A look at how Miami-Dade teams might stack up in the new districts for the 2024 season
Columbus was Miami-Dade County’s lone state football champion last season, winning its second consecutive title.
But the Explorers have plenty of company in Miami-Dade County when it comes to teams that will have a chance to win a title this coming season as several others such as Miami Central, Miami Norland, Miami Booker T. Washington and Homestead just to name a few are among the favorites in their respective classifications.
Here’s a district-by-district breakdown of where each team is now following the FHSAA’s expansion back to eight classes and the Miami Herald’s predicted order of finish.
DISTRICT 15-7A
1. DAVIE WESTERN
Coach: Adam Ratkevich
Last year: 9-4 (Region 4-4M finalist)
Key players: QB Sebastian Circo, Sr.; T/G Daniel Davis, Sr.; DL Jacob Joseph, Sr.; LB Martin Rhyne, Sr.; LB/S Julian Mendez, Sr.
2. GOLEMAN
Coach: Ariel Cribeiro
Last year: 5-6 (Region 4-4M quarterfinalist)
Key players: S Darryl Bell III, Jr.; QB Kingston Rust, So.; S-WR Christian Rust, So.; RB Kywan Taylor, Jr.; DE Trevor Darling, Sr.
3. WESTON CYPRESS BAY
Coach: Bret Hood
Last year: 8-3 (Region 4-4M quarterfinalist)
Key players: QB Jake Balanovich, Sr.; WR Eain Hersh, Sr.; WR Santi Paz, Sr.; T/DE Ben Gula, Sr.; LB Alexander Palmer, Sr.
4. CORAL SPRINGS TARAVELLA
Coach: Clyde Parry
Last year: 1-9
Key players: RB Ja’Michael Barnes, Jr.; WR/DB Miles Green, Sr.; WR/DB Nyheem Roberson, Jr.; WR/S Jaheim Olivieri, Jr.; WR/S Omario Thomas, Sr.
DISTRICT 16-7A
1. COLUMBUS
Coach: Dave Dunn.
Last year: 13-2 (Class 4M state champions)
Key players: WR-S Bryce Fitzgerald, Sr.; LB Hector Chavez, Sr.; RB Agyeman Addae, Sr.; DB-WR Shaddai Carter, Sr.; WR JJ Gomez, Sr.
2. PALMETTO
Coach: Mike Manasco
Last year: 9-2 (Region 4-4M semifinalist)
Key players: DT Davion Dixon, Sr.; WR Cameron Sapp, Sr.; LB Patrick Lawrence, Sr.; QB Lucas Goenaga, Sr.; RB Ethan Lopez, Sr.
3. SOUTH DADE
Coach: Chris Reid.
Last year: 8-4 (Region 4-4M semifinalist).
Key players: DB Tedarius Hughes, Jr.; SS-WR Tedrick Lee, Jr.; RB-WR Sedric Melvin, Sr.; C Ta’darius Williams, Sr.; ATH-QB Jean Calixte, Jr.
4. CORAL GABLES
Coach: Frank Welsh.
Last year: 5-5.
Key players: ATH Zion Chery, Sr.; S Evan Noval, Sr.; OL/DL Chris Hughes, Sr.; OL Jose Miranda, Jr.; WR Angel Gonzalez, Sr.
5. MIAMI HIGH
Coach: Dorrean James.
Last year: 3-7.
Key players: WR-CB Keyshawn Cone, Sr.; LB Tyrel Snelling, Jr.
DISTRICT 15-6A
1. PEMBROKE PINES WEST BROWARD
Coach: Brian McCartney
Last year: 7-4 (Region 4-4M quarterfinalist)
Key players: RB Elijah DeWoskin, Sr.; WR Joshua Moore, Sr.; OL Bryan Granger Jr., CB Shmar Akande, Jr.; S Kelvin Reyes, Sr.
