If you asked anyone one week ago if the Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Miami Christopher Columbus game this evening would be anything more than just another contest between two successful schools, the answer would have been NO.

The Raiders have dominated the games played between the two programs, especially over the past two seasons, outscoring the Explorers, 85-13. But everything changed last Saturday.

Before a national ESPN2 audience as part of the Fifth Annual Broward County National High School Showcase, the No. 100 team in the country stunned the No. 1 team, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, 33-28.

The victory propelled Christopher Columbus all the way to No. 6, which was by far the biggest jump ever in the Max Preps national rankings.

While the Explorers (2-0) were making a huge splash, the seven-time defending state champion Raiders (2-0) were also doing what they do – dominate. They scored 38 points and ran the clock on Texas power DeSoto, winning 38-18.

Now, tonight, for the second straight week, the Explorers will face off against the No. 1 team in the country at 7:00 on the same field where they pulled that major upset.

There will be plenty of answers this evening to questions that everyone has had – and no matter what, this rivalry which should be played every season, received a much-needed boost when they will play before a sellout crowd.

MIAMI CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS EXPLORERS

Miami Southridge, W 45-7

Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, W 33-28

9/4 - @Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

9/10 - @Miami Palmetto

9/18 - @Homestead South Dade

9/24 – Homestead

10/1 – Southwest Miami

10/9 - @Coral Gables

10/16 – GMAC Week

10/23 - @Miami Northwestern

 

FORT LAUDERDALE ST. THOMAS AQUINAS RAIDERSW

Davie Western, W 42-0

DeSoto, Texas, W 38-14

9/4 – Miami Christopher Columbus

9/10 - @Fort Lauderdale Dillard

9/18 - @Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy

10/2 - @Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna

10/9 – Hollywood McArthur

10/16 – Coconut Creek Monarch

10/23 – Pembroke Pines Flanagan

10/30 - @Pembroke Pines West Broward

 

Plantation American Heritage at Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, 6:30. For much of their long-standing football rivalry, the American Heritage Patriots and Chaminade-Madonna Lions wasn’t really a rivalry at all.

The Patriots have long had their opponent from south Broward’s number and dominated every time they had played. But things have changed over the past four years.

As the Lions got better and became a state And national power, the game between the two teams became more of a rivalry that many felt it should be, and over the past four meetings, it was the Lions who came out on top – with last year’s thrilling come-from-behind 28-24 win following the 2024 victory (48-39), the 28-16 in 2023 and that 42-34 thriller in 2022.

When they meet this evening (6:30) in Hollywood, you will have two programs with plenty of state championship pedigree looking to use this contest as a springboard for success.

The Patriots (1-1) are coming off a thrilling overtime win (35-28) against national power East St. Louis, Illinois in the Broward National Showcase – while Chaminade-Madonna is looking to rebound from their Broward Showcase setback against Sierra Canyon of California, 24-7.

PLANTATION AMERICAN HERITAGE PATRIOTS

West Boca Raton, L 24-7

East St. Louis, Illinois, W 35-28 (OT)

9/4 - @Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna

9/11 - @Jacksonville Trinity Christian

9/18 - @Lakeland

9/25 – Miramar

10/9 – Miami Norland

10/16 – Miami True North Classical Academy

10/23 - @Hollywood McArthur

 

HOLLYWOOD CHAMINADE-MADONNA LIONS

Coconut Creek Monarch, W 49-22

Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, L 24-7

9/4 – Plantation American Heritage

9/10 – Miami True North Classical Academy

9/18 - @Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons

9/25 – Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s Academy

10/2 – Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

10/9 - @West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman

10/16 – Hollywood McArthur

10/30 - @Coconut Creek

 

In addition to those two games, here are the rest of the contests that will feature Miami-Dade and Broward County schools today/tonight:

Coconut Creek at Fort Lauderdale Dillard, 7

Coconut Creek Monarch at Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, 7

Coral Springs Charter at West Palm Beach Forest Hill, 7

Delray Atlantic at Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, 7

Davie Western at Pembroke Pines Flanagan, 7

Deerfield Beach at Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson, 7

Doral Academy at Miami Ransom Everglades, 7

Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian at Jupiter Christian, 6:30

Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy at Belle Glade Glades Day, 7

Hallandale at Oakland Park Northeast, 6:30

Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy at Miramar, 7

Miami Archbishop Carroll at Coral Gables, 4

Miami Beach at Miami Florida Christian, 7

Boca Raton St. Andrews at Miami Palmer Trinity, 4

Miami Gulliver Prep at Naples St. John Neumann, 7

Miami Immaculata LaSalle at Miami Edison, 3:30

Miami Killian vs. Miami Booker T. Washington (Curtis), 7:30

Miami Norland vs. Miami Carol City (Traz), 7:30

Miami Northwestern vs. Hialeah (Milander), 7:30

Miami Palmetto at Miami Southridge, 7:30

Miami Varela at Miami Ferguson, 3:30

Naples First Baptist at Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy, 3:30

North Miami Beach at Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace, 7:30

Pembroke Pines West Broward at Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, 7

Plantation vs. Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (Lockhart), 7

Sarasota Cardinal Mooney vs. Miami True North (Tropical), 7:30

South Plantation at Lake Worth Park Vista, 7

Sunrise Piper at Hollywood McArthur, 7

Tavernier Coral Shores at Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, 7

Weston Cypress Bay at Coral Springs Coral Glades, 7

 

THURSDAY

Coconut Creek North Broward Prep 28, Pembroke Pines Charter 20

Cooper City 41, Coral Springs Taravella 0

Fort Lauderdale 34, Hollywood Hills 8

Hialeah American 33, North Miami 25

Miami Central 43, Miami St. Brendan 7

Miami Coral Reef 26, Miami Dr. Krop 14

Miami High 14, Southwest Miami 7

Miami Westminster Christian 28, Homestead Somerset Silver Palms 6

Miramar Everglades 8, Pompano Beach 0

South Miami 36, Coral Springs Parkridge Christian 0

West Palm Beach The King’s Academy 35, Fort Lauderdale NSU University School 12

 

SATURDAY, September 5

Miami Belen Jesuit at Fordham Prep, New York, noon

Key West vs. Miami Jackson (Traz), 5

 

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

For the past 56 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..