When Fort Lauderdale Stranahan and Life Christian of Chester, Virginia kick the 2022 football season off on Thursday at 4:30 at Western High in Davie, it will begin three days and 14 teams that will shine a rather large spotlight on Broward County.
The Inaugural National High School Football Showcase, which Hollywood Hills Athletic Director Dr. Kevin Perry, and Shawn Cerra, Director, Athletics & Student Activities for Broward County Public Schools, have worked around the clock on, is a HUGE deal and the hours and years of planning has already paid off.
This event and idea were born years ago in Michigan when Dr. Perry brought together the best teams in the state for an east vs. west matchup at the famed “Big House” in Ann Arbor.
When Dr. Perry came to south Florida, his idea was to try it in an area that is indeed the true national hotbed for talent.
With an idea toward inviting Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach schools to be included in this event, the starting point was bringing seven Broward schools together against some national teams that were ready for the challenge.
“We knew that if we got the support and businesses to sponsor this, it was a no brainer,” Dr. Perry pointed out. “Shawn and I have been at this for well over a year, and things have really fallen into place.”
BOWL GAME ATMOSPHERE
What this event is going to be is like a bowl game. All 14 schools who are taking part will visit Dave & Busters in Hollywood and have unlimited food and games. They will also stay in amazing hotels, have transportation and meals provided – and like all bowl games – will receive gear to commemorate this impressive three days.
“You couldn’t ask for a better way to start the season,” Cerra pointed out. “We hadn’t even kicked a game off and there are also a number of national powers wanting to be a part of this in 2023.”
While several schools in south Florida were approached, many declined for a number of reasons, which is a huge mistake on their part.
The seven games that will be played will have national exposure – including on ESPN and ESPN 2 as well as on Flo Sports.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN
Thursday
4:30
Davie Western
FLO SPORTS
Chester, Virginia Life Christian Eagles (0-1) vs. Fort Lauderdale Stranahan Dragons (0-0)
LIFE CHRISTIAN
Head Coach: Charles Scott
Collins Hill, L 20-0
Stranahan
Calvert Hall, Maryland
Canarsie, Brooklyn
DeMatha, Maryland
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Maryland
McCallie, Tennessee
Rock Christian, Maryland
St. Xavier, Ohio
STRANAHAN
Head Coach: Travis Harden
Plantation
Deerfield Beach
Boyd Anderson
Hallandale
Martin County
Plantation American Heritage
Coral Glades
Cardinal Gibbons
Fort Lauderdale
7:30
Davie Western
FLO SPORTS
Johns Creek, Georgia Gladiators (0-1) vs. Davie Western Wildcats (0-0)
JOHNS CREEK
Head Coach: Drew Connell
Parkview, Ga. L, 52-7
Western
Lanier, Georgia
Chattahoochee, Georgia
Roswell, Georgia
Lassiter, Georgia
Sprayberry, Georgia
Blessed Trinity, Georgia
Alpharetta, Georgia
Pope, Georgia
WESTERN
Head Coach: Adam Ratkevich
Johns Creek, Georgia
St. Thomas Aquinas
Taravella
Piper
Plantation American Heritage
Cypress Bay
Miramar
Coral Glades
Plantation
Friday
7:00
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons
FLO SPORTS
Hyattsville, Maryland DeMatha Staggs (0-0) vs. Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs (0-0)
DEMATHA
Head Coach: Bill McGregor
Cardinal Gibbons
Rock Creek Christian, Maryland
Benedictine, Ohio
Friendship Collegiate Academy, Washington DC
Life Christian Academy, Virginia
Gonzaga, Washington DC
Bishop McNamara, Maryland
St. John’s, Washington DC
Clarkson North, Arkansas
CARDINAL GIBBONS
Head Coach: Matt Dubuc
DeMatha
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian
Gulliver Prep
St. Petersburg Northeast
Key West
Plantation American Heritage
Belen Jesuit
Hallandale
Bradenton Manatee
Stranahan
Friday
7:00
Fort Lauderdale Dillard
FLO SPORTS
Rock Creek Christian Academy Eagles (0-0) vs. Dillard Panthers (0-0)
ROCK CREEK CHRISTIAN
Head Coach: Dre Cates
Dillard
DeMatha, Maryland
St. Mary’s Ryken, Maryland
Malvern Prep, Pennsylvania
Life Christian, Virginia
Steubenville, Ohio
Friendship Collegiate Academy, Washington, DC
Silver Oaks Academy, Maryland
DILLARD
Head Coach Tyler Tate
Rock Creek Christian
Miramar
Miami Central
Boyd Anderson
St. Thomas Aquinas
Plantation
Fort Lauderdale
Tallahassee Lincoln
Blanche Ely
Saturday
12 Noon
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
ESPN
Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Academy Hawks (0-0) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (0-0)
ST. JOSEPH’S PREP
Head Coach: Tim Roken
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Peter’s Prep, New Jersey
Erasmus Hall, New York
Gonzaga, Washington DC
Archbishop Wood, Pennsylvania
LaSalle College Prep, Pennsylvania
Father Judge, Pennsylvania
Roman Catholic, Pennsylvania
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
Head Coach: Roger Harriott
St. Joseph’s Prep
Fort Myers
Cocoa
Western
Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast
Miramar
Dillard
Fort Lauderdale
Monarch
Boyd Anderson
Saturday
4 p.m.
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
ESPN 2
Los Alamitos, California Griffins (1-0) vs. Plantation American Heritage Patriots (1-0)
FLO SPORTS
Los Alamitos
Head Coach: Ray Fenton
Garces Memorial, W 41-0
Plantation American Heritage
Basha, Arizona
Servite, California
Santa Margarita, California
Newport Harbor, California
Corona Del Mar, California
Edison, California
Huntington Beach, California
Fountain Valley, California
AMERICAN HERITAGE
Head Coach: Mike Smith
Lowndes County (Valdosta), W 38-20
Los Alamitos
Lake Gibson
Glades Central
Chaminade-Madonna
Cardinal Gibbons
Western
Stranahan
Naples
Hallandale
Saturday
8 p.m.
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
FLO SPORTS
Washington DC St. John’s Cadets (0-0) vs. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna Lions (0-0)
ST. JOHN’S
Head Coach: Pat Ward
Chaminade-Madonna
Middletown, Delaware
Gonzaga Prep, Spokane, Washington
Tottenville, New York
Springfield Central, Massachusetts
Cedar Grove, Georgia
Bishop McNamara, Maryland
DeMatha, Maryland
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Maryland
Gonzaga, Washington DC
CHAMINADE-MADONNA
Head Coach: Dameon Jones
St. John’s
Dillard
Miami Northwestern
Plantation American Heritage
Gulliver Prep
Treasure Coast
Venice
Deerfield Somerset Academy
Hollywood Avant Garde
Boca Raton St. John Paul
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..