Winker's South Florida High School Football Week 6 Update

Maybe it was the beautiful setting, the screaming fans and coaches, or the playoff intensity of the Champagnat Catholic and TruPrep Academy players at New Lockhart, but it felt great and it is hopefully a sign of our slow return to normality.

TruPrep came away with an impressive 47-29 victory and the Saints take their undefeated record into this week's game against defending 7A state champ St. Thomas Aquinas.

Ranked #2 by USA Today (behind IMG Academy), this is the first game for Roger Harriott's Raiders.

St. Thomas Aquinas is one of the few Broward teams to opt-in to the state playoff system (along with defending 3A champion Chaminade-Madonna, and Cardinal Gibbons, Calvary Christian, and Westminster Academy.). The game will take place Friday 7pm at St. Thomas Aquinas without fans.

Champagnat Catholic (3-2) visits the American Heritage (Delray Beach) Stallions (2-1) Friday, Oct 16 @ 7p.

This week’s matchups

While the season will start later this month for the majority of South Florida teams that opted out of the state playoffs in order to play more games, including defending 8A champs Columbus and 4A champs Booker T. Washington, there are a full slate of games this week among the teams that opted in.

Thursday

Belen Jesuit Wolverines (1-2) at St. Brendan Sabres (2-0) Thurs Oct 15 @ 7pm

After an opening season blowout of Archbishop McCarthy, Belen has lost two in a row- to Gulliver and a 46-20 loss last week to Somerset Academy Silver Palms. St. Brendan is undefeated, coming off a 20-16 win over LaSalle last week, and will be looking for a statement win against the Wolverines.

Friday

Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors (3-1) at American Heritage Patriots (3-0) Fri Oct 16 @ 7:30pm

This is another “game of the week.” The 7-time State 3A champs from Jacksonville come down to take on Pat Surtain's undefeated Patriots. The Patriots are coming off a bye and should continue to roll against a tough opponent.

Doral Academy Firebirds (1-1) at Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs (1-0) Fri Oct 16 @ 7pm

In their season opener last Friday, Matt DuBuc’s Chiefs beat the Monsignor Pace Spartans 28-12 in Fort Lauderdale. This is going to be a good early season test for the Chiefs.

Benjamin Buccaneers (1-1) at Gulliver Prep Raiders (2-0) Fri Oct 16 @7pm

Coach Earl Sims’ Raiders should roll over the visitors from Palm Beach Gardens, whose game against Calvary was cancelled last week after a Calvary player tested positive for Covid.

Dade Christian Crusaders (2-2) at Key West Conchs (1-0) Fri Oct 16 7pm

Coach John Hughes' Conchs will have their hands full with George Stubb's Dade Christian Crusaders this week and this should be a great game. The Conchs beat Westminster Academy in their season opener two weeks ago.

King's Academy Lions 3-1 at Calvary Christian Academy Eagles 3-0 Fri Oct 16 @ 7pm

Kirk Hoza’s Eagles were a team on a roll before their game against Benjamin was cancelled last week for a positive covid test. The Eagles will have to play well to continue their winning streak against a solid Palm Beach program.

Chaminade-Madonna Lions (2-1) at Clearwater Academy International Knights (0-3) Fri Oct 16 @ 7pm

The Lions are on the road again this week and should return with another win.

Other games Friday

Miami Christian Victors (1-1) at Florida Christian Patriots (2-1) 7:30pm

Everglades Prep Academy (0-3) at Somerset Academy Silver Palms (2-2) 4pm

Somerset Academy Panthers (1-0) at North Broward Prep Eagles (0-0) 5pm

LaSalle (0-1) at Westminster Academy (1-4) 7pm

SASH (0-2) at Archbishop McCarthy (0-3) 7pm

True North Classical Academy (0-1) at Marathon (0-2) 7pm

Palm Glades Prep Academy (0-2) at Coral Shores (2-0) 7pm

Cypress Creek (2-3) at Dunedin (2-3) 7pm