With the state playoffs on the horizon, football programs in south Florida will bring to a close the 2021 regular season.
With a few slots open for the playoffs that get started next week, this final week will see a majority of the programs with off weeks, getting their teams ready for the next five weeks that will once again produce a state champion in each of the eight classes.
With Miami Central, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna and Miami Killian all answering some challenges this past week – along with St. Thomas Aquinas, Homestead and Western taking care of business, the playoffs will certainly be very interesting – as we will break down over the next week.
For now, here is the way Week 11 stacks up:
1. Miami Central Rockets (5A, 7-2). Scored early and often in a convincing 49-6 win over No. 13 Miami Northwestern in the GMAC Football Week. Coach Roland Smith’s team is firing on all cylinders. THIS WEEK: After a strong stretch run, they will take the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
2. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (7A, 9-1). In winning for the 8th straight time, the team wrapped up another district crown with a 49-7 win against Nova. THIS WEEK: Coach Roger Harriott and his team will enjoy the final week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna Lions (3A, 7-1). In beating previously unbeaten St. Petersburg Lakewood, it was all about offense, defense and special teams in a 37-6 win at home. THIS WEEK: After an up and down season – as far as getting opponents to play, head coach Dameon Jones and his team will take the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
4. Miami Killian Cougars (5A, 10-0). The regular season came to an end for head coach Derrick Gibson and his team, beating Booker T. Washington, 21-9, as part of the GMAC Football Week. THIS WEEK: This week will be an off week as this team has worked hard to stay unbeaten. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
5. Homestead Broncos (7A, 8-1). In beating rival South Dade for the second time this season – 55-42 in the GMAC Football Week. THIS WEEK: Head Coach Philip Simpson and his team will enjoy the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
6. Davie Western Wildcats (8A, 7-2). In winning for the fifth straight time – fourth consecutive shutout – Coach Adam Ratkevich and his team rolled to a 63-0 win against West Broward. THIS WEEK: An away game on Friday at much improved No. 18 Miramar. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
7. Fort Lauderdale Dillard Panthers (7A, 8-1). You can call it a letdown after a close game against district champion St. Thomas Aquinas, but the 41-40 decision against Plantation could have gone either way for head coach Tyler Tate and his talented team. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with the Broward Soul Bowl against Blanche Ely on Saturday, Nov. 6 at Lockhart Park in Fort Lauderdale. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
8. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs (4A, 7-2). After upsetting Venice the week before, head coach Matt Dubuc and his team did what it took in a 44-8 win against Flanagan. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end on Friday, Nov. 5 at Boyd Anderson. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
9. Deerfield Beach Bucks (8A, 7-2). In winning for the fourth straight time – third consecutive shutout, interim head coach David Blackwell and his team rolled to a district title, 40-0, against Boca Raton. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with a Nov. 5 home game against Piper. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
10. Plantation American Heritage Patriots (5A, 5-3). Getting by Stranahan 35-0, head coach Pat Surtain and his team wrapped up yet another district title with a third straight victory. THIS WEEK: Will have the week off to get ready for the competitive playoffs. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
11. Miami Gulliver Prep Raiders (4A, 6-1). Coach Earl Sims and his impressive team continued to roll along with a 49-13 win at West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end on the road against Orlando Bishop Moore on Nov. 5. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
12. Miami Christopher Columbus Explorers (8A, 6-3). Ended the regular season with a thrilling GMAC Football Week 7A/8A title with a 10-7 win over No. 16 Miami Palmetto to even this year’s series at 1-1. THIS WEEK: The regular season is over for head coach Dave Dunn and his team with the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
