Winker’s South Florida High School Football Week 10 Update

It will be interesting to see the repercussions of the tri-county playoff system being set up for South Florida teams that opted out of the FHSAA state playoffs. One of the opportunities of the pandemic is to show our kids what resiliency and grit and faith in a brighter future looks like. I commend everyone involved in South Florida youth sports trying to give our kids an opportunity to play the sport they love and accomplish their goals.

Tri-County Playoff System

Most of the private powerhouses such as defending state champs 7A St. Thomas Aquinas, 3A Chaminade-Madonna and 2A Champagnat, along with Gulliver, American Heritage, and Cardinal Gibbons, opted into the FHSAA playoffs.

However, most public schools in the four South Florida counties, because of the late start date to their seasons opted out, with the exception of five teams: defending champs 6A Miami Central and 7A Northwestern, as well as 8A Palmetto, 8A Homestead, 5A Key West and 3A Edison.

Defending champions 4A Booker T. Washington and 8A Columbus opted out and will not be defending their titles.

The tri-county championships will be divided into 3 divisions, Class 8A, Class 7A, and Class 6A to 2A, with seedings determined by a panel of South Florida sportswriters.

Playoffs will start the first week of December with the championship games played on December 21-22.

National Spotlight

High School football in South Florida was on the national stage Friday night as the American Heritage Patriots (5-2) took on the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (3-1) at Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium on ESPN2.

Roger Harriott’s Raiders were dominant in a rain-soaked 33-23 win that wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Lots of shots of Assistant Coach and Hall of Famer Jason Taylor on the Raiders’ sideline, highlights of American Heritage head coach Patrick Surtain’s Dolphins career, along with features on alumni succeeding at the next level (including Patrick Surtain II at Alabama), showed South Florida football in a great light.

The Patriots begin the state playoffs hosting the 1-6 Palm Bay (Melbourne) Pirates Friday at 7:30pm.

St. Thomas Aquinas has a bye in the first round and will play the winner of the Sarasota Sailors versus the LeHigh Lightning next Friday.

Bulls still team to beat in Dade

In another monster game on Thursday night, Max Edwards’ Northwestern Bulls (2-1) showed the Palmetto Panthers (1-1) that the Bulls are still the team to beat in Dade in a 17-7 win.

The Northwestern Bulls travel to Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium in Key West to begin the state playoffs against John Hughes’ Conchs (4-1) at 7:30pm on Friday.

The Panthers begin their playoffs hosting Orlando powerhouse Dr. Phillips (5-1) 6pm on Saturday. This is a big game for the Panthers, who would have a clear path to the 8A state finals with defending Columbus opting out.

Miami Central, which has played all of 6 quarters of football, get another bye this week as Archbishop McCarthy forfeited. This is the second forfeiture in a row as Immokolee forfeited last week.

"Opt-out Action"

In “opt-out” action, the Columbus Explorers (3-0) play at North Miami Beach Chargers (2-1) Friday at 5pm. This is going to be an interesting game, as the Chargers beat Booker T. Washington last Saturday 20-14. Columbus does a great job of broadcasting its games on ccnnlive.com and Iencourage readers to check out their excellent broadcasting team.

Winless Booker T. Washington (0-2) takes on Norland (1-2) at Traz Powell Thursday at 7:30pm.

Another interesting game is the Coral Gables Cavaliers (2-0) at South Dade Buccaneers (2-0) at Harris Field at 2pm on Friday. Roger Pollard’s Cavaliers have outscored opponents 84-14 in their first two games and this should be another great game.

Muck Bowl

Pahokee Blue Devils (1-1) at Glades Central Raiders (2-0) Sat Nov 14 7pm

The annual Muck Bowl between Pahokee and Glades Central is one of the most famous high school rivalry games in the nation, drawing over 20,000 spectators each year.

There have been many times when there have been more National Football League players from Glades Central than any other high school in the country. Each team has won six Florida High School football titles, but have both opted out of the FHSAA playoffs this year.

FHSAA Playoffs

The FHSAA playoffs are in full swing across the state and local action includes:

7A - Homestead Broncos (1-2) at Gulf Coast Sharks (3-3) Fri Nov 13 7:30pm

Homestead will be looking to get their season into gear against a tough Gulf Coast team.

6A - Belen Jesuit Wolverines (3-3) at Dunbar (Ft. Myers) Tigers (5-2) Fri Nov 13 7:30pm

Belen is a decent football team, but have been hot and cold this season. This will be a good test for Don Chaney Sr.’s Wolverines and they have a chance to beat a tough Dunbar team if they stick with the ground and pound, rather than the high flying offense they have been trying.

4A - Gulliver Prep Raiders (4-0) at Monsignor Pace Spartans (1-3) Fri Nov 13 at 7:30pm

Earl Sims’ Raiders beat the Dade Christian Crusaders 35-6 last week after a three week covid protocol layoff and begin their playoff run against a Spartans team whose losses are against the powerhouse programs of Champagnat, Cardinal Gibbons and TruPrep (Spartans beat Somerset Silver Palms). Gulliver’s path to its first state championship since 2000 (Sean Taylor’s team) is wide open with Booker T. Washington choosing not to defend its 4A title.

4A – Clewiston Tigers (6-1) at Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs (3-1) Fri Nov 13 7:30pm

This is going to be a good game as the Chiefs’ roller coaster season continues after a win at St. Thomas Aquinas followed by a loss at American Heritage.

3A - Edison Red Raiders (2-1) at Benjamin Buccaneers (2-3) Friday Nov 13 3:30pm

Luther Campbell’s Red Raiders start the playoffs coming off a 47-7 win over Norland. This should be another tune up game for a Red Raiders team that could go deep in the 3A bracket.

3A - Palm Glades Prep Eagles (0-5) at Calvary Christian Eagles (5-0) Fri November 13 7:30pm

Calvary continues its playoff run after dispatching King’s Academy 36-0 last week. Kirk Hoza’s Calvary team is solid and looking to make a statement this year

3A - Somerset Silver Palms Stallions (3-4) at Chaminade-Madonna Lions (4-1) Fri Nov 13 7pm

Dameon Jones’ Chaminade-Madonna starts defending its 3A crown against the Stallions.

2A - Champagnat Catholic Lions (6-2) at Naples First Baptist Lions (7-1) Fri Nov 13 7:30pm

Defending 2A champ Champagnat had to win the play-in game it drew as part of the random draw FHSAA is using this year, travelling to Belle Glade and pummeling Glades Day 65-7. Hector Clavijo’s team played its usual murderer’s row schedule this year, with its two losses to defending 3A champ Chaminade-Madonna and all-star team TruPrep Academy, and Champagnat is primed to defend its title.

Trivia question- what is most common nickname in South Florida high school sports?

Answer- Lions.

Champagnat, Chaminade-Madonna, Westminster Academy, LaSalle (Royal Lions!), West Palm Beach King’s Academy