Fernandez: Dillard among improved teams looking to prove legitimacy in round 1
The second season…the real season…is finally here.
Are perennial contenders and defending state champions going to repeat?
Or will we see new blood at the top this December at Pitbull Stadium?
The five-week road to learn those answers begins this week around the state.
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Miami Northwestern, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna and Plantation American Heritage are looking to repeat.
None of those five should have trouble advancing this week, but several upstarts looking to make their own way to state have key matchups that highlight the first round.
Let’s take a look at the Miami Herald’s rankings to open the playoffs and this week’s games.
THE MIAMI HERALD’S SOUTH FLORIDA TOP 20
1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (9-1); 2. Miami Northwestern (9-0); 3. Hollywood Chaminade (7-2); 4. Miami Central (8-1); 5. Miami Southridge (9-1); 6. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (10-0); 7. Pembroke Pines West Broward (8-2); 8. Hollywood McArthur (8-2); 9. Miami True North (8-2); 10. Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (8-2); 11. Miami Palmetto (8-2); 12. Coconut Creek Monarch (6-4); 13. Plantation American Heritage (4-5); 14. Miami Norland (5-5); 15. Plantation (6-4); 16. Miami La Salle (10-0); 17. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (7-3); 18. Coconut Creek (7-3); 19. Pembroke Pines Flanagan (8-2); 20. Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (8-2); Dropped out: 19. Davie Western (4-6); On the cusp: Miami Killian (7-2), Miami Edison (5-4), Sunrise Piper (6-4), Miami Carol City (6-4), Hialeah Goleman (7-3).
GAMES OF THE WEEK
Region 4-4A: 15. Plantation (6-4) at 6. Dillard (10-0), 7:30, Friday.
Dillard impressed from the first week of the season with its impressive season-opening win against Orlando Dr. Phillips, and cruised to an unbeaten season. The Panthers, along with Northwestern and La Salle, carry the only unblemished records into the playoffs. But Dillard has heard the criticism about their “weak schedule” and is looking to prove itself legit starting with this week’s matchup.
Plantation was competitive all season, but really hit its stride late in the year behind sophomore quarterback Zakari Johnson. The Colonels have been battle-tested and should put unbeaten Dillard on upset alert.
Dre’s pick: Plantation 28, Dillard 27.
Region 4-5A: 18. Coconut Creek (8-2) at 20. Mater Academy (8-2), 7, Milander, Friday.
Likely one of the most intriguing matchups of round 1, the winner of this one very likely earns the daunting task of facing St. Thomas Aquinas next week. But that’s next week. This week is about two of the turnaround stories of 2025 trying to make another memorable chapter by winning what should be a hard-fought matchup. I like turnovers to decide this one and Creek seems to have a bit more momentum heading into the postseason.
Dre’s pick: Creek 17, Mater 13.
Region 4-6A: Piper (6-4) at 19. Flanagan (8-2), 7:30, Friday.
Piper gradually turned things around after a disastrous start and could be dangerous in this matchup against a much-improved Falcons’ squad. Flanagan has been through a challenging slate this season, though, and gets the slight nod at home to set up a fun neighborhood rivalry game next week with West Broward.
Dre’s pick: Flanagan 21, Piper 14.
Region 4-2A: Killian (7-2) vs. Carol City (6-4), 7:30, Betty Ferguson, Friday.
Killian is another turnaround story this season as the Cougars have shown vast improvement thanks to a revamped roster, which made them competitive again in Class 2A. The Chiefs took their lumps early in the season and have struggled with consistency, but appear to be picking up steam against tough opposition late. This might be one of the closest games of the first round.
Dre’s pick: Carol City 29-28.
GMAC independent final — Coral Reef (8-2) vs. Hialeah Gardens (4-6), 7, Wednesday, Tropical.
If you had put the name Hialeah Gardens and the word “championship,” describing a championship game of any kind, in the same sentence a few years ago, it would have been laughable. But massive kudos to coach Greg Magner and his staff for putting the Gladiators in striking distance of claiming this trophy. Making it happen will be tough, though, against the Barracudas, who are looking for a repeat as the conference’s kings.
Dre’s pick: Coral Reef 20, Hialeah Gardens 7.
THE REST OF THE TOP 20
Region 4-5A: Palm Bay Heritage (4-6) at 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (9-1), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 49, Heritage 7. The march to seven titles in a row begins.
