Fernandez: Central overcomes tough challenge from Southridge in GMAC title game
With three weeks left in the regular season, some district titles have been decided and several teams have a pretty good idea whether they will make the playoffs or not.
But there are still plenty of meaningful matches left on the slate, highlighted this week by the GMAC championship series, which again features less often-seen matchups like the championship game Saturday between two state title contenders in Miami Central and Miami Southridge.
Let’s take a look at that and the rest of the intriguing matchups in week 9, plus our new South Florida Top 20 rankings.
THE MIAMI HERALD’S SOUTH FLORIDA TOP 20
1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1); 2. Miami Northwestern (6-1); 3. Hollywood Chaminade (6-1); 4. Miami Central (5-1); 5. Miami Southridge (8-0); 6. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (8-0); 7. Plantation American Heritage (4-3); 8. Miami Palmetto (6-1); 9. Hollywood McArthur (5-2); 10. Pembroke Pines West Broward (5-2); 11. Miami True North (4-2); 12. Coconut Creek Monarch (4-3); 13. Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (7-0); 14. Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (5-2); 15. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (5-2); 16. Coconut Creek (6-2); 17. Miramar (3-4); 18. Plantation (4-3); 19. Miami Norland (3-5); 20. Pembroke Pines Flanagan (5-2); Dropped out: 20. Hialeah Gardens Goleman (4-3); On the cusp: Columbus (3-5), Piper (5-3), Miami Gulliver (4-2), Killian (4-2), Miami La Salle (6-0), Edison (2-4).
GAMES OF THE WEEK
5. Southridge (8-0) vs. 4. Central (5-1), 7, Traz, Saturday.
Both teams were unbeaten when the seeds were set for this GMAC championship game. But then Central lost a tough rivalry battle with Northwestern, securing the Bulls a district championship.
The Rockets still appear more than capable of making a run at a state championship in Class 3A as they gear up for a possible playoff rematch. Until then, games like this will keep Central battle-tested.
Southridge picked up a quality victory against Columbus and is in the midst of one of its best seasons in recent memory. An explosive offense led by quarterback James Perrone and a turnover-creating defense have made the Spartans one of the top teams in the state.
But the Rockets’ biggest strength is a punishing defensive front that rivals any in the state and perhaps the nation. Expect them to challenge Southridge up front in this battle of title contenders. Dre’s pick: Central 20, Southridge 14.
8. Palmetto (6-1) vs. 2. Northwestern (6-1), 7:30, Traz, Friday.
Palmetto is enjoying one of its best seasons since it reached the state semifinals during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The Panthers have already secured a district title, beaten rival Columbus, and are gaining momentum for the playoffs. But the final stretch will continue to push them to the limit.
Northwestern brings one of the deepest rosters in the country to this contest and one of the most talented quarterbacks in Neiman Lawrence. The Panthers will have a chance to do big things in Class 7A, but the Bulls have too many weapons. Dre’s pick: Northwestern 34, Palmetto 14.
7. American Heritage (4-3) at 14. Archbishop McCarthy (5-2), 7, Friday.
South Florida’s deepest division — District 15-4A — is starting to look like it might have all four teams qualify for the postseason for the second consecutive year. Plantation’s 28-27 win against McCarthy pushed the Colonels into the postseason picture.
Despite its tumultuous early season, Heritage has played itself into position to win the district with a victory against McCarthy, which could still win the district title if it beats Heritage and Norland beats Plantation. If the Mavericks win and Plantation wins, it would lead to a three-way tie with the highest-ranked team in the FHSAA power rankings securing the district title at that point. It might not come down to any of that as Heritage appears to have found its stride again in recent weeks and is building toward another run at a state title. Dre’s pick: Heritage 35, McCarthy 17.
17. Miramar (3-4) at 10. West Broward (5-2), 7, Flanagan, Thursday.
West Broward’s 0-2 start is a distant memory, but it was a valuable lesson for a team which continues to improve every week and looks like a scarier and scarier threat to make a state title run in Class 6A. The Bobcats’ running game can take over a game and will be challenged by Miramar’s competitive defense. The Patriots are battle-tested and won’t make this easy for West Broward, but expect the Bobcats to continue to roll. Dre’s pick: West Broward 27, Miramar 12.
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1) at 12. Monarch (4-3), 7, Coconut Creek, Friday.
