Winker’s South Florida High School Football Update- Playoffs Wk 1

"Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another" says Proverb 27:17, because when iron blades are rubbed together, each becomes sharper and more effective. Likewise, the level of competition in South Florida produces teams, players and coaches that are ready to succeed in the state football playoffs.

Playoff seedings were announced this morning at 7am, and I’d like to thank Joshua Wilson at floridahsfootball.com for his excellent real-time coverage of the release.

Here are our Region 4 brackets:

8A

Taravella Trojans (5-5) at Palmetto Panthers (9-1) Friday 7pm

South Dade Buccaneers (7-3) at Western Wildcats (7-2) Friday 7:30pm

Miami Stingarees (7-3) at Stoneman Douglas Eagles (8-1) Friday 7:30pm

Coral Gables Cavaliers (4-6) at Columbus Explorers (6-4) Thurs 7pm at Tropical Park

There are a number of interesting storylines in South Florida’s 8A bracket, including the Stoneman Douglas’ storybook season (their only loss to Plantation last Friday). But South Dade and Western may be the best regional quarterfinal in the state, as Coach Adam Ratkevich and the Wildcats welcome the Buccaneers to Davie Friday night.

Any coach will tell you that beating a team twice in the same year is one of the toughest things to do, and Columbus beat Gables 41-26 just two weeks ago. Look for another ground war between Columbus senior and (for now) Pitt commit Henry Parrish and Gables sophomore Maurice Jones, who ran for over 200 yards on 17 carries for 3 TDs against the Southwest Eagles last week in a 21-7 Gables win.

7A

South Broward Bulldogs (6-4) at St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (9-0) Friday 7:30pm

Plantation Colonels (8-1) at Hialeah Thoroughbreds (7-3) Friday 7:30pm at Milander

Blanche Ely Tigers (7-3) at Atlantic Eagles (6-3) Friday 7:30pm

Fort Lauderdale Flying L’s (5-4) at McArthur Mustangs (7-2) Friday 7pm

Blanche Ely is coming off a blistering beating in last Saturday’s Broward Soul Bowl 60-14 at the hands of the Dillard Panthers and it is hard to see any scenario where the USA Today 2nd ranked team in the country St. Thomas Aquinas doesn’t easily move out of this 7A bracket as it seeks to avenge its loss to Lakeland in last year’s final.

As an aside, best nickname in South Florida: Flying L’s, Stingarees, or Mighty Dragons? And all three in the playoffs this year!

6A

South Fort Myers Wolfpack (7-3) at Naples Eagles (9-0) Friday 7:30pm

Dunbar (Ft. Myers) Tigers (7-3) at Central Rockets (7-3) Friday 7:30pm at Traz Powell

North Fort Myers Red Knights (7-3) at Fort Myers Green Wave (8-2) Friday 7:30pm

Lely (Naples) Trojans (6-4) at Dillard Panthers (10-0) Friday 7:30pm

Can we have a conversation about what is happening in SW Florida? 6 of the 8 teams in 6A? And well represented in 5A, 3A and 2A.

5A

Key West Conchs (5-5) at American Heritage Patriots (8-1) Friday 7:30pm

North Miami Beach Chargers (7-3) at Cypress Lake (Ft. Myers) Panthers (8-2) Friday 7:30pm

Killian Cougars (8-2) at Jensen Beach Falcons (8-2) Friday 7:30pm

Stranahan Mighty Dragons (6-4) at Northwestern Bulls (8-2) Saturday 7pm at Traz Powell

Key West travels to Heritage Field Friday night for an intense welcome back to the playoffs. Ditto for Stranahan as they travel to Traz Powell for this week's only Saturday game. Look for this bracket to culminate in a barnburner between Northwestern, who is looking for their first three-peat in their storied history, and American Heritage.

4A

Bye: Gulliver Raiders (10-0) and University Sharks (8-2)

Carol City Chiefs (5-5) at Booker T. Washington Tornadoes (8-2) Thursday 7pm at Traz Powell

Monsignor Pace Spartans (5-5) at Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs (8-2) Friday 7:30pm

Is 4A the new Division of Death? Undefeated Gulliver will have a chance to prove it belongs with the big boys and will have their hands full with University, Carol City, Booker T., and defending state champ Cardinal Gibbons.

3A

Bye: Calvary Christian Academy Eagles (9-1) and Chaminade-Madonna Lions (8-2)

Edison Red Raiders (5-5) at Westminster Christian Warriors (6-4) Friday 3pm

St. Andrew’s (Boca Raton) Scots (7-3) at Somerset Academy Silver Palms (Homestead) Stallions (7-2) Friday 7:30pm

When is the last time we used the words Edison and playoffs in the same sentence? Can Coach Luther Campbell keep his incredible first year going as they take on Westminster Christian? Look for Chaminade-Madonna and Calvary Christian to be battling it out to see who advances.

2A

Bye: Champagnat Catholic Lions (6-3) and Westminster Academy Lions (9-1)

Miami Christian Victors (5-4) at St. John Neumann Celtics (Naples) (8-2) Friday 7:30pm

Moore Haven Terriers (5-5) at First Baptist Academy Lions (Naples) (10-0) Friday 7:30pm

Has anyone done more with less than Champagnat head coach Hector Clavijo? Since joining the staff in 2016 and taking over as head coach in 2018, Coach Clavijo has quietly built a powerhouse and been to three straight state finals in Orlando. In 2016 he lost to University Christian, beat University Christian in 2017, and lost last year to North Florida Christian. Look for Champagnat and Westminster Academy to be battling it out to continue the quest to get to the state finals in Tallahassee (1A and 2A are in Tallahassee Gene Cox Stadium this year, all other classes are heading to Daytona Stadium this year).