The best high school football games to watch in Miami-Dade County for the 2021 season
With two defending state champions and about half a dozen more with very real state-title aspirations, Miami-Dade County is loaded with high-profile matchups this year. From intracounty rivalries to cross-country clashes, these are the games to keep an eye on in Dade County this season:
Note: All games 7:30 p.m. unless noted.
Week 0 - Aug. 20
Miami Central at St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California), 10
Central begins its quest for a national championship against No. 3 St. John Bosco. The No. 15 Rockets play the only regular-season game of the week as they travel to California as underdogs.
Week 1 - Aug. 27
Edison at Deerfield Beach, 7
Deerfield Beach has been a fixture in the state-championship mix for most of the last decade. Edison is a newcomer after putting together its best season in 15 years in 2020. They’ll provide an early-season measuring stick for one another.
Others to watch: Norland at Booker T. Washington, Thursday, 7 (Traz); Dade Christian at Miami International Academy, 3:30; Gulliver Prep at Bradenton Manatee, 7; Columbus at Benedictine (Savannah, Ga.); Champagnat Catholic at Northwestern (Traz); Homestead at Palmetto (Harris); Killian at Miramar
Week 2 - Sept. 3
Miami Central vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Saturday, 8 (Paradise Coast Sports Complex)
Central’s loaded national schedule brings it to Naples for the Battle on the Beach. The Rockets will either look to bounce back from a season-opening loss or solidify itself in the national-title race with a win against No. 12 Bishop Gorman.
Others to watch: Palmetto at Gulliver Prep, 4; Columbus at St. Johns Bartram Trail, 7; Champagnat Catholic at Delray Beach American Heritage, 7; Carol City at Orange Park Oakleaf, 7; Booker T. Washington at Northwestern (Traz); TRU Prep Academy at Clearwater Academy International; Dade Christian at Monsignor Pace; Norland at Killian (Tropical)
Week 3 - Sept. 10
Northwestern at Bradenton IMG Academy, 7
Northwestern will take another shot at No. 2 IMG Academy in Bradenton after IMG blew out the Bulls on the way to a national championship last year.
Others to watch: Carol City at Norland, Thursday, 7 (Traz); TRU Prep Academy at Gulliver Prep, 4; Chaminade-Madonna at Columbus, 7; Dade Christian at Delray Beach American Heritage, 7; Miami Central at Booker T. Washington (Traz); Palmetto at Killian (Tropical); Champagnat Catholic at Monsignor Pace
Week 4 - Sept. 17
St. Brendan at Key West, 7
St. Brendan, with 18 wins in the last two seasons, will have a chance to get one of its biggest wins ever in Key West against an underrated opponent. The winner could be in position to challenge Killian in District 16-Class 5A
Others to watch: Monsignor Pace at St. Thomas Aquinas, 7; Palmer Trinity at Ransom Everglades, 7; Columbus at South Dade (Harris)
Week 5 - Sept. 24
Palmetto at Columbus (Tropical)
An early season meeting between two state-title contenders could determine District 16-Class 8A. Columbus won its first state title in 2019, then opted out of the 2020 state series because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Explorers out, Palmetto went to the state semifinals for the first time in 2020.
Others to watch: Killian at Carol City, Thursday, 7 (Milander); Edison at Booker T. Washington, Thursday, 7 (Curtis); North Miami Beach at Miami Central, 7 (Traz); Gulliver Prep at Dade Christian, 7; Champagnat Catholic at Chaminade-Madonna, 7; Norland at Monsignor Pace
Week 6 - Oct. 1
Northwestern at Miami Central (Traz)
Central tries to snap a two-game losing streak in the series between archrivals. The Rockets, however, are the only defending state champion after Northwestern’s quest for a four-peat ended in the region quarterfinals last year.
Others to watch: Champagnat Catholic at Gulliver Prep, 4; Carol City at Glades Central, 6:30; Monsignor Pace at Columbus; Northwestern at Miami Central (Traz); Booker T. Washington at Killian (Tropical); North Miami Beach at Lee County (Leesburg, Ga.)
Week 7 - Oct. 8
Edison at Niceville
Edison will test itself on the road in Niceville after the Eagles reached the Class 7A semifinals last season and the region championship the year before.
Others to watch: Norland at Northwestern, Thursday, 7 (Traz); Glades Central at Booker T. Washington (Traz)
Week 8 - Oct. 15
Gulliver Prep at Chaminade-Madonna, 7
Chaminade-Madonna has been the standard for small-school excellence in South Florida for last five years. Gulliver Prep, with one of its most talented rosters ever, has championship aspirations in Class 4A.
Others to watch: North Miami Beach at Booker T. Washington, Thursday, 7 (Curtis); Miami International Academy at TRU Prep Academy, Thursday, 7; Edison at Miami Central (Traz); Dade Christian at Bainbridge (Ga.)
Week 9 - Oct. 22
Northwestern at Carol City, Thursday (Traz)
After a few underwhelming seasons, Carol City is hoping to build back toward contention in ultra-competitive Class 4A. Northwestern will provide a good benchmark.
Others to watch: Champagnat Catholic at Miami International Academy, 3:30; Booker T. Washington at Homestead (Harris); Edison at Dade Christian
Week 10 - Oct. 29
TRU Prep Academy at Dade Christian, 7:30
TRU Prep Academy became one of the best teams in South Florida last year by becoming the new home for former University players after the Sharks opted out of the 2020 season because of COVID-19. Now TRU Prep aims for continued success and Dade Christian looks like a team on the rise.
Others to watch: Monsignor Pace at Glades Central, 6:30; Gulliver Prep at Cardinal Newman, 7; Miami International Academy at Clearwater Academy International, 7
Week 11 - Nov. 5
Edison at Palmetto, 7:30 (Tropical)
Edison and Palmetto are both coming off breakthrough seasons, and hope to take another step to reach the state championship in 2021. They’ll meet in the final week of the regular season as a tune-up for potential playoff runs.
Others to watch: Miami at Norland, Thursday, 7 (Traz); South Dade at Southridge
