While there were some surprises in Round 1 of the state football playoffs, what happened this past week – in Round 2 was indeed something that was sobering to many.
In a round that saw some outstanding teams lose games, it only showed how much talent there is in south Florida – with impressive programs ending their year – early.
There are so many ways that you can look at last Friday night’s Miami Central 41-28 win at No. 2 seed defending 5A state champion Plantation American Heritage.
The Rockets, who were the No. 3 seed in a region that was loaded from the beginning, kept the pressure on all night long as they came away with a win as they look to return to the state championship game for the third straight year after winning at the 6A level the past two seasons.
They talked about this game since the classifications came out in the spring, and two-time defending 6A state champion Miami Central moved down to 5A, where Plantation American Heritage is looking to defend its crown.
A huge meeting this evening in Plantation in the second round for two teams that never expected to be No. 2 and No. 3 seeds with five combined losses.
When it comes to the state football playoffs, south Florida is always in the middle of the conversation.
With the exception of 1A, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties have all the classes covered, and beginning this evening – with two games, the spotlight will shine brightly.
With two-time defending 2A state champion Champagnat Catholic still in the race for a sixth consecutive state title appearance, football in the City of Hialeah hasn’t been in the spotlight for a few seasons. But that all changes tonight.
When defending champion Barbara Goleman (8-2) faces off with surprising Westland Hialeah (8-1) at 7:00 in the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC), the Gators and Wildcats will get the chance to bring home a title. Westland Hialeah’s lone loss came to the Gators earlier this season, 24-12.