Winker’s South Florida High School Football Update- Week 10

The Ric Flair Rule is "To be the Man, you gotta beat the Man.”

The corollary to the Nature Boy’s famous axiom is that GOOD teams beat the teams they are supposed to beat and GREAT teams win the games they aren’t supposed to win.

I was reminded of this during a conversation with Bobby Highsmith, Chairman of the Monroe County School Board, and Ira Fluitt, Curriculum Support Specialist of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, after the Northwestern Bulls had beaten the Key West Conchs 49-14.

Highsmith, a lawyer in Key West who played at Key West and then Duke under Steve Spurrier, asked who the class of Dade County was this year. “You may be looking at them” said Fluitt, as we watched Coach Max Edward’s Bulls grind out another win against a solid, well coached and feisty opponent.

The Bulls have been the class of Miami-Dade for a long time, and they got there by winning the games they have to win, and beating a favored Central team on a regular basis of late.

“While we would have liked to take a home a victory, it was a great experience overall for our players, and provided us with a close-up look at a program performing at the highest level of high school football, a level we aspire to attain with Conch football.” said Highsmith. “From the legendary Mr. Wilcox’s welcoming words, to the great sportsmanship and outstanding play of the Bulls, it was a great opportunity to experience high school football at the Mecca- legendary Traz-Powell Stadium.”

There is no let up for the Conchs, as they host the red hot Killian Cougars (6-2), whose only losses are a season opener to the Palmetto Panthers and to Northwestern, in a battle of 5A playoff contenders on Friday night at 7 at Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium in Key West. The Bulls take on the Jackson Generals (3-5) on Friday at 7:30 in the Soul Bowl rivalry game at Traz Powell.

In other action last Friday night, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders topped the Deerfield Beach Bucks 28-7, and the University Sharks lost a rain delayed marathon to Clearwater Central Catholic 36-15.

In a game full of stars, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) beat IMG Academy in a 35-7 win Friday night at Morgan State University in Baltimore. St. Frances beat Central in their season opener 49-12 on ESPN, and then beat the Norland Vikings 28-0. IMG beat Northwestern 24-7 and Booker T. Washington 52-14, and host Norland this Saturday at 4pm in Bradenton.

Thursday Games of the Week

Not often do we have two must see Thursday games.

Booker T. Washington (7-2) take on Edison (5-3) at Traz Powell Thursday 7

Luther Campbell’s Edison Red Raiders are riding high on a two game winning streak over Carol City and Miami Christian as they head into their final two games against the Tornadoes and Northwestern next week. The Tornadoes beat the North Miami Beach Chargers (5-3) last week 53-8.

Palmetto Panthers (7-1) at South Dade Buccaneers (7-1), Harris Field Thursday 7

South Dade is coming off a 33-17 loss to the Carol City Chiefs. The Panthers crushed Miami High 35-0 last week.

Friday Games of the Week

2A Champagnat Catholic Lions (6-2) visit 4A Gulliver Prep Prep Raiders (8-0) Friday 3:30

The Lions, coming off a big win at American Heritage Delray Beach 20-15, travel to Sean Taylor Memorial Field to take on the undefeated Raiders. Coach Earl Sims had the Raiders hitting on all cylinders as they dominated the previously undefeated Calvary Christian Academy Eagles 35-7 last Friday.

Columbus Explorers (4-4) take on Coral Gables Cavaliers (3-5) at Tropical Park Friday 7:30

You can say what you want about the new RPI system, but it turns this 8A rivalry game into a playoff game. Both teams have under-performed to date, but the intensity should be high as the winner will likely get a playoff berth and the loser is out. The Cavaliers are coming off a bye week after losing to Miami High, and Columbus reeling from two straight losses in Broward to University 35-0 and Dillard 21-20.

In other games Friday night the Central Rockets (7-2) head up to Hollywood to take on the Chaminade-Madonna Lions (6-2), and the undefeated St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders, who are ranked second in the country by USA Today, host the Fort Lauderdale Flying L's (5-2).