Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, Miami Central, Miami Christopher Columbus, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Miami Norland. Just the mention of those football programs brings along with it recognition and familiarity.
The high profile schools in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties seem to get plenty of the spotlight. It happens every year.
But what about those schools who do get their share of the publicity and attention? Those programs who may be independent but work hard and put in the hours in season and throughout the off-season.
Sharing the spotlight with those high-profile programs is never easy, and that’s why we take this Thursday to shine that spotlight directly on two rivals.
Miami Braddock at Miami Ferguson (Tropical), 7:30. If you do not live in the western reaches of Miami-Dade County, there is little publicity for these two programs, but they are rivals – much like Northwestern and Central or Columbus and Miami Palmetto.
Their matchup this season is two independent programs who have combined to win seven of eight games so far in 2023, and that is why the attention has shifted for their game this evening.
Veteran coach Gene Chew is the only head coach Ferguson has had. He has been able to string winning seasons together and attract talent. His program is unbeaten this year and takes this matchup seriously. The Falcons are one of those programs who work hard year-round.
For the Bulldogs, they have seriously upgraded their program through the years with quality athletes and tremendous coaching. Only a 24-21 setback to 3-1 Coral Gables has stood in the way of this being the battle of West Miami-Dade unbeatens.
Head Coach J.T. Torres continues to add players every year – and compete against some quality teams. This is a game that is more than just a game. This is two rivals in everything. Not just football!
MIAMI BRADDOCK (3-1)
North Miami Mourning, W 24-14
Southwest Miami, W 34-28
Miami Coral Reef, W 28-0
Coral Gables, L 24-21
9/28 – at Miami Ferguson
10/5 – at Miami Coral Park
10/12 – at Miami Varela
10/20 – GMAC WEEK
10/26 – Miami Sunset
BULLDOGS TO WATCH
2024 – Guillermo Ibarra, DE/OL, 6-3, 230
2024 – Christian Lopez, PK/DB, 5-7, 155
2024 – Giancarlo Martinez, WR, 6-0, 165
2025 – Alex Medro, RB, 5-8, 150
2024 – Dorian Perez, DE, 6-2, 225
MIAMI FERGUSON (4-0)
Hialeah Gardens, W 47-0
Miami Sunset, W 22-14
Miami Beach, W 28-14
Miami Varela, W 30-0
9/28 – Miami Braddock
10/5 – Hialeah Miami-Lakes
10/13 – Southwest Miami
10/20 – GMAC Week
10/26 – Coral Reef
FALCONS TO WATCH
2024 - Gabriel Cifuentes, LB, 5-9, 170
2024 - Nicholas Estrada, OLB/DE, 5-10, 175
2024 - C.J. Frias, RB/SL, 5-9, 175
2024 - Brandon Lopez, OL, 5-10, 225
2024 - Manuel Rodriguez, RB, 5-6, 165
In addition to that matchup, here is a look at the Miami-Dade and Broward schedule for Week 6:
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
No. 13 Coconut Creek Monarch at Boca Raton Olympic Heights, 6:30
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School at West Palm Beach Oxbridge, 7
Hialeah at Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (Milander), 7
Hollywood Hills at Hollywood McArthur, 7
No. 9 Miami Booker T. Washington at Miami Jackson (Curtis), 7
Miami Coral Park at Doral Ronald Reagan (Doral Legacy), 3:30
Miami Country Day at West Palm Beach Berean Christian, 7
Miami Edison at Miami Immaculata La Salle (Tropical), 3:30
Miami High at No. 3 Miami Christopher Columbus, 6
North Miami Mourning at Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 3:30
Sunrise Piper at Davie Western, 7
Westland Hialeah at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Coral Springs at Parkland Stoneman Douglas, 7
Coral Springs Charter at Coral Springs Taravella, 4
Deerfield Beach at West Boca Raton, 6:30
No. 11 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons at No. 7 Plantation American Heritage, 7:30
Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest at Oakland Park Northeast, 7
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan at Hallandale, 7
No. 1 Hollywood Chaminade at No. 10 Coconut Creek, 7
Homestead Everglades Prep at Miami Archbishop Carroll, 3:30
Homestead South Dade at Homestead Somerset Silver Palms, 7:30
Miami Carol City at Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace, 7
Miami Florida Christian at Marathon, 7
Miami Killian at Miami Gulliver, 4
Miami Northwestern at West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman, 7
Miami Palmer Trinity at Somerset South Homestead, 7
No. 8 Miami Palmetto at Coral Gables (Tropical), 3:30
Miami Ransom Everglades at Coral Shores, 7
Miami St. Brendan at Miami Springs (Curtis), 7:30
Miami Varela at Miami Sunset (Tropical), 7:30
Miami Westminster Christian at Goulds Palm Glades Prep, 4
Miramar at No. 4 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 7
Miramar Everglades vs. Hialeah American (Milander), 7
North Miami Beach at No. 2 Miami Central (Traz Powell), 7:30
Pembroke Pines Flanagan at Cooper City, 7
Pembroke Pines West Broward at Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy, 7
No. 12 Plantation at South Plantation, 7
No. 14 Pompano Beach Blanche Ely vs. Fort Lauderdale (Lockhart), 7
Riviera Beach Inlet Grove at Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian, 7
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy at Pompano Beach, 7
Weston Cypress Bay at Coral Springs Coral Glades, 7
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Fort Lauderdale Dillard at Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson, 7
Miami Belen Jesuit at Southwest Miami (Tropical), 7
Miami Beach at North Miami (Milander), 7
WEDNESDAY SCORE
Doral Academy 21, Barbara Goleman 16
PHOTO COURTESY OF HOMESTEAD FOOTBALL
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: September 28, 2023. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects COLLEGE COACHES ARE WATCHING ALL THE TIME, SO LET’S KEEP UPDATING – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Transfer Season Heats Up In Miami-Dade & Broward. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-heats-up-in-miami-dade-broward
For the past 53 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields throughout the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..