Miami Herald Top 20: South Florida’s best high school football teams
1. Booker T. Washington (8-0) vs. 14. Norland (3-2), 7:30, Fri., N. Miami.
Andre’s pick: Booker T. 35, Norland 7. Win No. 35 in a row won’t be a breeze, but Booker T. should pull away late.
2. Central (7-1) vs. Carol City (3-4), 7:30, Fri., Traz.
Andre’s pick: Central 42, Carol City 14. Rockets lock up the district with a convincing sweep.
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1) vs. Hollywood Hills (4-3), 7, Fri., Cooper City.
Andre’s pick: Aquinas 49, Hollywood Hills 7. Raiders set up the district title match next week with Plantation.
4. Flanagan (8-0) vs. West Broward (0-7), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Flanagan 56, West Broward 2. Flanagan’s backups may pile up some stats in this one.
5. Monarch (7-0) at South Plantation (3-3), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Monarch 44, South Plantation 16. Knights have already clinched district, and can earn a sweep with this one.
6. Hallandale (7-0) vs. Stranahan (3-4), 7, Thurs., South Plantation.
Andre’s pick: Hallandale 36, Stranahan 7. Chargers officially lock up a playoff berth and brace for Boynton Beach.
7. Killian (7-0) vs. 16. South Dade (5-2), 7:30, Fri., Harris.
Andre’s pick: Killian 12, South Dade 10. Cougars can lock up a playoff berth and knock out the defending state champs with a win.
8. American Heritage (5-2) at American Heritage-Delray (5-1), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: American Heritage 28, Heritage-Delray 20. The Plantation school wins this matchup of potential future state champions.
9. Columbus (7-1) vs. Miami High (5-2), 6, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Columbus 34, Miami High 14. Explorers secure the district title, ending the playoff hopes of a much-improved Miami High squad.
10. Westminster Christian (7-1): Bye.
11. Coral Gables (5-2) vs. Coral Park (0-7), 4, Sat., Tropical.
Andre’s pick: Gables 45, Coral Park 3. Cavaliers secure a postseason berth with ease.
12. Miramar (5-3) vs. 19. Cypress Bay (5-2), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Miramar 21, Cypress Bay 10. Patriots bounce back in time to clinch a playoff berth.
13. American (6-1) vs. Mourning (1-6), 7, Thurs., Milander.
Andre’s pick: American 47, Mourning 3. Patriots should have no trouble moving a little closer to a potential district championship.
15. Southridge (5-2) vs. Palmetto (1-6), 7, Thurs., Tropical.
Andre’s pick: Southridge 28, Palmetto 6. Spartans take care of business and then wait to see if they clinch a playoff spot this week thanks to Killian.
17. North Miami (6-1) vs. Reagan (5-2), 7:30, Fri., Milander.
Andre’s pick: North Miami 34, Reagan 17. Pioneers need a better start than last week if they’re to secure a second consecutive district crown.
18. Cardinal Gibbons (6-1) at Blanche Ely (3-4), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Gibbons 20, Ely 17. Chiefs know they must win next week vs. Heritage, but can’t overlook this game.
20. Douglas (6-1) vs. Taravella (2-5), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Douglas 35, Taravella 17. Eagles won’t slip up and get closer to playoffs.
Dropped out: 20. Northwestern (4-3).
Under consideration: Jackson (3-3), Belen Jesuit (5-2), Southwest (6-1), Ferguson (6-1), Champagnat Catholic (5-2), Coconut Creek (4-3), Plantation (5-2).
OTHER MIAMI-DADE GAMES
THURSDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
Braddock vs. Varela (Southridge), 7Varela 24-17
South Miami vs. Miami Beach (Memorial), 7Beach 17-16
Homestead vs. Edison (Curtis), 7Homestead 19-12
NMB at Hialeah Gardens, 4NMB 28-6
Hialeah vs. Krop (N. Miami), 7Hialeah 24-6
Monsignor Pace vs. Jackson (Traz), 7Jackson 38-6
Westland Hialeah at Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 7HML 47-3
La Salle at Calvary Christian, 7Calvary 35-17
Miami Com. Charter vs. Somerset (Ansin), 6Somerset 41-7
Boca Christian vs. Scheck Hillel (N. Miami), 7Hillel 38-31
Archbishop Curley at Pope John Paul II, 7PJP 35-3
Everglades Prep vs. Somerset Charter (Harris), 7Charter 35-14
FRIDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
Southwest vs. Ferguson (Tropical), 7:30SW 17-14
Miami Springs vs. Mater Academy (Curtis), 7:30Mater 30-28
Sunset at Belen, 4Belen 24-13
Northwestern at Belle Glade Glades Central, 7:30Central 22-21
Champagnat Catholic at Treasure Coast, 7:30Champ. 29-24
Pinecrest Prep at Palmer Trinity, 4Palmer 7-6
Florida Christian at Westminster Academy, 7WA 45-10
Dade Christian at North Broward Prep, 7Dade 34-20
Keys Gate at University School, 7Keys Gate 27-7
SATURDAY’S GAMEANDRE’S PICK
Miami Country Day at Ransom Everglades, 2:30Ransom 28-14
Andre’s record — Last week: 23-3; Season: 187-38 (.831)
OTHER BROWARD GAMES
THURSDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
Nova at South Broward, 7Nova 21-17
Kings Academy at Coral Springs Charter, 7Charter 45-21
Oxbridge at Pines Charter, 7Oxbridge 48-7
La Salle at Calvary Christian, 7Calvary 35-17
Miami Com. Charter vs. Somerset (Ansin), 6 Somerset 41-7
FRIDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
Cooper City at Everglades, 7Everglades 35-14
Fort Lauderdale at Boyd Anderson, 7FTL 16-7
Northeast vs. Plantation (PAL), 7Plantation 42-6
Boynton Beach at Coconut Creek, 7Boynton 38-30
Dillard at Riviera Beach Suncoast, 7Dillard 34-7
Coral Springs at Piper, 7C. Springs 35-7
Western at McArthur, 7Western 27-6
Archbishop McCarthy at Coral Glades, 7McCarthy 44-7
Pine Crest at Coral Shores, 7Shores 34-31
Marathon at Pompano Beach, 7Pompano 35-7
Florida Christian at Westminster Academy, 7WA 45-10
Dade Christian at North Broward Prep, 7Dade 34-20
Keys Gate at University School, 7Keys Gate 27-7
Andre’s record – Last week: 19-4; Season: 172-29 (.856).
This story was originally published October 20, 2014 at 10:28 PM with the headline "Miami Herald Top 20: South Florida’s best high school football teams."