The Raiders were pushed hard overseas, but emerged with a 41-38 win against the NFL Academy last week in London. Back and settled in back home, Aquinas now shifts its attention to winning a seventh consecutive state title and 17th overall. The next step is a quick ride up the road to Coconut Creek to take on a battle-tested Monarch squad, which is also trying to prove it is a contender in Class 6A. Aquinas’ depth once again tips the scales in its favor. Dre’s pick: Aquinas 35, Monarch 13.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
3. Chaminade (5-1): Bye
6. Dillard (8-0): Bye
Fort Lauderdale (1-6) at 9. McArthur (5-2), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: McArthur 46, Fort Lauderdale 3. The Mustangs are trying to make a push for a top-4 seed in their region.
11. True North (4-2) vs. Boynton Beach Somerset Canyons (3-3), 7:30, Friday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: True North 42, Somerset Canyons 10. The Titans are playing at a higher level than ever for their program.
13. Mater Academy (7-0) at Lakeland Lake Gibson (4-3), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Mater Academy 35, Lake Gibson 30. Another good test in the growth of the Lions as a program.
15. Cardinal Gibbons (5-2) at Boca Raton (4-3), 6:30, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Gibbons 35, Boca Raton 7. The Chiefs are making a push for the top seed in the region and a run to state.
16. Coconut Creek (6-2): Bye
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3-4) at 18. Plantation (4-3), 7, Friday, PAL.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 33, Ely 17. The Colonels’ offense is thriving behind their sophomore quarterback.
19. Norland (3-5) at Columbus (2-5), 6, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Columbus 14, Norland 13. A ranking boosting win for the Explorers in a matchup of two of the best under-.500 teams in the state.
20. Flanagan (5-2) at Hallandale (3-3), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Flanagan 34, Hallandale 7. The Falcons continue their resurgent season and build momentum for the playoffs.
OTHER GAMES
Tuesday - Miami-Dade: Miami High at La Salle, 4; LaS 42-2.
Wednesday - Miami-Dade: South Miami at Coral Park, 3:30; SM 8-3.
Thursday - Miami-Dade: Booker T. vs. North Miami (Traz), 7; NM 28-12; Coral Gables vs. Miami Beach (Memorial), 7; CG 24-7; Ferguson vs. Krop (Ives), 7; Krop 15-14; Killian vs. Hialeah (Milander), 7; Kil 30-27; Edison vs. Coral Reef (Tropical), 7; Ed 28-14; Goleman vs. Carol City (Betty Ferguson), 7; Gol 34-20; HML at Sunset, 3:30; Sun 6-3; Jackson at Reagan, 3:30; RR 14-7; Boca Raton Spanish River at Doral, 7; SR 28-17; Gulliver at Belen, 7; Gul 27-17; Archbishop Carroll at Somerset Homestead, 7; AC 27-6; Broward: Coral Glades at Taravella, 6:30; CG 37-7; Deerfield Beach at Delray Atlantic, 6:30; Atl 45-2; Everglades at Pines Charter, 6; Ever 16-6; Northeast at Riviera Beach Suncoast, 6:30; Sun 12-6; Somerset Prep at Somerset Academy, 7; SA 23-14; Ransom Everglades at NSU University School, 6; US 28-20.
Friday - Miami-Dade: NMB vs. South Dade (Harris), 7; SD 20-18; American vs. Homestead (Harris), 3:30; Hom 18-12; Miami High vs. Miami Springs (Milander), 7:30; MS 21-7; Southwest at Varela, 3:30; Var 17-14; Hialeah Gardens at Braddock, 3:30; Brad 24-14; Monsignor Pace at Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, 7; CM 42-6; St. Brendan at La Salle, 7:30; LaS 28-14; Somerset Silver Palms at St. Pete Hollins, 7; SSP 21-7; Everglades Prep at Palmer Trinity, 4; PT 35-7; Broward: Western at Cypress Bay, 7; West 14-7; Boyd Anderson at Stranahan (Dillard), 7; Stran 12-9; Calvary Christian at Boca St. Andrews, 6; SA 41-31; Coral Springs at Douglas, 7; MSD 20-14; South Broward at Nova, 7; SB 14-13; Cooper City at South Plantation, 7; SP 34-17; Pompano Beach at Hollywood Hills, 4; HH 10-9; North Broward Prep at Coral Springs Charter, 7; NBP 31-24; Orlando Lake Highland Prep at Pine Crest, 6; LHP 35-20; Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Florida Christian at Westminster Academy, 7; WA 21-20.
Monday - Broward: Somerset Canyons at Somerset Academy, 4; SA 24-20
Andre’s record - Last week (Top 20): 14-2; Overall: 43-8; Season (Top 20): 100-15 (.870); Overall: 300-61 (.831).
This story was originally published October 13, 2025 at 2:41 PM.
