Fernandez: Is this finally Miami Palmetto’s time to move past Columbus?
Longtime story arcs for some South Florida teams will be settled this week in the second round of the playoffs.
Is Miami Palmetto finally going to be able to truly crack the Miami Columbus code and make a run at a state title?
Is Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy for real in Class 4A? Will there be more history made at Coconut Grove Ransom Everglades, Miami Goleman, Miami Killian or Miami La Salle?
Just how good are Pembroke Pines West Broward, Hollywood McArthur and Mimi True North?
Let’s take a look at the schedule of games for the regional semifinal round of the playoffs, starting with three of the best matchups.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
Region 4-7A — 5. Columbus (4-7) at 1. Palmetto (9-2), 7, Friday, Tropical.
This has been one of the best rivalries in South Florida in recent years… even if lopsided in Columbus’ favor. The Explorers have been a marvel of consistency since 2019, winning three state titles (2019, 2022, 2023), a Tri-County title in 2020 due to COVID-19 when several schools opted out of the state tournament and reaching the state semifinals in 2021 and 2024.
Most of those have come after eliminating Palmetto from the playoffs. Ironically, that 2020 season was the closest Palmetto came to winning a state title before losing in the state semifinals.
But this season has been different… so far.
The Panthers finally beat the Explorers 24-21 on Sept. 12, which would lead to a district championship. Columbus went on to have one of the worst regular seasons in terms of wins and losses in its history, going 3-7, albeit against one of the state’s toughest schedules.
Palmetto appears to have gained confidence since, winning seven of the next eight games with the only exception being a 28-0 loss to mighty Miami Northwestern. The Panthers were in a scoreless battle with the Bulls in that game until late in the third quarter.
But this Friday, none of that will matter.
It will come down to Palmetto proving itself finally better than its longtime nemesis.
This is not a typical Columbus team. But don’t mistake that for a team that won’t be competitive and prepared for a showdown like this and a chance to maintain its grip on this rivalry.
But maybe, just maybe, this is finally Palmetto’s time. Dre’s pick: Palmetto 20, Columbus 17.
Region 4-2A — 5. Miami Ransom Everglades (7-4) at 1. Miami La Salle (11-0), 7, Friday.
None of Ransom’s players were alive the last time the Raiders won a playoff game. But they showed no fear last week even when a historic win for their program appeared to be slipping away and hung on to beat Gulliver 20-13 for their first postseason win since 1996.
Now, another battle awaits Ransom Everglades against a fellow Coconut Grove-based school, which is enjoying still relatively recent, historic football success in La Salle.
These schools, separated by less than three miles, have had plenty of crucial matchups in numerous sports in the past, but none like this in football.
The Royal Lions squeaked past the Raiders 21-17 on Sept. 26 as part of their undefeated regular season and run of 22 wins in 24 games dating to last season.
Even this season, both teams were counted out early after two of their respective stars transferred to other schools. But to each team’s credit, it was not the end of their rise to prominence.
If anything, Ransom and La Salle improved upon last year’s success with the Raiders’ advancing to this round and the Royal Lions earning a No. 1 seed in the region and going unbeaten. It should be a fun atmosphere on Friday between two programs hungry to keep excelling. Dre’s pick: La Salle 24, Ransom 21.
Region 4-4A — 4. Miami Norland (6-5) at 1. Archbishop McCarthy (9-2), 7, Friday.
Not only did the four teams in District 15-4A all make the playoffs for the second consecutive season, they all made it past the first round. McCarthy has been one of the remarkable stories of this season, and one of its biggest wins came at Norland’s expense. The winner will face the winner of the Plantation American Heritage vs. Plantation matchup between the No. 2 and 3 seeds in the region.
Norland might be playing its best football of the season right now after showing it in a regular-season ending win over Plantation and in last week’s road win over Jensen Beach. The Vikings have complemented a punishing defense with a strong running attack.
It’s hard to pick against a McCarthy team that continues to prove the doubters wrong as it did twice this season — once in the first meeting between these teams and later in a win over Heritage, which clinched the No. 1 seed in this competitive region. Dre’s pick: McCarthy 28, Norland 27.