2. PEMBROKE PINES FLANAGAN
Coach: Benjamin Rolle
Last year: 4-5-1
Key players: QB Logan Pelliccio, So.; WR Santana Carlos, Jr.; DB Jonathan Carter, Sr.; C-G Norberto Ceballos, Sr.; DL Travis McGill, Jr.
3. DR. KROP
Coach: Vernon Wilder III
Last year: 4-6.
4. MIAMI BEACH
Coach: Wilkie Perez
Last year: 0-10
DISTRICT 16-6A
1. HOMESTEAD
Coach: Ronnie Thornton Jr.
Last year: 12-2 (Class 3M state runner-up).
Key players: WR-FS Cortez Mills, Sr.; QB Malachi Lewis, Sr.; WR Darriel Harper, Sr.; DB Semaj Smith, Sr.; WR Kevin Cascuda, Sr.
2. SOUTHRIDGE
Coach: Pierre Senatus
Last year: 7-5 (Class 3M regional semifinalist).
Key players: QB James Perrone, So.; DT Ryan Miret, Jr.; LB-DE Joshua McDowell, Sr.; WR-CB Darius Clements, Sr.
3. DORAL ACADEMY
Coach: Eddie Delgado
Last year: 5-5 (Class 4M regional quarterfinalist).
Key players: WR Marcus Antelo, Sr.; OT Erick Hernandez, Sr.; QB Jordan Lleo, Jr.; WR-CB Jayson Lopez, Sr.; WR-RB Samuel Catalan, Sr.
4. SOUTHWEST
Coach: Taj Marshall.
Last year: 2-9.
Key players: ATH Derrick Ferguson, Sr.
DISTRICT 16-5A
1. MIRAMAR
Coach: A.J. Scott
Last year: 8-5 (Region 4-3M finalist)
Key players: QB Jayvin Smart, Jr.; WR Nehemiah Pittman, Sr.; DT Andre Blutcher, Sr.; LB Samuel A. Griffin, Sr.; DB Jeffrey Fye, Sr.
2. MIRAMAR EVERGLADES
Coach: Rodney Rumph Sr.
Last year: 6-4
Key players: RB/LB Dan Robinson, Jr.; WR Malachi Eaford, Sr.; WR Duane Manor Jr., Jr.; DE Jadarien Canton Jr., Sr.
3. NORTH MIAMI
Coach: Gerald Cox
Last year: 4-6
Key players: WE-DB Antwan Moore, Sr.; LB Lewenski Ydore, Sr.; DB Lorenzo Burse, Sr.; WR Lonzo Burse, Sr. WR Cameron Canon, Jr.
4. PEMBROKE PINES CHARTER
Coach: Keidran Willis
Last year: 6-4
Key players: QB Jayden Gonzalez, Sr.; RB/DB Keidran Willis Jr., Jr.; WR Dylan Echeverria, Jr.
5. MATER ACADEMY
Coach: Jase Stewart
Last year: 3-6
DISTRICT 15-4A
1. PLANTATION AMERICAN HERITAGE
Coach: Mike Smith
Last year: 10-2 (Class 2M semifinalist)
Key players: QB Dia Bell, Jr.; RB Byron Louis, Sr.; WR Brandon Bennett, Jr.; DL Omarian Abraham, Sr.; CB Gregory Xavier Thomas, Sr.
2. NORLAND
Coach: Daryle Heidelburg
Last year: 14-1 (Class 2M runner-up)
Key players: QB Ennio Yapoor, Sr.; DL Adrian Farrow, Sr.; ATH Darryll Desir, Sr.; ATH Mandrell Desir, Sr.
3. PLANTATION
Coach: Darrell Strong
Last year: 6-5 (Region 3-3M quarterfinalist)
Key players: QB Jayden Chico, Jr.; WR Andre Barrington, Sr.; OL Moses Jenkins, Sr.; LB Ashton Jackson, Sr; LB/S Jace Williams, Sr.
