When Miami Central (2-0) and American Heritage (1-2) kick it off tonight (7:00) in Plantation, you may have two of the most unknown, but dangerous teams in the state on display.
Head Coach Mike Smith and the Patriots came from 28 points down in the season-opener against Philadelphia’s St. Joseph’s Prep in the Broward County National Showcase and won, 31-28.
The very next week against national power and local rival Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, American Heritage blew a 24-14 lead and lost to the Lions, 28-24.
Last week at the Superdome in New Orleans against nationally rated Edna Karr, they came from behind in the fourth quarter, only to lose in overtime, 24-17.
What do we really know about the Patriots other than they lost their main offensive weapon in University of Texas quarterback commit Dia Bell, who was lost for the season?
The defending 4A state champions nearly won without Bell last week against a team that went unbeaten last year and started off 2-0 this year.
If American Heritage is unknown, first year head coach Derrick Gibson and his Rockets are a bigger mystery. Forced to forfeit nine games last season because they used an illegible player, many felt this team could have won the 3A state title in 2024 after beating eventual state champion and longtime bitter rival Miami Northwestern in the regular season.
Even with the loss of their head coach and several players, this team came back with enormous talent, but didn’t play a spring game, had their kickoff classic at Ocala Vanguard called off because of weather, and watched the opener against 3A state runner up Jacksonville Raines cancelled because of stadium issues. They also had last week’s district game against Pompano Beach rescheduled due to bad weather.
On the field, this team mauled Miami Edison (50-12) and crushed Miami Booker T. Washington (58-14), but neither team was regarded as a team that would be an opponent who would test Central.
While the Patriots limp into this game tonight – with the loss of Bell, they are still a team that is well coached, talented and knows how to win. They are also at home.
The Rockets come in hungry to show that they are every bit the team that has been nationally ranked for much of the past two decades, won state titles and are loaded with talent and have perhaps one of the strongest and most productive defensive lines in Florida!
No matter what the outcome is this evening, you can guarantee that both teams will still have a great opportunity to be at Pitbull Stadium in December, playing for a state title.
MIAMI CENTRAL ROCKETS
Miami Edison, W 50-12
Miami Booker T. Washington, W 58-14
9/19 - @Plantation American Heritage
10/4 – Miami Northwestern
10/10 - @Fort Lauderdale Stranahan
10/17 – GMAC Week
10/24 – Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy
10/30 – Miami Carol City
PLANTATION AMERICAN HERITAGE PATRIOTS
Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep, W 31-28
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, L 28-14
New Orleans Edna Karr, Louisiana, L 24-17 (OT)
9/19 – Miami Central
9/26 - @Plantation
10/3 - @Pembroke Pines Flanagan
10/10 – Miami Norland
10/17 - @Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy
10/24 – Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
In addition to this evening’s game, here is a look at some of the other Friday contests for Week 5:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Boynton Beach Somerset Canyons at Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, 7
Coconut Creek North Broward Prep at Boca Raton St. Andrews, 6:30
Coral Springs at South Plantation, 7
Coral Springs Charter at Pompano Beach, 7
Coral Springs Taravella at Davie Western, 7
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian vs. No. 10 North Miami (Curtis), 7
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan at Weston Cypress Bay, 7
No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas at No. 17 McArthur, 7
Hialeah ABF Academy at Miami Archbishop Carroll, 3:30
No. 9 Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy at Miramar Everglades, 7
Hollywood South Broward vs. Plantation (PAL), 7
Homestead at Fort Myers Bishop Verot, 7
Homestead Somerset Silver Palms at Miami Springs, 3:30
Key West at Miami Gulliver, 4
Lakeland vs. Miami Booker T. Washington (Traz), 7:30
Marathon at Miami Palmer Trinity, 4
No. 3 Miami Central at No. 7 Plantation American Heritage, 7:30
Miami Coral Reef at Doral Reagan (Doral Legacy), 3:30
Miami High vs. Hialeah (Pace), 7
Miami Jackson vs. Miami St. Brendan (Curtis), 7:30
No. 2 Miami Northwestern vs. No. 13 Miami Christopher Columbus (Tropical), 7
Miami SmartEn Academy at Miami Florida Christian, 7
Miami Westminster Christian at Miami Ransom Everglades, 7
Miramar at No. 6 Fort Lauderdale Dillard, 7
North Lauderdale Somerset Prep at Boca Raton St. John Paul II, 6:30
Parkland Douglas at Lauderdale Boyd Anderson, 7
Pembroke Pines Charter at Cooper City, 7
No. 16 Pembroke Pines West Broward at No. 18 Pembroke Pines Flanagan, 7
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely at Sunrise Piper, 7
Somerset South Homestead at Riviera Beach Inlet Grove, 7
West Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy at Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, 7
WEDNESDAY GAME
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman 35, Hialeah Gardens 0
THURSDAY GAMES
Coconut Creek Monarch 54, Fort Lauderdale 0
Delray Beach Atlantic 43, Miami Norland 20
Miami Braddock 42, Miami Coral Park 7
Miami Belen Jesuit 47, Miami BridgePrep Village Green 0
Miami Edison, 20, Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace 14
Miami Ferguson 42, Southwest Miami 6
Miami Palmetto 42, Miami Killian 21
Miami Southridge 42, Doral Academy 7
Miami Varela 7, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 0
South Miami 46, Westland Hialeah 28
South Plantation 40, Coral Springs 18
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
No. 15 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons at No. 11 Coconut Creek, 7
North Miami Beach vs. Hialeah American (Milander), 7
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHUCK BETHEL & FOOTBALL HOTBED
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