For three hours last December, the state of Florida had to watch undefeated state champion Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna get dominated in the Geico Bowl in Las Vegas.
The Lions, considered by many as the best team in Florida in 2022, and one of the top 5-10 in the nation, were beaten soundly by a Bishop Gorman team, who happened to be missing six starters off a state championship squad.
After that game, the focus quickly turned to 2023, and while it was a given that Mater Dei and St. John Bosco out of California would be among the elite nationally, Bradenton IMG and Bishop Gorman were thrust into that conversation as well.
At just about the same time that the Gaels were dominating the Lions in the desert, Miami Central was putting the final touches on a 14-0 season and fourth straight state title – beating Plantation American Heritage and sending them into the off-season feeling like they were among the best – if not the best in the country.
As they shared a mythical national crown with St. John Bosco, there was talk of a third meeting between the Rockets and Bishop Gorman.
The two schools do have a history – with Miami Central winning in Las Vegas in 2017, 20-14, and the Gaels winning in 2021 in Naples on a missed kick, 21-20.
Tonight (10 p.m.) the national showdown will take place between the two schools as Bishop Gorman will play its home opener after two road games to start the season.
The Rockets will begin the 2023 season after beating Ocala Vanguard on the road in a kickoff classic two weeks ago.
While the offense is a work in progress – with three new quarterbacks – the Rockets do have the personnel on defense. Will it be enough to slow down a team that scored 123 points in the first two games of the season? We will certainly find out for second year head coach Jube Joseph and his impressive team.
MIAMI CENTRAL (0-0)
9/1 – at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, Nevada
9/8 – at Miami Booker T. Washington
9/16 – Miami Carol City
9/21 – Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna
9/29 – North Miami Beach
10/6 – Miami Northwestern
10/13 – at Miami Norland
10/20 – GMAC Week
10/27 – at Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace
5 ROCKETS TO WATCH TONIGHT
2025 – Randy Adirika, DL
2025 – Armondo Blount, DL
2025 – Ezekiel Marcelin, LB
2024 – Lawayne McCoy, WR
2024 – Luke Moise, OL
LAS VEGAS BISHOP GORMAN GAELS (2-0)
Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah, W 63-42
Long Beach Poly, W 60-15
9/1 – Miami Central
9/8 – Corona Centennial, California
9/14 – Henderson Liberty
9/22 – at Las Vegas Silverado
9/29 – Las Vegas Arbor View
10/6 – at Las Vegas Shadow Ridge
10/13 – at Las Vegas Desert Pines
10/20 – Henderson Coronado
5 GAELS TO WATCH TONIGHT
2024 – Micah Alejado, QB
2025 – S.J. Seuseu Alofaitui, OL
2024 - Audic Harris, WR
2024 - Micah Kaapana, RB
2026 - Prince Williams, DE
In addition to this evening’s big matchup in Las Vegas, here are some other Friday games to watch:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
No. 16 Coconut Creek at Gainesville, Georgia, 7:30
Coconut Creek North Broward Prep at SW Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, 7
Coral Shores at Miami Palmer Trinity, 4
Coral Springs Taravella at South Plantation, 7
Davie Nova at Cooper City, 7
Delray American Heritage at Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy, 7
Delray Atlantic and No. 17 Coconut Creek Monarch (Coconut Creek), 7
Doral Reagan at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30
Everglades Prep at Miami Gulliver Prep, 4
Fort Lauderdale at Hallandale, 7
No. 19 Fort Lauderdale Dillard at Naples, 7:30
Fort Myers at No. 4 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 7
Goulds Palm Glades at North Miami Mourning, 3:30
Hialeah American at South Miami (Tropical), 7:30
Hollywood Avant Garde at Miami Westminster Christian, 4
No. 2 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna at No. 11 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, 7
No. 10 Homestead at Homestead South Dade (Harris), 7:30
Jacksonville Trinity Christian at No. 6 Plantation American Heritage, 7:30
Miami BridgePrep at Miami True North Classical Academy (Tropical), 3:30
No. 20 Miami Dr. Krop at No. 15 Miami Southridge, 7:30
Miami Immaculata LaSalle at Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace, 7
No. 5 Miami Norland at Miami Carol City (Traz Powell), 7:30
No. 9 Miami Palmetto at St. Petersburg Lakewood, 7:30
Miami Springs at Hialeah (Milander), 7:30
Miramar Everglades at Hollywood South Broward, 7
North Miami at Lakeland, 7:30
Pembroke Pines Flanagan at Hollywood McArthur, 7
Pembroke Pines West Broward at Daytona Beach Mainland, 7
No. 12 Plantation at Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (Lockhart), 7
No. 14 Pompano Beach Blanche Ely at Weston Cypress Bay, 7
Somerset at Miami Ransom Everglades, 7
Somerset Silver Palms at Marathon, 7
THURSDAY’S SCORES
Coral Springs Charter 24, Pines Charter 22
Doral Academy 40, Goulds Palm Glades 0
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School 58, Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 14
Miami Coral Reef 19, Miami Varela 7
Miami Christopher Columbus 38, Miami Killian 0
Miami High 44, Miami Beach 0
Miami St. Brendan 21, Somerset South Homestead 14
Miami Ferguson 23, Miami Sunset 22
West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman 41, Miami Belen Jesuit 0
Miami Archbishop Carroll at Miami Lake Goleman (Milander) PPD.
Miami Edison at No. 8 Miami Booker T. Washington, 3:30 (Traz Powell) PPD. Makeup Oct. 16
Miami Jackson at No. 13 Miami Northwestern, 7 (Traz Powell Stadium), PPD. Makeup Sept. 2
PHOTO COURESTY OF WCJB TV 20
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UP TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: September 1, 2023. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects COLLEGE COACHES ARE WATCHING ALL THE TIME, SO LET’S KEEP UPDATING – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Transfer Season Heats Up In Miami-Dade & Broward. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-heats-up-in-miami-dade-broward
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