Fernandez: Ice Harris teams hinder La Salle again, Norland rounding into form
Two weeks remain in the regular season and the playoff picture in South Florida is taking shape.
Many of the expected state championship contenders are tuning up to make another run over the next month and a half they hope will conclude with them hoisting a trophy at Pitbull Stadium in December.
But many are still either fighting for playoff spots or vying to improve their seeding.
I’m not starting with the marquee names or the top-ranked teams in the Games of the Week section. This week, I’m starting with a matchup of two programs that have come a long way in a short period of time.
Let’s take a look at the matchup between Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy and Miami’s Immaculata-LaSalle as well as other meaningful matchups in week 10 of the regular season, and the new South Florida Top 20 poll.
THE MIAMI HERALD’S SOUTH FLORIDA TOP 20
1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (7-1); 2. Miami Northwestern (7-1); 3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (6-1); 4. Miami Central (6-1); 5. Miami Southridge (8-1); 6. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (8-0); 7. Hollywood McArthur (6-2); 8. Pembroke Pines West Broward (6-2); 9. Miami True North (5-2); 10. Miami Palmetto (6-2); 11. Coconut Creek Monarch (4-4); 12. Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (6-2); 13. Plantation American Heritage (4-4); 14. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (6-2); 15. Plantation (5-3); 16. Coconut Creek (6-2); 17. Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (7-1); 18. Miami Norland (4-5); 19. Pembroke Pines Flanagan (6-2); 20. Miami La Salle (8-0); Dropped out: 17. Miramar (3-5); On the cusp: Davie Western (3-5), Sunrise Piper (5-3), Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (7-1), Miami Gulliver (5-2), Miami Killian (5-2), Miami Edison (3-4).
GAMES OF THE WEEK
17. Mater Academy (7-1) at 20. La Salle (8-0), 7, Friday.
Last year, La Salle opened eyes and set program records on its way to an 11-2 season, which ended in the Class 2A regional finals. The Royal Lions lost a good amount of talent either due to graduation or transfers. And yet, a credit to coach Helder Valle and his staff, La Salle hasn’t stopped winning. The Royal Lions are undefeated, winners of 19 of their past 21 games, and currently the No. 2 seed in Region 4-2A behind only perennial powerhouse Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.
La Salle has pumped in a lot of resources into state-of-the-art on-campus facilities and its program in recent years and is seeing the results pay off as now they host one of the most important games in their school’s history.
The Royal Lions’ only two losses last season were against Miami Booker T. Washington. The Tornadoes are no longer in their way as they are highly unlikely to make the playoffs this season at 2-7.
But this week, Booker T.’s former coach, Tim “Ice” Harris, is back in La Salle’s path.
Harris has been at the helm of a major improvement by Mater Academy this season. The Lions, who suffered their first loss of the season last week, 34-26, at Lakeland Lake Gibson, are still a top 3 seed in a loaded Region 4-5A. Mater Academy has shown its might throughout the regular season and is vying to prove itself as a true state title contender.
Mater has posted four shutouts this season, adapting to the brand of defense that made his Tornadoes teams so successful over the years.
Even with a younger roster, La Salle has also shut out four teams and played stingy defense throughout this season.
Mater’s more battle-tested slate could prove to be the difference in this one.
Dre’s pick: Mater Academy 24, La Salle 14.
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-1) at 13. American Heritage (4-4), 7, Friday.
The Class 4A playoff picture and state championship outlook got more interesting last week after Archbishop McCarthy scored one of its biggest wins ever by topping Heritage. The Mavericks figure to be in position to win the District 15-4A title. While the loss isn’t too damaging to Heritage’s playoff chances, it raises questions about whether the Patriots still have what it takes to repeat as state champions.
Here comes St. Thomas Aquinas, which has left little doubt as to who is still the favorite to win a seventh consecutive state crown in its classification.
The Raiders were pushed a bit by Monarch last week, but appear to overcome any potential lull following their successful trip to London.
Aquinas also hasn’t forgotten its loss a year ago to Heritage, and should get payback. But it will be interesting to see how much of a test the Patriots will give them.
Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, American Heritage 14.
18. Norland (4-5) at 15. Plantation (5-3), 7, Friday, PAL.
The aforementioned Class 4A playoff race is getting more and more interesting. Norland has all but locked up a playoff berth after its win over Columbus last week, but is still fighting for better playoff seeding while Plantation has been one of the more competitive teams in South Florida, and is looking to cement a top 4 seed in the region.
The Colonels offense has surged in recent weeks and could make them a dangerous opponent for any team in the region come playoff time.
The Vikings are balancing their offense with a potent running game to complement quarterback Kai Moore. If their defense continues to improve, look for Norland to also make a push as it likely will in this game. Dre’s pick: Norland 30, Plantation 27.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
2. Northwestern (7-1) at Miami St. Brendan (4-4), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Northwestern 48, St. Brendan 2. The Bulls passed a solid test vs. Palmetto and should cruise for the next few weeks.
