Moments after their 14-7 win last November against Miami Ferguson, veteran football coach Tim Wood and his Miami Coral Reef Barracudas looked ahead to 2025.

The victory in the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) Independent championship was indeed a great way to cap a 9-1 season.

What that win did was shine a spotlight on this program and gave them something to build on as they looked toward 2025.

When they take on Hialeah Gardens and veteran (37 years) head coach Greg Magner this evening (7:00) at Tropical Park, this program, which has posted an 8-2 record, will look to repeat and set the tone for the off-season.

While the Barracudas have won 17 of the past 19 games, the Gladiators also come in on a roll – and despite being 4-6, they have been able to put together three straight wins. They have also played four teams who are in the FHSAA state playoffs this week.

 

HIALEAH GARDENS GLADIATORS (4-6)

Miami Coral Park, L 29-8

Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy, L 52-0

Miami St. Brendan, L 35-0

Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman, L 35-0

Westland Hialeah, W 40-0

Doral Ronald Reagan, L 12-8

Miami Varela, L 28-6

Miami Braddock, W 28-14

Hialeah-Miami Lakes, W 20-0

Miami Braddock, W 22-20

11/12 – Miami Coral Reef

 

PROSPECTS TO WATCH

2026 - Ethan Fernandez, RB/DB, 5’9, 165

2028 - Issaac Forment, TE/LB, 5’10, 175

2027 - Luke Fraga, OL/DL, 6’0, 255

2026 - Samuel Gonzalez, OL/DL, 5’8, 250

2026 - Peter Kane, QB/LB, 6’1, 190

2026 - Alex Orozco, RB/LB, 5’6, 155

2026 - Luke Ortiz, WR/LB, 6’2, 190

2026 - Matthew Perez, RB/DB, 5’11, 165

2028 - Danziel Santana, WR/DB, 5'11, 160

2026 - Dylan Santana, FB/LB, 6’0, 205

MIAMI CORAL REEF BARRACUDAS (8-2)

South Miami, W 54-0

Miami Sunset, W 23-0

Miami High, W 35-0

Miami Braddock, L 31-28

Doral Ronald Regan, W 14-0

Miami Varela, W 30-0

Hialeah-Miami Lakes, W 50-0

Miami Edison, L 51-0

Miami Ferguson, W 28-0

Doral Ronald Reagan, W 19-14

11/12 – Hialeah Gardens

 

PROSPECTS TO WATCH

2026 – Dillon Bethell, WR, 6’1, 160. 2-year starter. Ball hawk/Makes tough catches. Very productive in the red zone.

2026 – Richel Gercilus, OT, 6’3, 230. 2-year starter. Very physical run blocker.

2028 – Amari Germain, RB, 5’10, 160. First-year starter. Combination of speed and tremendous blocking ability.

2026 – Adrian Lopez, FS, 5’9, 160. Great range in the middle-of-the-field. Great ball skills when ball is in the air. Explosive tackler.

2027 – Javier Peralta, LB, 5’9, 185. Extremely smart/instinctual. Always around the ball.

2026 – Dylan Perez, DE, 6’1, 190. Great leader. Explosive get-off and relentless to the ball.

2027 – Sebastian Reglado, RB, 5’8, 175. 2-year starter. Extremely tough runner!!! Very hard to bring down!!!

2026 – Izaiah Roque, QB, 5’8, 165. 3-year starter. Great leader due to steady/even demeanor. Strength - running ability/playmaker. Also throws the deep ball well.

2026 – Devin Villalobos, LB, 5’10, 175. Extremely smart/instinctual. Always around the ball.

2026 – Kaleb Wells, CB, 5’9, 160. Great man coverage skills.

In addition to this evening’s game, here is a look at this week’s state playoff schedule for Miami-Dade and Broward teams:

THURSDAY

REGION 4-7A

8. Coral Springs Coral Glades (6-4) at 1. Palmetto (8-2), 7, Thursday, Tropical.

REGION 4-3A

8. Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (4-6) at 1. Northwestern (9-0), 7:30, Thursday, Traz.

