Miami Herald Top 20: South Florida’s best high school football teams
1. Booker T. Washington (9-0) vs. Edison (4-4), 7, Sat., Traz.
Andre’s pick: Booker T. 42, Edison 7. Tornadoes wrap up another district championship as winning streak hits 36 in a row.
2. Central (8-1) vs. 16. Jackson (5-3), 7:30, Fri., Traz.
Andre’s pick: Central 28, Jackson 6. Rockets’ final tune-up for the playoffs will be a challenge from the improved Generals.
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-1) vs. 20. Plantation (6-2), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Aquinas 42, Plantation 13. Raiders sweep the district and lock up home field advantage.
4. Flanagan (9-0) vs. Western (2-6), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Flanagan 44, Western 6. The Dirty Birds wrap up their first perfect regular season.
5. Monarch (8-0) vs. Dillard (4-4), 7, Sat., Deerfield Beach.
Andre’s pick: Monarch 42, Dillard 12. The Knights have everything clinched, but this is a good test before the playoffs.
6. Hallandale (8-0) vs. Boynton Beach (9-0), 7, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Hallandale 34, Boynton Beach 33. The District 15-6A title on the line and the Chargers’ home field advantage will come into play.
7. Killian (8-0) at 14. Southridge (6-2), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Killian 17, Southridge 7. Good to see this rivalry have some meaning again. Cougars’ great defense prevails.
8. Columbus (8-1) vs. Coral Park (0-8), 6, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Columbus 52, Coral Park 2. A chance to get some reserves some reps before the playoffs for the Explorers.
9. American Heritage (5-3) vs. Cardinal Gibbons (6-2), 7:30, Friday.
Andre’s pick: American Heritage 48, Cardinal Gibbons 14. These games have been lopsided in Heritage’s favor the past two years. Make it three.
10. Westminster Christian (7-1) at University School (2-6), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Westminster Christian 47, University School 6. Warriors in cruise mode heading into postseason.
11. Coral Gables (6-2) vs. Miami Beach (3-5), 7, Thurs., Memorial.
Andre’s pick: Coral Gables 38, Miami Beach 6. Cavs trying to find the right formula to make a big playoff push.
12. Miramar (6-3) at Cooper City (3-5), 7, Saturday.
Andre’s pick: Miramar 42, Cooper City 7. One last warmup for the Patriots, who have clinched playoff spot.
13. American (7-1) vs. Mater Academy (6-2), 7, Thurs., Milander.
Andre’s pick: American 27, Mater Academy 14. Patriots secure a deserved district championship.
15. North Miami (7-1) vs. Dr. Krop (2-6), 7:30, Fri., N. Miami.
Andre’s pick: North Miami 42, Krop 8. No trouble for the back-to-back district champion Pioneers in this one.
17. Belen Jesuit (6-2) vs. Ferguson (6-2), 4, Friday.
Andre’s pick: Belen 20, Ferguson 17. Wolverines are tough to beat at their place in a game like this.
18. Southwest (7-1) vs. Varela (4-4), 7:30, Fri., Tropical.
Andre’s pick: Southwest 28, Varela 12. Eagles take care of business and secure another postseason berth.
19. Champagnat Catholic (6-2) at West Palm Beach Oxbridge (7-1), 7, Thursday.
Andre’s pick: Champagnat 42, Oxbridge 35. If the Lions get this one, it’s hard not to see them making another run in Class 2A.
Dropped out: 14. Norland (3-4), 16. South Dade (5-3), 18. Cardinal Gibbons (6-2), 19. Cypress Bay (5-3), 20. Douglas (6-2).
Under consideration: Mater Academy (6-2), Ferguson (6-2), Blanche Ely (4-4), Carol City (3-5).
Other Miami-Dade games
THURSDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
Norland vs. Carol City (Traz), 7Carol City 14-13
Coral Reef vs. South Dade (Harris), 7South Dade 28-6
Miami High vs. South Miami (Tropical), 7MHS 34-14
Reagan at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30Reagan 30-16
Miami Springs vs. Mourning (N. Miami), 7Springs 30-6
Palmetto at Boyd Anderson, 7Palmetto 14-13
La Salle at Coral Shores, 7:30 Coral Shores 27-14
Archbishop Curley at Benjamin, 7Benjamin 25-6
FRIDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
HML vs. Goleman (Milander), 7:30HML 30-27
Gulliver at Monsignor Pace, 7:30Gulliver 35-16
Doral at Fort Pierce Westwood, 7Doral 43-7
Somerset vs. Keys Gate (Southridge), 7Somerset 28-12
Florida Christian at Kings Academy, 7 Kings 31-20
SATURDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
NMB vs. Hialeah (Traz), 2NMB 26-6
Northwestern vs. Homestead (Harris), 7NW 14-7
Braddock vs. Sunset (Tropical), 4Braddock 17-14
Andre’s record — Last week: 25-4; Season: 212-42 (.835)
Other Broward games
THURSDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
Coral Springs Charter at West. Academy, 7WA 35-34
Pine Crest at Calvary Christian, 7Calvary 27-24
Piper vs. Taravella (Coral Springs), 7Taravella 38-6
Palmetto at Boyd Anderson, 7Palmetto 14-13
Miami Comm. Charter at Pompano Beach, 7Pompano 40-6
FRIDAY’S GAMESANDRE’S PICK
Douglas at Coral Springs, 7Douglas 37-34
Northeast at Blanche Ely, 7Ely 24-7
Stranahan at Coconut Creek, 7Coconut Creek 38-24
Cypress Bay at McArthur, 7Cypress Bay 42-3
South Plantation at Deerfield Beach, 7Deerfield 24-23
Nova vs. Hollywood Hills (Cooper City), 7Hills 24-17
West Broward at South Broward, 7S. Brow 9-7
Pines Charter at North Broward Prep, 7NBP 24-13
Chaminade at Belle Glade Glades Day, 7Glades Day 35-14
Coral Glades at Key West, 7:30Key West 48-6
Somerset vs. Keys Gate (Southridge), 7Somerset 28-12
Andre’s record — Last week: 20-6; Season: 192-35 (.846)
This story was originally published October 27, 2014 at 11:50 PM with the headline "Miami Herald Top 20: South Florida’s best high school football teams."