As we have watched over the first four weeks of the high school football season in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, this year will indeed be competitive.
No longer are teams not matching up with the best in the two counties, and while early on, many feel they should be rated higher, by the end of the season everything will play out.
With Top 20 programs squaring off against each other all season, when the year comes to an end, like always, we will have a true No. 1 team.
Remember, strength of schedule means everything, so if you have had a rough start and are still rated, it only signals that you are facing elite competition and should never, ever be penalized for stepping up to the plate.
As we move quickly along in this season, here is a look at the way Miami-Dade and Broward schools look after Week 4:
1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 3-1). The Raiders won their third straight, 45-6, over Davie Western. THIS WEEK: 9/19 - @ No. 17 Hollywood McArthur. NEXT WEEK: Bye.
2. Miami Northwestern (3A, 2-1). The Bulls rolled over No. 8 Miami Norland, 49-21. THIS WEEK: 9/19 - @ No. 13 Miami Christopher Columbus. NEXT WEEK: 9/26 - @Miami Jackson.
3. Miami Central (3A, 2-0). The Rockets’ district game with Pompano Beach was postponed to a later date. THIS WEEK: 9/19 - @ No. 21 Plantation American Heritage. NEXT WEEK: Bye.
4. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1A, 2-1). The Lions were ahead of Miami Edison in a district game when they weather stopped it. The contest will be finished Sept. 22. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 9/22 - @ Miami Edison. 9/26 – Davie Western.
5. Miami Southridge (6A, 3-0). The Spartans continued to show why they are one of the best in the state, beating Hialeah, 37-0. THIS WEEK: 9/18 – Doral Academy. NEXT WEEK: 9/26 – Homestead.
6. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (4A, 4-0). One of the top scoring teams in the state has been as impressive as any team in Florida, beating their first four opponents, 212-6, including a 63-0 win against Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. THIS WEEK: 9/20 -Miramar. NEXT WEEK: 9/25 – Riviera Beach Suncoast.
7. Plantation American Heritage (4A, 1-2). The defending 4A state champion Patriots went down for the second straight week in a tight overtime road game against New Orleans Edna Karr, 24-17. THIS WEEK: 9/19 – No. 3 Miami Central. NEXT WEEK: 9/26 – @Plantation.
8. Miami Norland (4A, 2-2). The Vikings were soundly beaten by No. 2 Miami Northwestern, 49-21. THIS WEEK: 9/18 - @Delray Beach Atlantic. NEXT WEEK: 9/25 – No. 20 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy.
9. Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (5A, 4-0). The Lions opened the district with a 20-0 win against Miramar. THIS WEEK: 9/19 - @Miramar Everglades. NEXT WEEK: 9/27 - @ No. 10 North Miami.
10. North Miami (5A, 4-0). The Pioneers continued to impress with a 42-0 district win against Pembroke Pines Charter. THIS WEEK: 9/18 – Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy. NEXT WEEK: No. 9 Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy.
11. Coconut Creek (5A, 4-0). The Cougars remained unbeaten with a 34-7 win against Deerfield Beach. THIS WEEK: 9/20 – No. 15 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons. NEXT WEEK: 9/26 - @Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson.
12. Miami Palmetto (7A, 2-1). The Panthers finally broke through against No. 13 Miami Christopher Columbus with a 24-21 decision. THIS WEEK: 9/18 – No. 19 Miami Killian. NEXT WEEK: 9/25 - @Coral Gables.
13. Miami Christopher Columbus (7A, 0-3). The Explorers remained winless with a tough district loss to No. 12 Miami Palmetto. THIS WEEK: 9/19 – No. 2 Miami Northwestern. NEXT WEEK: 9/25 – Homestead South Dade.
14. Coconut Creek Monarch (6A, 2-2). The Knights came up with a big road win against Sanford Seminole, coming away with a with a 34-20 win. THIS WEEK: 9/18 – Fort Lauderdale. NEXT WEEK: Bye.
15. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2A, 1-1). The Chiefs’ game with No. 16 Pembroke Pines West Broward was postponed to a later date because of weather. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @ No. 11 Coconut Creek. NEXT WEEK: 9/25 - @Hollywood South Broward.
16. Pembroke Pines West Broward (6A, 1-2). The Bobcats’ game with No. 15 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons was postponed to a later date because of weather. THIS WEEK: 9/19 - @ No. 18 Pembroke Pines Flanagan. NEXT WEEK: 9/26 – Miramar Everglades.
17. Hollywood McArthur (5A, 2-1). The Mustangs won their second straight game, beating Weston Cypress Bay, 40-6. THIS WEEK: 9/19 – No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. NEXT WEEK: 9/26 – Hollywood Hills.
18. Pembroke Pines Flanagan (6A, 3-0). The Falcons remained unbeaten with a 28-6 win against Fort Lauderdale. THIS WEEK: 9/19 – No. 16 Pembroke Pines West Broward. NEXT WEEK: 9/26 - @Miami Beach.
19. Miami Killian (2A, 3-0). The Cougars thrust themselves into the Top 20 with a convincing 34-10 win against Homestead South Dade. THIS WEEK: 9/18 - @ No. 12 Miami Palmetto. NEXT WEEK: 9/26 - @Miami Gulliver Prep.
20. Miami Immaculata LaSalle (2A, 4-0). For the first time ever, the Royal Lions beat Miami Booker T. Washington in a key district game, moving them into the Top 20, 31-0. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 9/26 - @Miami Ransom Everglades.
Here are some other programs that you will be hearing from this coming season:
Independent
Fort Lauderdale University School (2-3)
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (3-1)
Miami Coral Reef Football (3-0)
1A
Miami Archbishop Carroll (2-0-1)
Miami Edison (1-2)
Miami True North Classical Academy (2-2)
Miami Westminster Christian (4-0)
2A
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (2-1)
Miami Booker T. Washington (0-4)
Miami Carol City (2-2)
Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (2-1)
Miami Gulliver Prep (2-1)
Miami Springs (2-1)
North Miami Beach (1-2)
3A
Miami St. Brendan (2-1)
4A
Hialeah (2-2)
Miami Belen Jesuit (0-4)
Plantation (2-2)
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (3-1)
5A
Homestead (1-1)
Miramar (1-3)
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (2-1)
6A
Davie Nova (1-3)
Doral Academy (0-3)
Miami Dr. Krop (0-3)
South Plantation (2-1)
Sunrise Piper (1-3)
7A
Davie Western (0-2)
Homestead South Dade (2-1)
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (2-1)
Weston Cypress Bay (1-2)
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD TOP 20
WEEK 1. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-1-top-20-miami-dade-broward-loaded-with-talent
WEEK 2. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-2-top-20-st-thomas-aquinas-moves-to-no-1
WEEK 3. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-3-local-teams-are-starting-to-emerge
WEEK 4. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-4-huge-games-will-test-local-teams
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD TRANSFERS? WE HAVE THEM FOR YOU. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-off-to-a-huge-start-in-miami-dade-broward
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Week 4: Huge Games Will Test Local Teams. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-4-huge-games-will-test-local-teams