Winker's South Florida High School Football Aug 26 2021 Update

High School Football begins tonight in South Florida. With a bunch of interesting games on tap this weekend, be sure to get out and check out a game.

Thursday Matchups

American Patriots vs. Miami Stingarees Thurs 7pm Curtis Park

This will be a battle of first year coaches, as Paul Volero takes over at Miami High and Tim Neal replaces Demetrius Jackson at American High. Expectations are high for Miami to return to prominence in a very competitive 8A class.

Plantation Colonels vs South Miami Cobras Thurs 7pm at Tropical

We always love Miami-Broward showdowns, and this should be a good one.

Belen Jesuit Wolverines vs. Greeley West Spartans (Greeley, CO) Thurs 7pm

Belen kicks off its season opener Thursday at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando against Colorado’s Greeley West at 7 p.m.

Other Thursday night action includes Goleman Gators @ Carol City Chiefs and Norland Vikings @ Booker T. Washington Tornadoes (both at 7pm)

Friday Games

Chaminade-Madonna Lions (1-0) @ Western Wildcats (1-0) Fri 7pm

Class 3A state runner-up Chaminade-Madonna heads to Davie for a big-time Broward matchup. Western, perhaps Broward County’s top public-school team, is coming off a season opening victory over Stranahan, and the Lions held Dillard scoreless in their preseason game.

Edison Red Raiders @ Deerfield Beach Bucks Fri 7pm

Edison, coming off its best season in decades under Coach Luther Campbell, starts the season off with a bang at Deerfield Beach in a great Miami-Broward public school battle.

Champagnat Catholic Lions @ Northwestern Bulls (0-1) Fri 7:30pm Traz Powell

The Bulls, who lost their season opener last Friday to the Venice Indians 56-34, play Hector Clavijo’s Champagnat at Traz. This should be a great game.

Columbus Explorers @ Benedictine Cadets (Savannah, GA) Fri 6:30pm

Columbus, which opted out of the 2020 state series after winning its first state title in 2019, travels to Savannah to play in the Riddell Catholic School Classic against Benedictine, which has won two Georgia state championships in the last decade.

Coral Gables Cavaliers @ Monsignor Pace Spartans Fri 7:30pm

The Cavaliers kick off the season under new coach Frank Welch against a strong Monsignor Pace team.

Gulliver Prep @ Manatee (Bradenton) Fri 7:30pm

Expectations couldn’t be higher at Gulliver after a strong showing last year.

Palmetto Panthers @ Homestead Broncos Fri 7:30pm Harris Field

This southern Dade game is a big deal as 8A Palmetto takes on Homestead, with both teams looking to start the season off right. Expect a close one.

Pine Crest @ Calvary Christian Academy Eagles Fri 7pm

There are high expectations for Kirk Hoza's Eagles, who are coming off their best year ever.

Saturday Games

St. Frances Academy Panthers (Baltimore, MD) @ St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders Sat noon

Live on ESPN as part of the 2021 GEICO high school football kickoff, which will feature some of the country's premier programs Aug. 26-29, St. Thomas Aquinas hosts one of the nation’s top programs teams in St. Frances Academy. Roger Harriot’s Raiders are defending 7A State Champs, while St. Frances did not play in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie, FL) vs American Heritage Patriots (Plantation, FL) Sat 7pm

Defending 5A champ American Heritage fell last week in its big preseason clash with IMG Academy. This week the Patriots travel to Naples to play in the Battle at the Beach against Treasure Coast.