Region 4-3A: Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (4-6) at 2. Northwestern (9-0), 7:30, Thursday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Northwestern 48, Somerset Academy 6. The countdown to the rematch with Central continues.
Region 4-1A: Boca Raton St. John Paul II (3-5) at 3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (7-2), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 50, St. John Paul II 6. The march to five titles in a row begins.
Region 4-3A: Miami St. Brendan (4-6) at 4. Central (8-1) 7, Thursday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Central 52, St. Brendan 3. Are the Rockets ready to reclaim the throne this season?
Region 4-6A: Davie Nova (5-5) at 5. Southridge (9-1), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Southridge 42, Nova 7. The Spartans’ road gets more challenging starting next week.
Region 4-6A: South Plantation (6-4) at 7. West Broward (8-2), 7:30, Friday, Cypress Bay.
Dre’s pick: West Broward 44, South Plantation 7. If the Bobcats can limit mistakes, they’ll have as good a chance as any team in Class 6A.
Region 4-5A: 8. Hollywood McArthur (8-2) at Stuart Martin County (8-2), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: McArthur 34, Martin County 14. The Mustangs should pick up their first playoff win since 2019.
Region 4-1A: Miami Palmer Trinity (7-2) at 9. Miami True North (8-2), 7:30, Friday, Tropical
Dre’s pick: True North 41, Palmer Trinity 7. The Titans justifiably have high hopes for this season.
Region 4-4A: Hialeah (7-3) at 10. Archbishop McCarthy (8-2), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Archbishop McCarthy 35, Hialeah 8. The Mavericks should continue their impressive ascent.
Region 4-7A: Coral Springs Coral Glades (6-4) at 11. Palmetto (8-2), 7, Thursday, Tropical.
Dre’s pick: Palmetto 38, Coral Glades 7. Props to the Jaguars for a fine season, but Palmetto is a different level.
Region 4-6A: Doral Academy (5-4) at 12. Coconut Creek Monarch (6-4), 7:30, Friday, Coconut Creek.
Dre’s pick: Monarch 44, Doral 12. The Knights have had a strong second half and hope to carry that momentum far.
Region 4-4A: Fort Pierce John Carroll (8-2) at 13. Plantation American Heritage (4-5), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: American Heritage 33, John Carroll 10. Are the Patriots still good enough to repeat as state champs?
Region 4-4A: 14. Miami Norland (5-5) at Jensen Beach (8-2), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Norland 27, Jensen Beach 13. The Vikings should be good enough to make it to the big matchups in this region starting next week.
Region 4-2A: Miami Somerset Silver Palms (7-3) at 16. Miami La Salle (10-0), 7, Thursday.
Dre’s pick: La Salle 37, Somerset Silver Palms 14. The Royal Lions march on as they bid to make it to state.
Region 4-2A: Miami Monsignor Pace (4-6) at 17. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (7-3), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Gibbons 34, Pace 14. The Chiefs might be peaking at the right time for a big playoff run.
OTHER GAMES
Thursday — 7A-4A FIT first round: Fort Pierce Westwood at Miramar, 7; Mir 28-12.
Friday — Region 4-7A: Miami Columbus at Lantana Santaluces, 7:30; Col 20-14; Davie Western at Boca Raton Spanish River, 7:30; West 17-14; Region 4-5A: North Miami at Delray Beach Atlantic, 7:30; Atl 34-8; Region 3-2A: Coconut Creek North Broward Prep at Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, 7:30; Mooney 42-6; Fort Myers Bishop Verot at Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian, 7:30; BV 33-30; Region 4-2A: Miami Ransom Everglades at Miami Gulliver Prep, 2:30; Gul 24-17; Region 4-1A: Miami Archbishop Carroll at Boca Raton St. Andrews, 7:30; SA 30-14; Miami Westminster Christian at Miami Edison (Traz), 3:30; Ed 30-13; SSAC 11-man semifinal: NSU University School at Jupiter Christian, 6:30; JC 28-20.
Saturday — Region 4-7A: Homestead South Dade vs. Hialeah Goleman (Traz), 7:30; Gol 14-12; 3A-1A FIT first round: Dunedin vs. North Miami Beach (Traz), 4; NMB 22-14.
Andre’s record — Last week (Top 20): 15-1; Overall: 36-7; Season (Top 20): 138-20 (.873); Overall: 412-89 (.822).
This story was originally published November 10, 2025 at 12:43 PM.
