As we race toward the sixth week of the season – as things are moving quickly – you will start to see this season really take shape with district games and more key matchups showcasing the better programs in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
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 5:
1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 4-1). The Raiders handled No. 17 Hollywood McArthur with a strong second half, 31-7. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 – Hollywood Hills.
2. Miami Northwestern (3A, 3-1). The Bulls won their third straight, beating No. 16 Miami Christopher Columbus, 41-6. THIS WEEK: 9/26 - @Miami Jackson. NEXT WEEK: @ No. 3 Miami Central.
3. Miami Central (3A, 3-0). The Rockets remained unbeaten with a 31-21 win against defending 4A state champion and No. 12 Plantation American Heritage. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 10/4 – No. 2 Miami Northwestern.
4. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1A, 3-1). The Lions finished off their game with Miami Edison, rolling 56-12. THIS WEEK: 9/26 – Davie Western. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 – No. 9 Coconut Creek Monarch.
5. Miami Southridge (6A, 4-0). The Spartans rolled to their fourth straight win, beating Doral Academy, 42-7. THIS WEEK: 9/26 – Homestead. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 – Miami Edison.
6. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (4A, 5-0). The Panthers continued to roll along below the radar with a come-from-behind win against Miramar, 21-17. THIS WEEK: 9/25 – Riviera Beach Suncoast. NEXT WEEK: 10/4 - @Pompano Beach Blanche Ely
7. Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (5A, 5-0). The Lions had their third straight shutout as they beat Miramar Everglades, 42-0. THIS WEEK: 9/27 - @ No. 20 North Miami. NEXT WEEK: Bye.
8. Miami Palmetto (7A, 3-1). The Panthers won their second straight game, beating Miami Killian in the annual “Big Cat” Trophy contest, 42-21. THIS WEEK: 9/25 - @Coral Gables. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 – Homestead South Dade.
9. Coconut Creek Monarch (6A, 3-2). The Knights won for the second straight week, 54-0, against Fort Lauderdale. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 - @ No. 4 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.
10. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2A, 2-1). The Chiefs hung on to beat No. 14 Coconut Creek and hand the Cougars their first loss, 11-6. THIS WEEK: 9/25 - @Hollywood South Broward. NEXT WEEK: 9/29 – No. 11 Pembroke Pines West Broward. 10/3 – Hallandale.
11. Pembroke Pines West Broward (6A, 2-2). The Bobcats won for the second straight week, 20-8 over No. 18 Pembroke Pines Flanagan. THIS WEEK: 9/26 – Miramar Everglades. NEXT WEEK: 9/29 - @ No. 10 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.
12. Plantation American Heritage (4A, 1-3). The defending 4A state champion Patriots lost a home game against No. 3 Miami Central, 31-21. THIS WEEK: 9/26 – @Plantation. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 - @ No. 19 Pembroke Pines Flanagan.
13. Miami Immaculata LaSalle (2A, 3-0). The Royal Lions enjoyed the week off after a great start. THIS WEEK: 9/26 - @Miami Ransom Everglades. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 - @Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy.
14. Coconut Creek (5A, 4-1). The Cougars lost for the first time this season, 11-6, to No. 11 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons. THIS WEEK: 9/26 - @Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 - @Hollywood South Broward.
15. Miami Norland (4A, 2-3). The Vikings were soundly beaten once again on the road by unbeaten Delray Beach Atlantic, 43-20. THIS WEEK: 9/25 – Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 – Cocoa.
16. Miami Christopher Columbus (7A, 0-4). The Explorers remained winless with a 41-6 setback to No. 2 Miami Northwestern. THIS WEEK: 9/25 – Homestead South Dade. NEXT WEEK: 10/2 - @Miami High.
17. Hollywood McArthur (5A, 2-2). The Mustangs dropped a 31-7 decision to No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. THIS WEEK: 9/26 – Hollywood Hills. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 - @Deerfield Beach.
18. Pembroke Pines Flanagan (6A, 3-1). The Falcons lost for the first time in a key district game to No. 11 Pembroke Pines West Broward, 20-8. THIS WEEK: 9/26 - @Miami Beach. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 – No. 12 Plantation American Heritage.
19. Miami True North Classical Academy (2-2). The Titans were off this past week. THIS WEEK: 9/26 – Miami Archbishop Carroll. NEXT WEEK: 10/2 – Jacksonville University Christian.
20. North Miami (5A, 4-1). The Pioneers lost for the first time this season, 16-12, to No. 20 Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian. THIS WEEK: 9/27 - No. 7 Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 – Miramar.
(Tie) Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy (2A, 4-1). The Eagles knocked off No. 20 North Miami, 16-12. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 10/3 – Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace.
Here are some other programs that are still in the hunt:
Independent
Fort Lauderdale University School (2-3)
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (3-1)
Miami Coral Reef Football (4-0)
1A
Miami Archbishop Carroll (4-0)
Miami Edison (2-2)
Miami Westminster Christian (5-0)
2A
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (3-1)
Miami Booker T. Washington (0-5)
Miami Carol City (3-2)
Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (2-2)
Miami Gulliver Prep (2-2)
Miami Killian (3-1)
Miami Springs (2-2)
North Miami Beach (2-2)
3A
Miami St. Brendan (4-1)
4A
Hialeah (3-2)
Miami Belen Jesuit (1-4)
Plantation (3-2)
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (4-1)
5A
Homestead (1-2)
Miramar (1-4)
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (2-2)
6A
Davie Nova (1-3)
Doral Academy (0-4)
Miami Dr. Krop (1-3)
South Plantation (3-1)
Sunrise Piper (2-3)
7A
Davie Western (1-3)
Homestead South Dade (2-4)
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (3-1)
Weston Cypress Bay (2-2)
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
WEEK 5. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-5-new-teams-enter-an-elite-group
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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