia State commit Bryon Jackson, an edge rusher, leads Gadsden County’s defense.
If the Tornadoes’ front can handle the run, they’ll have a chance. Can they handle the road environment as well? Dre’s pick: Booker T. 28, Gadsden County 27.
3A: Northwestern (10-2) at Melbourne Eau Gallie (12-1), 7:30
181-12. That’s the combined score of Northwestern’s three regional playoff wins over Naples Barron Collier, Naples Lely and Fort Myers Cypress Lake.
Once rival Central was forced to forfeit its nine wins and therefore its spot in the playoffs, a cakewalk to this round by the Bulls was expected.
Now, things “should” get a little more challenging.
Eau Gallie is making its first appearance in a state semifinal, but presents a tougher obstacle, first since Northwestern has to make the trek up I-95 for three hours, and second due to the talent the Commodores possess. Three-star linebacker Brandon Brown, an LSU commit, leads Eau Gallie in tackles (79) and has three sacks and two interceptions while edge rusher Josh Roberts, an FAU commit, leads the team with 14 sacks. Three-star safety Xavier Lherisse leads the Commodores with six interceptions.
Eau Gallie will be tested like it hasn’t been yet by a potent Bulls offense led by quarterback Leon Strawder that has been humming for more than a month. Dre’s pick: Northwestern 34, Eau Gallie 14.
4A: St. Augustine (11-1) at American Heritage (10-2), 7
This American Heritage team has been galvanized by two years of constant adversity. It started in 2022 when a promising run to the state final ended with a bitter loss to Miami Central. Last season, the Patriots appeared to have a reasonable path to state and a matchup with Miami Norland before being upset by eventual champion Tampa Berkeley Prep in the state semifinals.
It continued this season when they suffered four losses (two were later reversed by forfeits) while facing the state’s toughest-ranked schedule. It has all put the Patriots on a path to redemption, which should carry them past any opponent remaining if they play at their highest potential.
St. Augustine, a state champion once in 2005, sports a potent offense led by quarterback Locklan Hewlett, a USF commit, who has thrown for 2,560 yards, 28 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions this season. It’s a tough test for Heritage’s defense, but one it should be prepared for and aided by its own reinvigorated offense thanks to Miami commit Malachi Toney. Dre’s pick: American Heritage 38, St. Augustine 21.
5A: St. Thomas Aquinas (10-3) at Bradenton Manatee (10-1), 7:30
The state-record five-year championship run was in critical danger last week before senior quarterback Andrew Indorf anchored a memorable comeback against Delray Beach Atlantic and a 49-42 overtime win. Aquinas will have to be road warriors one more time against one of the state’s traditional powerhouses in Manatee, which is looking to end a 13-year state title drought.
The Hurricanes are led by a stout defense, anchored by linebacker and Louisville commit Caleb Matelau (13 tackles for loss) and Mercer commit Ean Johnson-Kelley (six sacks and 24 tackles for loss). The key for Aquinas could come down to establishing a ground attack early and controlling the tempo to avoid another desperate shootout and keep Manatee’s own potent offense on the sideline. Dre’s pick: Aquinas 37, Manatee 34.
6A: Southridge (11-2) at West Boca Raton (13-0), 7
Speaking of returns to prominence, a salute to the job Pierre Senatus and his staff have done to resurrect one of Dade’s proudest programs. The Spartans went through some tough years since winning their third state title in 2016. But under Senatus, they have gradually improved and appear to have built something sustainable, which isn’t easy to do these days at a public school. The difficulty level is about to ramp up for Southridge, however, as it faces an unbeaten West Boca Raton squad looking to make some history of its own. The Bulls are unbeaten, but lost an overtime thriller to Western earlier this season before the Wildcats had to forfeit that result.
Junior cornerback Jaydin Broadnax and senior safety Damon Allen, an FAU commit, lead their defense while junior running back Javian Mallary (10 TDs rushing) and sophomore Jayden Lockhart lead their offense. The Spartans’ defense has withstood some of the best in the state all season. But this one would take a sharp effort from James Perrone and their offense as well. Dre’s pick: Southridge 16, West Boca Raton 14.
7A: Columbus (9-3) at Venice (12-1), 7:30
The Explorers face by far their toughest test to their two-year state championship run as they face the last team to beat them in the postseason back in 2021. That 42-7 defeat on the road interrupted what could have been a run of three consecutive state titles for Columbus in seasons where it could compete for such a championship.
Venice sports a ton of talent as it looks to make its fourth consecutive trip to a state final. Running back Jamarice Wilder, a Louisville commit, wide receiver Ryan Matulevich, a Dartmouth pledge, and junior edge rusher Asharri Charles are among the leaders of this group. On offense, Venice is a juggernaut, scoring 663 points this season, which includes a 48-42 win over Northwestern and a 54-51 win over Cocoa. The Indians do allow plenty of points too (336). But Columbus’ strength all season has been its defense. If they played a perfect game and forced multiple turnovers, maybe. But their offense would have to keep up as well. Dre’s pick: Venice 35, Columbus 21.
ANDRE’S RECORD
Last week — Top 20 games: 6-1; Overall: 6-1; Season — Top 20 games: 149-31 (.828); Overall: 458-110 (.806).
