Winker’s South Florida High School Football Update- Playoffs Wk 4

As part of the Super Bowl festivities this year, the History Miami Museum is hosting an extensive exhibit from the NFL Hall of Fame.

There is a small room just on the right of the entrance that contains a dozen amazing pictures of Miami high school football scenes by legendary Miami Herald photographer Al Diaz called GRIDIRON GLORY- HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IN MIAMI.

A short description of the exhibit reads:

High school football fields in Miami-Dade County have long been a cradle to some of the greatest football players to ever play the game.

Dozens of South Florida born stars who have gone on to shine on College Football Saturdays and NFL Sundays, began their careers in place like Traz Powell Stadium or Homestead’s Harris Field.

From a cradle to the NFL and history-making programs and head coaches, there is nothing quite like high school football in Miami-Dade County.

Many of Miami’s high schools have brought home state titles, including:

• Northwestern 6
• Central 5
• Booker T. Washington 5
• Carol City 5
• Coral Gables 4
• Southridge 3
• Champagnat 2
• Gulliver Prep 1
• Hialeah-Miami Lakes 1
• Edison 1
• Killian 1
• Norland 1
• Monsignor Pace 1
• South Dade 1

The dominance of Miami teams was on display in last week’s regional finals, as Champagnat Catholic, Central, Booker T. Washington, Columbus and Northwestern went 5-0, including 3-0 against Broward powerhouses American Heritage, Cardinal Gibbons and Dillard.

State Semi-Final games this Friday

Deerfield Beach Bucks (10-3) vs Columbus Explorers (9-4) at Tropical noon

This is easily the most intriguing game of the week between two solid programs that have never won a state championship.

And it is a rematch from last year’s 8A semifinal, where the Explorers beat the Bucks 49-21, as the Explorers went on to lose a heartbreaker in the finals to Mandarin 37-35.

Deerfield Beach beat a solid Vero Beach Indians team 35-7 last week. The Explorers have come storming back from a mid-season slump and are peaking at the right time as they dominated the Western Wildcats 36-21 at Tropical last Thursday.

Seffner Christian Crusaders (Tampa) (10-3) vs Champagnat Lions (8-3) at Flamingo Park 7:30

HC Hector Clavijo’s “all gas no brake” style has resulted in Champagnat outscoring opponents 77-7 in two playoff wins, but Seffner Christian has playmakers on both sides of the ball and will provide the first real challenge to the Lions quest to reach Tallahassee for their fourth straight trip to the state finals and their third state title.

Northwestern Bulls (11-2) vs Tampa Jesuit Tigers (11-2) at Traz Powell 7:30

Northwestern took care of business at Heritage Field in one of the most highly anticipated games of the year, travelling to Plantation to knock out a tough American Heritage Patriots team 23- 20.

This week the Bulls, looking for a historic 3-peat, welcome Tampa Jesuit to Traz Powell.

Central Rockets (10-3) at Palmetto Tigers (12-1) 7:30

This trip to Harllee Stadium in Manatee County will be a good test for a Central squad that is peaking at the right time. The Rockets beat Dillard 35-0 last week.

It is interesting to note that prior to the this year's reclassification that broke up the 6A region of death- which combined for the last seven Class 6A state titles between Northwestern, Central and Carol City- Northwestern and Central wouldn't have both advanced to the state semifinals.

Clearwater Central Catholic Marauders (10-3) at Chaminade-Madonna Lions (10-2) 7:30

HC Dameon Jones’ Lions are also seeking a three-peat and host a very good Clearwater Central Catholic team.

The Lions have outscored opponents 91-0 points in two playoff games and destroyed No. 1 seed Calvary Christian 35-0 last week.

Booker T. Washington Tornadoes (11-2) at Lakewood (St. Petersburg) Spartans (12-0) 7:30

Undefeated Lakewood is going to have its hands full with the fourth seeded Tornadoes (Exhibit A against the RPI system?). The Tornadoes travelled to Fort Lauderdale to beat Cardinal Gibbons 31-21 last week.

Venice Indians (8-4) at St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (12-0) 7:30

An IMG parent told me that Venice was the best Florida team the Ascenders played this year (IMG beat Northwestern 24-7, Booker T. 52-14, Norland 35-0, and Venice 46-7), but Venice will likely be road kill at Brian Piccolo Stadium as the USA Today 2nd ranked team in the country seeks its 11th state title (only Bolles currently has more, with 11). The Raiders crushed Atlantic 26-0 last week.