4. SOUTHWEST RANCHES ARCHBISHOP MCCARTHY
Coach: Dino Mangiero
Last year: 9-0
Key players: QB Robert Kerns, Jr.; RB Damien Grant, So.; OL Ja’corey Stephens, So.; DE Ji’koi Highsmith, So.
DISTRICT 16-4A
1. HIALEAH
Coach: Tony Smith.
Last year: 9-2 (Class 3M regional quarterfinalist).
Key players: DE Jack Sawyer, Sr.; WR Damarcus Anderson, Sr.; RB-WR Ryan Mathis, So.;
2. BELEN JESUIT
Coach: Nick Oyarzun.
Last year: 5-7 (Class 3M regional semifinalist).
Key players: OL Aiden De Oliveira, Sr.; LB Kamden Walters, Sr.; WR Amari Johnson, Jr.; OL Christian Cueto, Sr.; DB Myles Trap, Jr.
3. AMERICAN
Coach: Tim Neal
Last year: 6-4 (Class 3M regional quarterfinalist)
Key players: WR-KR Jukari Blackshere, Sr.; ATH Nathaniel Nelson, Sr.; DB Delvin Ewing, Sr.; DL Demetrius Gore, Sr.; OL Zack Joseph, Sr.
4. SOUTH MIAMI
Coach: Kevin Wald.
Last year: 1-8.
DISTRICT 15-3A
1. CENTRAL
Coach: Jube Joseph
Last year: 8-4 (Region 4-2M finalist)
Key players: LB Ezekiel Marcelin, Sr.; QB Bekkem Kritza, Sr.; RB Jayden Ford, Jr.; DL Randy Adrika, Sr.; WR Khaleal Sterling, Sr.
2. PEMBROKE PINES SOMERSET ACADEMY
Coach: Derrick Baker
Last year: 0-8-1
Key players: RB/CB Kaj Baker, Jr.; DL Raidel Ojeda, Sr.
3. FORT LAUDERDALE STRANAHAN
Coach: Jacky Candy
Last year: 5-6 (Region 3-2M quarterfinalist)
Key players: DT Elijah Buck, Sr.; LB Terrynce Ellis Jr., Sr.
4. POMPANO BEACH
Coach: Raya McCray
Last year: 1-9
Key players: QB/S Ronnie Knote, Sr.; S Kyle Xavier, Sr.; K/P Jake Rosoff, Sr.
DISTRICT 16-3A
1. NORTHWESTERN
Coach: Teddy Bridgewater
Last year: 4-6
Key players: WR Calvin Russell, Jr.; CB J’Vari Flowers, Jr.; S Antonio Branch Jr., Sr.; ATH Jade Card, Sr.; S Tywan Cox, Sr.
2. JACKSON
Coach: Max Edwards
Last year: 3-7
Key players: QB Brandin Mincy, Jr.; DE Marcus Patterson, Sr.
3. ST. BRENDAN
Coach: Steve Smith
Last year: 7-4 (Class 2M regional quarterfinalist).
Key players: WR-DB Nick Castro, Sr.; RB Geovanni Tobon, Jr.; LB Brody Perez, Jr.; FS-WR Marc Naranjo, Jr.; LB-DE-TE-LS Charlie Becker, Jr.
4. KEY WEST
Coach: John Hughes.
Last year: 3-7.
DISTRICT 14-2A
1. CAROL CITY
Coach: George Stubbs.
Last year: 1-8.
Key players: LB Jordan Campbell, Jr.; Edge Brandon Thomas, Sr.; WR Shamar Fowles, Sr.; QB Randy Phillips, Sr.
2. MONSIGNOR PACE
Coach: Anthony Walker, Sr.
Last year: 7-5 (Class 2M regional semifinalist).