REGION 4-2A

8. Miami Somerset Silver Palms (7-3) at 1. Miami La Salle (10-0), 7, Thursday.

7A-4A FIT first round: Fort Pierce Westwood at Miramar, 7, Thursday

3A-1A FIT first round: Melbourne Palm Bay at Hallandale, 7, Thursday

FRIDAY

REGION 4-7A

No. 5 Miami Christopher Columbus (3-7) at No. 4 Lantana Santaluces (6-3), 7:30, Friday

No. 7 Davie Western (4-6) at No. 2 Boca Raton Spanish River (6-4), 7:30, Friday

REGION 4-6A

No. 8. Davie Nova (5-5) at No. 1. Miami Southridge (9-1), 7:30, Friday.

No. 5. Doral Academy (5-4) at No. 4. Coconut Creek Monarch (6-4), 7:30, Friday, Coconut Creek.

No. 7. South Plantation (6-4) at No. 2. Pembroke Pines West Broward (8-2), 7:30, Friday, Cypress Bay

No. 6. Sunrise Piper (6-4) at No. 3 Pembroke Pines Flanagan (8-2), 7:30, Friday.

REGION 4-5A

No. 8. Palm Bay Heritage (4-6) at No. 1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (9-1), 7:30, Friday.

No. 4. Coconut Creek (8-2) at No. 5. Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (8-2), 7, Milander

No. 7. North Miami (7-3) at No. 2. Delray Beach Atlantic (9-1), 7:30, Friday.

No. 6. Hollywood McArthur (8-2) at No. 3. Stuart Martin County (8-2), 7:30, Friday.

REGION 4-4A

No. 8. Hialeah (7-3) at No. 1. Archbishop McCarthy (8-2), 7:30, Friday.

No. 4. Miami Norland (5-5) at No. 5. Jensen Beach (8-2), 7:30, Friday.

No. 7. Fort Pierce John Carroll (8-2) at No. 2. Plantation American Heritage (4-5), 7:30, Friday.

No. 6. Plantation (6-4) at No. 3. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (10-0), 7:30, Friday.

REGION 4-3A

No. 4. Key West (6-4) at No. 5. Fort Myers Cypress Lake (7-3), 7:30, Friday.

No. 7. Miami St. Brendan (4-6) at No. 2. Central (8-1) 7, Friday, Traz.

No. 6. Estero (7-3) at No. 3. Naples Lely (7-3), 7:30, Friday.

REGION 3-2A

No. 8. Coconut Creek North Broward Prep (5-5) at No. 1. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (9-1), 7:30, Friday.

No. 5. Fort Myers Bishop Verot (4-6) at No. 4. Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (7-2), 7:30, Friday.

No. 7. Boynton Beach Somerset Canyons (5-5) at No. 2. St. Petersburg Lakewood (9-1), 7:30, Friday.

No. 6. West Palm Beach King’s Academy (5-5) at No. 3. Belle Glade Glades Central (9-1), 7:30, Friday.

REGION 4-2A

No. 5. Miami Ransom Everglades (6-4) at No. 4. Miami Gulliver Prep (6-4), 2:30, Friday

No. 7. Miami Monsignor Pace (4-6) at No. 2. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (7-3), 7:30, Friday.

No. 3. Miami Killian (7-3) vs. No. 6. Miami Carol City (6-4), 7:30, Betty Ferguson

REGION 4-1A

No. 8. Boca Raton St. John Paul II (3-5) at No. 1. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (7-2), 7:30, Friday.

No. 5. Miami Westminster Christian (8-2) at No. 4. Miami Edison (5-4), 3:30, Friday, Traz

No. 7. Miami Palmer Trinity (7-2) at No. 2. Miami True North (8-2), 7:30, Friday, Tropical

No. 6. Miami Archbishop Carroll (7-2-1) at No. 3. Boca Raton St. Andrews (9-1), 7:30, Friday.

 

SSAC SEMIFINAL

NSU University School at Jupiter Christian, 7

 

SATURDAY

REGION 4-7A

No. 6. Homestead South Dade (5-5) vs. No. 3. Hialeah Goleman (6-4), 7:30, Traz

3A-1A FIT first round: Dunedin vs. North Miami Beach (Traz), 4, Saturday 

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 55 years, we have spent more 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 (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..