13. Miami Northwestern Bulls (6A, 7-3). This team is now at a crossroad after last Thursday’s convincing 49-6 setback to No. 1 Miami Central as part of GMAC Football week. They head into the playoffs with plenty to prove during this tough season. THIS WEEK: Head Coach Max Edwards and his football team will have the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
14. Miramar Patriots (7A, 6-2). This team stayed hot, winning for the sixth straight time – against Miramar Everglades, 49-0. Coach A.J. Scott has given up one touchdown in the past 22 quarters. THIS WEEK: A key non-district home game against No. 7 Davie Western on Nov. 5. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
15. Miami Edison Red Raiders (3A, 6-3). Coach Luther Campbell and his football team continued the push for a playoff with a convincing GMAC Week win against Miami Norland, 46-7. They also beat Miami International Academy on Monday, 35-0. THIS WEEK: A Friday regular-season ending contest at No. 19 Miami Palmetto. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
16. Miami Palmetto Panthers (8A, 6-2). The tough 10-7 setback to No. 12 Christopher Columbus did nothing to ruin the No. 1 seed that head coach Mike Manasco and his team will have, heading into the playoffs. The game was part of GMAC Football Week. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end on Thursday, Nov. 4 at home against No. 15 Miami Edison. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
17. Hialeah Champagnat Catholic Lions (2A, 6-2). Head Coach Hector Clavijo and his two-time defending 2A state champions had last week off. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end for the two-time defending state champions with a Friday, Nov. 5 trip to Naples Lely. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
18. Florida Christian Patriots (3A, 8-0). Remained unbeaten with a hard-fought 25-19 setback to previously unbeaten Miami Ransom Everglades. THIS WEEK: Head coach Joe Burmeister and his team looks for a perfect regular season on Friday at home against Somerset Pembroke Pines. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
19. Miami LaSalle Royal Lions (4A, 9-0). After a tough game with Pine Crest the week before, head coach Helder Valle and his team shut down North Broward Prep, 48-0. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end on Friday, Nov. 5 against SW Ranches Archbishop McCarthy. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
20. Hollywood South Broward Bulldogs (7A, 7-1). In winning for the fourth straight time, 29-7, to Hollywood McArthur, head coach Charles McCrae and his team continued to have a banner season. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with a Nov. 5 home game against Cooper City. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
ALSO KEEP AN EYE ON: Coconut Creek (6A, 7-2), Doral Academy (7A, 7-1), Hialeah Goleman (Independent, 7-2), Hollywood Avant Garde Academy (2A, 7-0), Miami Dr. Krop Lightning (8A, 5-3), Miami Ransom Everglades (Independent, 7-1), Miami True North (6-2), Plantation Colonels (6A, 5-2), Westland Hialeah (Independent, 7-1).
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The one thing that happened this past week was we all learned more about some of the powers.
Right in the middle of the Inaugural GMAC Football Week, head coach Roland Smith and his Miami Central Rockets sent a little message to the 5A teams across the state of Florida, and it was heard loud and clear.
On a Friday where the GMAC event is in full swing and several other local teams are fighting for a playoff spot, the No. 3 rated team in south Florida will have the chance to jump into the spotlight again.
With the toughest schedule in the state of Florida, head coach Dameon Jones and his 6-1 Lions, rated as the top 3A team in the state, will play host to the unbeaten 4A St. Petersburg Lakewood Spartans who come to Hollywood with plenty to prove.
No. 1 Central-No. 2 Northwestern: Rematch At Traz Tonight
Back on October 1, when Miami Central beat rival Miami Northwestern, 24-21, there were many who felt that if they played again, things would be different.
Fast forward 27 days, and that wish will come true tonight (7:30) at “The Mecca” Traz Powell Stadium when the 6-2 Rockets and 7-2 Bulls will get together one more time before an expected packed house.
They had talked about it for years, and today it all becomes a reality for the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) when the Inaugural Football Championship Series kicks off four days of Miami-Dade programs competing against one another.
With the hard work of Assistant Superintendent Steffond Cone, GMAC Administrative Director Reginald Fox and GMAC Executive Secretary Denarvise Thornton on hand, the Inaugural Greater Miami Athletic Conference Football Championship Series will be born.