With dozens and dozens of camps, combines and 7-on-7 events – as well as practices and scrimmages, we have the pleasure of watching just about every prospect in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties over the course of a year.
Because we are NOT consumed with the high star rated players, it gives us the opportunity to see schools and prospects that many just do not have the time for – or the desire to see.
As we bring you the first south Florida Top 20 football teams, keep in mind that every week, things will change.
Because you don’t start the season in the top 20 – do not get crazy – everything plays out – as you will see in the first few weeks.
We have all waited for the football season to arrive – and with so many covid and pandemic restrictions over the past year, it was great to see the football programs in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties finally get on that playing field.
What this past week revealed was there were many things we got right – and of course several things that went wrong.
National Spotlight on South Florida This Friday Night
There was a time when kickoff classics or jamborees meant nothing more than a tune-up for the season ahead. Not anymore!
In the age of national rankings, games involving top teams mean everything – where it happens to be tonight – when Plantation American Heritage plays host to the nation’s top program, IMG Academy, at 7:30 in an “exhibition” game.
While everyone realizes the game may not count in the won/loss column, it will speak volumes in the hunt for a national title – which so many teams are playing for these days.
Coach Pepper Johnson’s IMG squad and head coach Pat Surtain’s Patriots will play this one like everything is on the line – and even though it may not count as far the season record is concerned, those who vote for the nationally-rated teams may not factor in the loser of this game for the national title at the end of the year. Too many impressive teams to compete against.
The defending 5A state champion Patriots have added some more pieces to an already talented team that has more than its share of elite talent.
The Ascenders are loaded at every position – having as many as 40 Power 5 prospects, who come from every corner of the nation. But still have to travel to south Florida this evening for a game against a very talented program.
THIS ONE COUNTS!
Now, while their 5A regional counterparts are knocking heads with IMG Academy, the defending 6A state champion (moved down to 5A this year) Central Rockets will be kicking it off at 10:30 eastern time in Los Angeles against top-rated John Bosco in a game that pits head coach Roland Smith’s talent-filled team against one of the best in the country – in a game that does count. But if we’ve learned anything about the Rockets over the years, they are NOT intimidated against anyone - as several national powers have found out the past decade.
Two outstanding games that will definitely shine the spotlight on south Florida – and that’s what is so exciting.
While Miami Central and John Bosco – and IMG and American Heritage will have much of the spotlight, there are other teams to keep an eye on as well:
Chaminade at Fort Lauderdale Dillard, 7: This is a really interesting game against teacher (Dameon Jones) and student (Tyler Tate). Tate was part of the three straight 3A state championships for the Lions as Offensive Coordinator. Now, he has a Panther team that went 6-0 last year, his first, and stretched the two-year record to 18-1. Chaminade-Madonna can do something this year that very few – if any will ever accomplish – six straight trips to the state title game.
It was a proud day for Miami-Dade Schools and the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) on Tuesday.
With 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 was born.