With another Thanksgiving holiday in the books and “Black Friday” taking center stage, it is time for some football.
Across the state of Florida, we will watch the exciting Region Finals, and seven different sites in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties today and tomorrow at Traz Powell Stadium, some of the best high school football in the country will unfold.
While seven teams will wear smiles after Saturday evening, seven other top programs will put the equipment away for yet another off season.
For some seniors, it will be the final time they will play this great game – while others will continue on at the collegiate level and continue the dream of playing a game they have suited up for since they could throw a ball or make a tackle.
Here is a look at the 5A, 6A and 7A teams who will line it up tonight:
REGION FINAL 4-5A
No. 6 Hollywood McArthur (10-2) at No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (11-1). The Mustangs’ story is indeed one for the books as former standout Robert Ortega came back home to take over a team that had struggled over the past decade and win just twice a year ago.
What he and this team have done is put together eight straight wins in dominating fashion since losing that district contest to the Raiders.
This is a team that is building for the future while winning this year and have put themselves in a position that they have not been in for a long time. He has energized the current student body along with a loyal fanbase that has been energized. They have outscored the opposition, 455-114 and recorded five shutouts.
The six-time defending state champions have once again put it into gear, and despite losing their opener to national power Mater Dei from Santa Ana, California, veteran head coach Roger Harriott and his team have won 11 straight games and have out themselves in a position to win an amazing seventh straight.
This is a loaded team with major prospects on both sides of the ball and on special teams. They have met every challenge and have played a competitive schedule from top to bottom. You can guarantee that they will have another supportive crowd that is a mix of current students, parents and supporters as well as a strong alumni base.
During the 11-game winning streak, they have outscored the opposition by a staggering, 497-163 with six games of giving up seven points or less.
MCARTHUR MUSTANGS
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, L 28-14
Miramar, W 24-14
Weston Cypress Bay, W 40-6
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, L 31-7
Hollywood Hills, W 70-0
Deerfield Beach, W 35-0
Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson, W 44-0
Fort Lauderdale, W 39-6
South Plantation, W 55-0
Miramar Everglades, W 69-0
Stuart Martin County, W 41-13
Delray Beach Atlantic, W 17-16
11/28 - @Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
ST. THOMA AQUINAS RAIDERS
Santa Ana Mater Dei, California, L 26-23
Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Andeson, W 72-6
Miami Christopher Columbus, W 42-7
Davie Western, W 45-6
Hollywood McArthur, W 31-7
Hollywood Hills, W 63-0
NFL Academy London, W 41-38
Coconut Creek Monarch, W 31-20
Plantation American Heritage, W 19-12
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, W 27-21
Palm Bay Heritage, W 58-7
Coconut Creek, W 45-13
11/28 – Hollywood McArthur
REGION FINAL 4-6A
No. 2 Pembroke Pines West Broward (10-2) at No. 1 Miami Southridge (11-1). In winning 10 straight games, the Bobcats have outscored the opposition, 465-162, as they head south to take on a team that many felt was the best in the classification this year.
For Brian McCartney and his football team, this year has been about showing up and playing hard every week, and while the year got off to a rocky start, they are now running on all cylinders with playmakers on both sides of the ball.
They have shown when they do not make mistakes, they are tough to be beat, but their work will be cut out for them against the Spartans.
Southridge is a hungry team that felt that they were robbed last year in the state semifinals against eventual state champion West Boca Raton and have lived with that stinging feeling the past 11 months.
Veteran head coach Pierre Senatus has won everywhere he’s coached – and that comes from being part of the highly successful Tim “Ice” Harris Sr. coaching tree that has taught him plenty about developing players – on and off the field.
This is a loaded team that believes they can match up with anyone – on any given day, and since losing that tough contest against national power Miami Central in the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) Week battle, they have won three straight and have outscored the opposition 509-151 this season.
WEST BROWARD BOBCATS
Corner Canyon, Utah, L 38-13
Camden County, Georgia, L 32-13
Plantation, W 31-6
Pembroke Pines Flanagan, W 20-8
Miramar Everglades, W 55-0
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, W 49-38
Miami Beach, W 54-0
Miramar, W 52-8
Miami Dr. Krop, W 49-0
Davie Western, W 35-7
South Plantation, W 56-13
Coconut Creek Monarch, W 38-12
11/28 - Miami Southridge
SOUTHRIDGE SPARTANS
Miami Christopher Columbus, W 28-21
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman, W 63-22
Miami Palmetto, W 34-24
Hialeah, W 37-0
Doral Academy, W 42-7
Homestead, W 59-18
Miami Edison, W 30-16
Southwest Miami, W 49-0
Miami Central, L 34-28
Homestead South Dade, W 48-3
Davie Nova, W 49-0
Sunrise Piper, W 42-6
11/28 – Pembroke Pines West Broward
REGION FINAL 4-7A
No. 3 Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (8-4) at No. 1 Miami Palmetto (10-2). At first glance, this is a game that you can look at and feel comfortable with your prediction, but if you ask Palmetto head coach Mike Manasco, he will tell you to take a step back and see where head coach Ariel Cribeiro and his Gators have come from.
Both of the head coaches had the pleasure guiding their alma maters, and that’s why this contest may not be so cut and dry.
Both have certainly taken some lumps to get to this point, and while the Panthers come in as favorites, the respect that these two coaches have for one another will make this a game that could be better than most believe.
The Panthers got here by beating rival Christopher Columbus twice, which is something they certainly do not want to waste.
BARBARA GOLEMAN GATORS
Key West, W 62-21
Miami Southridge, L 63-22
Hialeah American, W 42-13
Hialeah Gardens, W 35-0
Weston Cypress Bay, W 35-3
West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman, L 28-7
Davie Western, L 14-7
Miami Carol City, L 26-21
Coral Springs Taravella, W 56-0
Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace, W 26-8
Homestead South Dade, W 30-28
Boca Raton Spanish River, W 56-42
11/28 - @Miami Palmetto, 6 p.m.
PALMETTO PANTHERS
Miami Booker T. Washington, W 35-0
Miami Southridge, L 34-34
Miami Christopher Columbus, W 24-21
Miami Killian, W 42-21
Coral Gables, W 43-0
Homestead South Dade, W 45-7
Miami Northwestern, L 28-0
Miami High, W 43-7
Fort Myers Bishop Verot, W 20-10
Coral Springs Coral Glades, W 42-0
Miami Christopher Columbus, W 27-10
11/28 – Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman
TOMORROW: It’s the big 3A Region Final matchup that many believe should be the state title game. It’s showtime from Traz Powell Stadium!
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