Key players: DE-OT Wilnerson Telemaque, Sr.; WR-ATH Willie Anderson, Sr.; TE-WR Gabriel Cline, Sr.; LB Cleveland Gary, III, Jr.; WR Amare Whetsell, Sr.
3. NORTH MIAMI BEACH
Coach: Jeff Bertani
Last year: 4-7 (Class 2M regional quarterfinalist).
Key players: ATH Gio Olivo, Sr.; WR-CB Byron Turner, So.
4. WESTLAND HIALEAH
Last year: 0-10.
DISTRICT 15-2A
1. BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
Coach: Tim “Ice” Harris.
Last year: 9-3 (Class 2M regional semifinalist).
Key players: CB Ben Hanks Jr., Sr.; WR Anton Smith, Jr.
2. RANSOM EVERGLADES
Coach: Joe Supple
Last year: 8-1
Key players: QB Neimann Lawrence, Fr.; OL-DL Rudy Pages, Sr.; RB-LB Jack McCarron, Jr.; OLB-TE RJ Donaldson, Sr.; WR-DB Ronald Williams, Fr.
3. IMMACULATA-LA SALLE
Coach: Helder Valle
Last year: 4-6.
Key players: QB Taylor Trauth, Sr.; ATH Brandon Kinsey, Jr.; WR Alan Schael, Sr.; RB Santiago Robles, Sr.; WR Joel Salien, Sr.
4. MIAMI SPRINGS
Coach: Mario Montoya.
Last year: 6-3.
Key players: RB King Williams, Sr.
DISTRICT 16-2A
1. GULLIVER
Coach: Earl Sims
Last year: 7-4 (Class 2M regional quarterfinalist).
Key players: WR Kenny Williams, Sr.; LB RJ Boynton, Sr.; RB-SS Sebastian-Olivier Lacrete, Sr.
2. KILLIAN
Coach: Rudy Trevino
Last year: 3-7.
Key players: QB Kymani Corbett, Jr.; OL-DL Bernard Oliva, Sr.; OL Luis Pruneda, Sr.
3. SOMERSET SILVER PALMS
Coach: Matt Dixon
Last year: 4-6.
Key players: T William Massa, Sr.; SS-WR Jordan Lyons, Sr.; RB-WR Parnell Partee, Sr.
DISTRICT 14-1A
1. HOLLYWOOD CHAMINADE-MADONNA
Coach: Dameon Jones
Last year: 14-0 (won 1M championship)
Key players: RB Jaquari Lewis, Sr.; WR Koby Howard, Sr.; WR Kyle Washington, Sr.; DL Donta Simpson, Sr.; CB Chris Ewald, Sr.
2. EDISON
Coach: Luther Campbell
Last year: 6-5 (Region 4-2M quarterfinalist)
Key players: RB Sterling Joseph, Sr.; CB Jett White, Sr.; ATH Jaylen Moore, Sr.
3. HOLLYWOOD AVANT GARDE
Coach: Taliaferro Adams Jr.
Last year: 5-6 (Region 3-1M semifinalist)
Key players: RB/S Jaylen Kimpson, Sr.; ATH Kendrick Smith, Jr.
DISTRICT 15-1A
1. ARCHBISHOP CARROLL
Coach: Jorge Zagales
Last year: 11-2 (Class 1M state semifinalist).
Key players: OT Jake Santovena, Sr.; CB Sebastian de la Pava, Sr.; C Jaden Ledo, Sr.; G Jacob Acosta, Sr.; RB Josh Rivera, Sr.
2. TRUE NORTH
Coach: Greg Laffere
Last year: 9-3 (Regional 4-1M finalist).
Key players: CB-WR Dominick Turnbull, Jr.; OLB-WR George Harris, So.; S Camaul King, Jr.; WR Kareem Brown, Jr.
3. WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN
Coach: Patrick Wennin.
Last year: 5-6 (Region 4-1M semifinalist).
Key players: WR-CB Connelius Miller Jr., Sr.; T Antawn Borden, Jr.; WR-CB-LB Stephanos Balestra, Sr.
