The eye of the Florida high school football world will be directly on south Florida this week.
With national implications and impressive matchups, DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale will be the place to be for five games that many will be watching.
This week is a time where several south Florida schools want to let those in California and in other places that they continue to severely underestimate the teams in this region of the state – and with two schools – along with 1M Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, who will play against Las Vegas Bishop Gorman in the Geico Bowl on Friday – having a chance to claim the national title – the focus will be right here.
The weekend gets started on Thursday night at 7:00 when the first ever Miami-Dade and Broward schools have a chance to play for a state title against each other, showing how much talent the two counties have.
The 3M state crown will either by taken home by unbeaten and national power Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (13-0) or 11-2 Homestead, which will be making its first ever state championship appearance.
Coach Roger Harriott and Coach Philip Simpson head into the game with plenty of optimism and are looking to give the football fans of the #305 and #954 something to cheer about.
MUCH-AWAITED MATCHUP
On Friday evening, it’s the game that has been on everyone’s mind since the changes were made in the classifications throughout the Sunshine State.
The nation’s No. 1 team Miami Central (13-0) will take on 13-1 Plantation American Heritage at 7:00 in the 2M state championship.
First year head coach Mike Smith (American Heritage) and Jube Joseph (Central) are meeting in a #305 vs. #954 thriller that will not only have the football fans of south Florida watching, but this will receive national attention as two of the Florida’s elite teams will meet.
Both of these schools are loaded with big time talent and have been rolling through the season in anticipation of this gigantic clash.
On Saturday night another of the games that everyone has been looking forward to when a rematch of three years ago will take place at 7:00.
Miami Christopher Columbus (13-1), which won a miracle game against Apopka (10-4) in Daytona Beach three years ago, will meet in a game that promises to be interesting.
Head Coach Dave Dunn has been amazing since returning to guide the Explorers three seasons ago, and Jeff Rolson has kept the Blue Darters in the spotlight, reaching the finals three of the past four years.
TWO AFTERNOON GAMES WILL ALSO TAKE CENTER STAGE
In addition to the marquee Metro games that will certainly bring the fans in to watch, there are two Suburban contests that will be thrilling as well.
Class 3-Suburban
STATE FINAL
No. 1 Lake Wales (14-0) vs. No. 4 Daytona Beach Mainland (10-3), Friday, Dec. 16, 1 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale. The Highlanders have maintained that they are as good as any team in the state and will have the chance to prove it against a team that also benefits from being a Suburb team, avoiding teams that have stood in their way for years.
Class 4-Suburban
STATE FINAL
No. 1 Venice (9-3) vs. No. 1 Lakeland (13-0), Saturday, Dec. 17, 1 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale. Last year’s 8A state champion will face off against an unbeaten state power who returns to the state title game for the first time in several years.
This is a game that came about because neither school had to play Metro programs.
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..