3. Chaminade (6-1) at 14. Cardinal Gibbons (6-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 40, Cardinal Gibbons 14. Two ranked and good teams in this matchup. But Chaminade has made these games blowouts quickly in recent years.
Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (4-3) vs. 4. Central (6-1), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Central 42, Somerset Academy 2. Like Northwestern, the Rockets probably won’t be challenged again until their rematch in the playoffs.
5. Southridge (8-1): Bye.
Boynton Beach (5-3) at 6. Dillard (8-0), 6:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Dillard 34, Boynton Beach 24. The Panthers are rolling toward a perfect regular season and perhaps more.
South Plantation (6-2) at 7. McArthur (6-2), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: McArthur 48, South Plantation 6. The Mustangs are clicking as the playoffs draw closer.
Miami Dr. Krop (2-6) vs. 8. West Broward (6-2), 7, Thursday, Flanagan.
Dre’s pick: West Broward 49, Krop 3. The Bobcats aren’t leaving any doubt as they surge toward a potential state title run.
9. True North (5-2) at Miami Columbus (3-6), 6, Friday.
Dre’s pick: True North 31, Columbus 14. While this isn’t a typical Columbus team, this will still be another big win for the Titans.
10. Palmetto (6-2) vs. Miami High (1-6), 7:30, Friday, Curtis.
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 52, Miami High 2. The Panthers want to stay healthy in this game, which is sandwiched in between two tests to end the regular season.
11. Monarch (4-4) at Sunrise Piper (5-3), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 35, Piper 14. The home team has improved a lot since its rough start, but Monarch seems to be peaking at the right time.
12. Archbishop McCarthy (6-2) at Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (7-1), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: McCarthy 38, Calvary Christian 17. A season the Mavericks have been working toward in recent years continues to produce quality wins.
16. Coconut Creek (6-2) at Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3-5), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Coconut Creek 36, Ely 6. The resurgent Cougars are also picking up momentum heading into the playoffs.
Hollywood South Broward (3-5) at 19. Flanagan (6-2), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: Flanagan 34, South Broward 3. Cruise mode this week for the playoff-bound Falcons.
OTHER GAMES
Wednesday — Miami-Dade: South Miami vs. American (Tropical), 7; Am 21-6.
Thursday — Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Goleman at Taravella, 7; Gol 42-3; Miami-Dade: South Dade at Coral Gables, 3:30; SD 41-14; Edison vs. Homestead (Harris), 7; Ed 42-3; Hialeah vs. Miami Springs (Milander), 7; Hia 38-6; Braddock vs. Sunset (Tropical), 3:30; Brad 10-7; Florida Christian vs. Miami Beach (Memorial), 7; FC 22-14; Belen vs. Carol City (Betty Ferguson), 7; CC 26-14; NMB vs. Monsignor Pace (Traz), 7:30; NMB 22-12; Ransom Everglades vs. Booker T. (Curtis), 7; RE 34-20; Coral Park vs. Varela (Tropical), 7:30; Var 27-6; Hialeah Gardens at HML, 3:30; Gardens 20-6; Broward: Coral Springs Charter at Douglas, 7; CSC 14-12; Hallandale at Pines Charter, 7; Hall 30-23; Stranahan at Pompano Beach, 7; Stran 27-7; North Broward Prep at Pine Crest, 7; NBP 23-20; Delray American Heritage at NSU University School, 7; AH 34-24.
Friday — Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Somerset South Homestead at Westminster Academy, 7; WA 21-7; Miami-Dade: Southwest at Doral, 7; Doral 38-7; Jackson at Key West, 7:30; KW 27-6; Boca St. Andrews at Gulliver, 4; SA 31-28; Ferguson vs. Coral Reef (Tropical), 7:30; Reef 30-27; Somerset Silver Palms vs. Killian (Southridge), 7:30; Kil 30-21; Palmer Trinity at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30; AC 35-20; Westminster Christian at Gateway Charter, 6; WC 33-21; Broward: Everglades at Miramar, 7; Mir 28-3; Deerfield Beach at Western, 7; West 42-6; Nova at Coral Glades, 7; CG 27-7; Fort Lauderdale at Coral Springs, 7; FTL 24-7; Cypress Bay at Cooper City, 7; CB 34-30; Hollywood Hills at Boyd Anderson, 7; BA 9-7; Dr. Garcia at Northeast, 6:30; DG 35-14; Boca St. John Paul II at Somerset Key, 7; SJP 28-6.
Andre’s record — Last week (Top 20): 9-3; Overall: 37-12; Season (Top 20): 109-18 (.858); Overall: 337-73 (.822).
This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM.