OTHER GAMES
Region 4-7A — 3. Hialeah Goleman (7-4) at 2. Boca Raton Spanish River (7-4), 6:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Goleman 31, Spanish River 30. This is the most talented team in Goleman history. The Gators should make school history and reach their first regional final, although it won’t be easy.
Region 4-6A — 3. Coconut Creek Monarch (7-4) at 2. West Broward (9-2), 7, Friday, Cypress Bay.
Dre’s pick: West Broward 35, Monarch 20. A good matchup here, but the Bobcats have the talent to turn this into a more lopsided result if they can avoid mistakes. West Broward has a tough road ahead, but is looking to show it is a true state title contender while the Knights have the experience of being a playoff regular.
Region 4-6A — 5. Sunrise Piper (7-4) at 1. Miami Southridge (10-1), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Southridge 34, Piper 7. Props to the Bengals, who turned things around after a tough start and scored a solid win over Flanagan last week. But the Spartans will be the toughest foe they’ve encountered since the start of the season.
Region 4-5A — 4. Coconut Creek (9-2) at 1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (10-1), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 37, Coconut Creek 17. The Raiders have never lost to Creek in five all-time playoff meetings. Expect the Cougars to be up for the challenge early, but the depth should swing things in Aquinas’ favor.
Region 4-5A - 6. Hollywood McArthur (9-2) at 2. Delray Beach Atlantic (10-1), 6:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: McArthur 32, Atlantic 31. The Mustangs’ comeback season has been looking for a signature win. If their offense continues its explosive ways, this could be the spot for it to happen.
Region 4-4A - 6. Plantation (7-4) at 2. American Heritage (5-5), 7:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: American Heritage 27, Plantation 14. It’s been a struggle to get back to this point for Heritage, but the Patriots know how to turn it on at the right time. Plantation is competitive, but a healthier Heritage’s experience should tip the scales in this neighborhood clash.
Region 4-3A - 4. Key West (7-4) at 1. Northwestern (10-0), 7:30, Friday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Northwestern 49, Key West 7. After this, the Bulls can get down to business and face Central for the right to churn through the final two rounds and win a state title in Class 3A.
Region 4-3A - 3. Naples Lely (8-3) at 2. Miami Central (9-1) 7, Thursday, Traz.
Dre’s pick: Central 49, Lely 7. The Rockets continue to mirror rival Northwestern as they approach their highly-anticipated showdown next Friday, which should decide the 3A state champion.
Region 4-2A - 3. Miami Killian (8-3) at 2. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (8-3), 7, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Cardinal Gibbons 24, Killian 13. The Cougars are a program on the rise and a dangerous opponent for the Chiefs. But Gibbons’ battle-tested group has the experience in big games like this to prevail.
Region 4-1A - 3. Boca Raton St. Andrews (10-1) at 2. True North (9-2), 7, Thursday, Tropical
Dre’s pick: True North 44, St. Andrews 21. The Titans haven’t come this far to fall short of playing Chaminade. If True North handles the Scots’ explosive combination of receivers Dylan Faison and Shovan Ericksson, and plays mistake-free football on offense, they’ll set up the showdown next week with the four-time reigning state champs from Hollywood.
Region 4-1A - 4. Miami Edison (6-4) at 1. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (8-2), 6:30, Friday.
Dre’s pick: Chaminade 44, Edison 13. The Lions’ march to another state title is more likely a countdown, although this victory sets up an interesting one next week.
FIT 3A-1A second round - 3. Booker T. Washington (2-8) at 2. Hallandale (6-4), 7, Friday. Dre’s pick: Hallandale 20, Booker T. 14.
FIT 3A-1A second round - 4. Cape Coral Oasis (4-6) vs. 1. North Miami Beach (4-6), 6, Traz, Saturday. Dre’s pick: North Miami Beach 20, Oasis 14.
Andre’s record - Last week (Top 20): 17-1; Overall: 26-6; Season (Top 20): 155-21 (.881); Overall: 438-95 (.822).
