If you have followed high school football in south Florida for any length of time, you already know that when it comes to big games, this is any area that never ducks competition.
With that in mind, Day 2 of the opening week of the 2022 season continues on Friday and Saturday with a number of matchups that will get the attention of fans across the country.
As Saturday will most definitely show the country some of the best football around – with the final three games of the Inaugural Broward County Football Showcase taking center stage.
But before the spotlight falls on Saturday, there are a pair of games tonight that will more than peg the meter.
No. 2 Miami Central at Bradenton IMG Academy, 7. Very few public schools will stand up to any challenge the way the Rockets have with head coach Roland Smith, and now Jube Joseph. This team rolls into Bradenton a huge underdogs against a team that is a national group of all-stars. While nobody is giving the Rockets any chance at all, there is a group of players and coaches along 95th Street who has been down this road before – playing in Nevada and California as well as Washington DC against elite and national powers. Both teams will see how far they need to go.
No. 5 Miami Northwestern at Venice, 7. If revenge was the order of the night, head coach Max Edwards and the Bulls are ready to head back to play the defending 8A state champions, who crushed the Bulls in every phase of the game. This team needs to be careful not to use the result of their kickoff classic or Venice’s setback against IMG Academy as a barometer. That could get them in a lot of trouble. For the Bulls to come out of Venice with a win, they need to run the ball like they did last week and mix in a passing game. On defense, the team speed that they have could be the difference in the end
Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Academy at No. 3 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 12 noon (ESPN). Like last year when they opened against Maryland’s St. Francis Academy on national television, head coach Roger Harriott and the Raiders will have their hands full against a battle-tested team that has quickness, size and elite athletes. St. Thomas Aquinas lost a lot of key players on the offensive side of the ball, but still has a quick, attacking defense. The nation should be entertained.
Los Alamitos, California at No. 6 Plantation American Heritage, (St. Thomas Aquinas, 4 p.m. (ESPN 2). While Lowndes County is a shell of the team they have been over the past decade, you still have to be impressed with the way that first year head coach Mike Smith and his Patriots went up to Georgia and took care of business on both sides of the ball. Saturday afternoon’s contest on ESPN2 will be a different story. The Griffins come across country with speed, size, talent and by far the best quarterback that American Heritage will see this year. Even though it’s a 4:00 start, the Patriots will be able to use the Florida heat as a weapon as they look to grind out a huge win.
St. John’s Academy at No. 1 Hollywood Chaminade (St. Thomas Aquinas, 8 p.m. (FLO SPORTS). Many who know both teams feel that this could be the best matchup of the first week. The Cadets are loaded everywhere – with size, talent, Power 5 commits and an advantage of playing a national schedule that puts them in front of top-flight competition. Head Coach Dameon Jones and his Lions have been as successful as any team in the state of Florida the past five years but are young at many spots. Can their huge offensive front pave the way – and is the youthful defense ready for a senior-oriented attack? Get your popcorn because this will showcase some of the best this sport has to offer – in all classes.
In addition to those games, here is a look at more contests being played today and Saturday, involving local teams:
THURSDAY RESULTS
Avant Garde (Hollywood) 68, Somerset Academy Key 3
Booker T. Washington (Miami) 48, Killian 12
Braddock (Miami) 43, Mourning 0
Coral Gables 14, American (Hialeah) 13
Hialeah Miami-Lakes 20, Doral Reagan 14
Everglades (Miramar) 44, Taravella 0
Flanagan (Pembroke Pines) 20, Nova 0
Gainesville Buchholz 31, Lake City Columbia 14
Homestead 19 Miami Palmetto 7
Life Christian, Virginia 21, Stranahan 6
South Miami 20, Miami Coral Reef 8
South Plantation 27, Coral Glades 18
University School (Fort Lauderdale) 13, Coral Springs Charter 9
Western (Davie) 33, Johns Creek, Georgia 14
FRIDAY
Benedictine, Georgia at No. 10 Miami Christopher Columbus, 7:30 (Tropical)
Boca Raton at No. 18 Coconut Creek Monarch, 7
BridgePrep Village Green at Palmer Trinity, 4
Calvary Christian Academy at Miami Belen Jesuit, 7:30
No. 13 Coconut Creek at Bradenton Southeast, 7:30
Deerfield Beach at Fort Lauderdale
Doral Academy at Hollywood South Broward, 7
Everglades Prep Academy at Miami Westminster Christian, 4
Hialeah Gardens at Miami Ferguson, 3:30
Hyattsville, Maryland DeMatha Catholic at No. 4 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, 7
Mater Academy at Goleman (Milander), 7:30
McArthur at Parkland Douglas, 7
Miami Florida Christian at Miami Archbishop Carroll, 3:30
Miami Dr. Krop at Miami High, 7
No. 15 Miami Gulliver Prep at Rockledge, 7
Miami Jackson at Miami Southridge, 7:30
Miami LaSalle at Somerset Academy South Homestead, 7
Miami Monsignor Pace at Jacksonville Raines, 6:30
Miami Springs at Miami Beach, 7
Miami Sunset at Miami St. Brendan, 7
Miami Varela at Coral Shores, 7
No. 19 North Miami Beach at Niceville, 7 CDT
Northeast at Pines Charter, 7
North Miami at Naples Golden Gate, 7
Palm Glades Prep Academy at True North Classical Academy, 3:30
Pine Crest at SW Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, 7
Piper at Cooper City, 7
No. 14 Plantation at Miramar, 7
Pompano Beach at Marathon, 7
Rock Creek Christian, Maryland at No. 7 Fort Lauderdale Dillard, 7
Somerset Prep at Somerset Silver Palms, 4
South Dade at Miami Carol City (Traz Powell Stadium), 7:30
West Broward at No. 20 Weston Cypress Bay
Westland Hialeah at Hallandale, 7
SATURDAY
Southwest Miami at Miami Coral Park (Tropical), 7
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2023-2026. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects
MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD TRANSFERS. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-continues-in-miami-dade-broward
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA FOOTBALL TEAMS. https://larryblustein.com/news/tracking-south-florida-2022
For the past 52 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Broward County Football Showcase Kicks Off The Season Today. https://larryblustein.com/news/broward-county-football-showcase-kicks-off-the-season-today