DISTRICT 16-1A
1. PALMER TRINITY
Coach: Mark Reese
Last year: 6-4 (Class 1M regional semifinalist)
Key players: OL-DL Kaan Kinay, Jr.; LB-RB Tommy Barcinas, Jr.; S Declan McLaughlin, Jr.; OL Riley Potter, Jr.; S Fernando Martinez, Jr.
2. EVERGLADES PREP
Coach: Jermaine Kelson Sr.
Last year: 3-6.
Key players: WR Quintero Frierson, So.; WR-FS Roy Franklin, Jr.; ATH Martavious Jean-Baptiste, Jr.
3. SOMERSET SOUTH HOMESTEAD
Last year: 5-5.
Key players: DL-OL Christian Baquero, Sr.
4. PALM GLADES PREP
Coach: Reginal Harris
Last year: 0-10.
Key players: DE-LB Marlow Hiddo, Jr.
INDEPENDENTS
BRADDOCK
Coach: Juan Torres
Last year: 9-2 (GMAC Independent runner-up)
Key players: RB Isai Zeledon, Jr.; TE Maximus Vaguez, Jr.; RB Jeremy Colon, So.; WR Felix Ruiz, So.; DE Alejandro Barazal, Sr.
CORAL PARK
Last year: 1-9.
CORAL REEF
Coach: Tim Wood
Last year: 7-3
Key players: OLB Antonio Siplin, Sr.; ILB Ethan Gottardi, Sr.; C Jacob Mohammed, Sr.; OL Alex Valdes, Sr.; DL Joshua Steele, Sr.
FERGUSON
Coach: Gene Chew
Last year: 10-1 (GMAC Independent champions)
Key players: QB Alex Lamela, Sr.; RB Elias Romero, Sr.; DE Andres Lopez, Sr.; DE Ancell Ledon, Jr.; WR Christian Kishenevsky, Jr.
FLORIDA CHRISTIAN
Coach: Juan Montano
Last year: 3-7.
Key players: ILB Sebastian Prado, Sr.; RB-FB Dylan Gonzalez, So.; CB-WR Kaden Howard, So.; OL-DL Seth Porch, Sr.
HIALEAH GARDENS
Coach: Greg Magner
Last year: 4-6
Key players: RB-DB Fabio Carrero, Sr.; RB Alberto Soto, Sr.; OL-DL Israel Sulboran, Jr.; RB-LB Giancarlo Quintino, Sr.; RB-LB Alex Orozco, Jr.
HIALEAH-MIAMI LAKES
Last year: 0-10.
MIAMI COUNTRY DAY
Coach: Chris Polite
Last year: 3-2
Key players: QB Marcus Papunen, Sr.; ATH Julian Mellado, Sr.; TE-DE Matthew Scemla, Jr.; RB-LB Massimo Vega, Sr.
MOURNING
Coach: Josh Downs
Last year: 5-3.
Key players: DE-OT Darnell Deshommes, Jr; ATH-DB Brandon Childs, Jr.; HB-LB Malachi Davey, Sr.; WR-LB Erving Labiassire, Jr.; ATH-DB Dwayne Joesph, Sr.
REAGAN
Coach: Frank Rojas
Last year: 6-4
Key players: QB-DE Connor Buchanon, Sr.; WR-DB Tade Olabisi, Sr.; FS-OLB Andres Alvarez, Sr.; WR-CB Jordan Cabrera, Sr.; OL Mike Alvarez, Jr.
SUNSET
Coach: Mandrell Nickle
Last year: 1-9.
VARELA
Coach: Patrick Ledan
Last year: 7-3
Key players: WR-DB Aidan Spence, Jr.; RB Amir Harrell, Sr.; WR-DB Damar West, Sr.; ATH Dominic Musella, Jr.; ATH Isaiah McGowan, Jr.
