When it comes to competitive high school football, you need to look no further than Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
When the state football playoffs got started last week, all eyes were on defending state champions as well as some impressive programs who have played at a high level all season.
With the objective of getting to play a state title game right in their own backyards at Pitbull Stadium (FIU) in the second week of December, the objective is indeed to play at the highest level they can.
With that in mind, we check out the top local teams heading into the second round of the state playoffs:
1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 10-1). LAST WEEK: The six-time state champions started the playoffs with a 58-7 win against Palm Bay Heritage. THIS WEEK: No. 13 Coconut Creek (9-2). NEXT WEEK: No. 7 Hollywood McArthur (9-2) or Delray Beach Atlantic (10-1).
2. Miami Northwestern (3A, 10-0). LAST WEEK: The Bulls opened defense of their 3A state championship with a 70-0 win against Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy. THIS WEEK: Key West (7-4). NEXT WEEK: Naples Lely (8-3) or No. 3 Miami Central (9-1).
3. Miami Central (3A, 8-1). LAST WEEK: The Rockets opened the state playoffs with a 54-14 win against Miami St. Brendan. THIS WEEK: Naples Lely (8-3). NEXT WEEK: Key West (7-4) at No. 2 Northwestern (10-0).
4. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1A, 8-2). LAST WEEK: The four-time defending state champions had no problems with Boca Raton St. John Paul II, 63-0. THIS WEEK: No. 19 Miami Edison (6-4). NEXT WEEK: Boca Raton St. Andrews (10-1) or No. 8 Miami True North Classical Academy (9-2).
5. Miami Southridge (6A, 10-1). LAST WEEK: The Spartans started out in the state playoffs with a convincing 49-0 win against Davie Nova. THIS WEEK: No. 19 Sunrise Piper (7-4). NEXT WEEK: No. 14 Coconut Creek Monarch (7-4) or No. 6 Pembroke Pines West Broward (9-2).
6. Pembroke Pines West Broward (6A, 9-2). LAST WEEK: The Bobcats rolled to a 56-13 win over South Plantation. THIS WEEK: No. 14 Coconut Creek Monarch (7-4). NEXT WEEK: No. 19 Sunrise Piper (7-4) or No. 5 Miami Southridge (10-1).
7. Hollywood McArthur (5A, 9-2). LAST WEEK: The Mustangs continued to stay hot with a 41-13 win against Stuart Martin County. THIS WEEK: Delray Beach Atlantic (10-1). NEXT WEEK: No. 13 Coconut Creek (9-2) or No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (10-1).
8. Miami True North Classical Academy (1A, 9-2). LAST WEEK: The Tians won for the ninth straight time, 42-17, against Miami Palmer Trinity. THIS WEEK: Boca Raton St. Andrews (10-1). NEXT WEEK: No. 19 Miami Edison (6-4) at No. 4 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (8-2).
9. Miami Palmetto (7A, 9-2). LAST WEEK: The Panthers started their run at a state title with a 42-0 win against Coral Springs Coral Glades. THIS WEEK: No. 19 Miami Christopher Columbus (4-7). NEXT WEEK: No. 19 Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (7-4) or Boca Raton Spanish River (7-4).
10. Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (4A, 9-2). LAST WEEK: The Mavericks continued to turn heads with first round win against Hialeah, 49-6. THIS WEEK: No. 12 Miami Norland (6-5). NEXT WEEK: No. 17 Plantation (7-4) or No. 16 Plantation American Heritage (5-5).
11. Miami Immaculata LaSalle (2A, 11-0). LAST WEEK: The Royal Lions stayed unbeaten with a 42-7 win against Homestead Somerset Silver Palms. THIS WEEK: No. 19 Miami Ransom Everglades (7-4). NEXT WEEK: No. 18 Miami Killian (8-3) or No. 15 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (8-3).
12. Miami Norland (4A, 6-5). LAST WEEK: The Vikings went on the road and came away with a 49-14 win against Jensen Beach. THIS WEEK: No. 10 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (9-2). NEXT WEEK: No. 17 Plantation (7-4) or No. 16 Plantation American Heritage (5-5).
13. Coconut Creek (5A, 9-2). LAST WEEK: The Cougars went on the road and beat No. 19 Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy, 49-20. THIS WEEK: No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (10-1). NEXT WEEK: No. 7 Hollywood McArthur (9-2) or Delray Beach Atlantic (10-1).
14. Coconut Creek Monarch (6A, 7-4). LAST WEEK: The Knights started off the state playoffs with a 39-0 win against Doral Academy. THIS WEEK: No. 6 Pembroke Pines West Broward (9-2). NEXT WEEK: No. 19 Sunrise Piper (7-4) or No. 5 Miami Southridge (10-1).
15. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2A, 8-3). LAST WEEK: The Chiefs opened up with a 48-28 win against Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace. THIS WEEK: No. 18 Miami Killian (8-3). NEXT WEEK: No. 19 Miami Ransom Everglades (7-4) at No. 11 Miami La Salle (11-0).
16. Plantation American Heritage (4A, 5-5). LAST WEEK: The Patriots reached the .500 mark with a 50-20 win against Fort Pierce John Carroll. THIS WEEK: Plantation No. 17 (7-4). NEXT WEEK: No. 12 Miami Norland (6-5) or No. 10 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (9-2).
17. Plantation (4A, 7-4). LAST WEEK: The Colonels knocked off previously unbeaten No. 19 Fort Lauderdale Dillard, 21-14. THIS WEEK: No. 16 Plantation American Heritage (5-5). NEXT WEEK: No. 12 Miami Norland (6-5) or No. 10 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (9-2).
18. Miami Killian (2A, 8-2). LAST WEEK: The Cougars’ return to the state playoffs was a successful one with a 38-21 win against Miami Carol City. THIS WEEK: No. 2 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (8-3). NEXT WEEK: No. 19 Miami Ransom Everglades (7-4) or No. 11 Miami La Salle (11-0).
19 (Tie) Fort Lauderdale Dillard (4A, 10-1). LAST WEEK: The dream season for the Panthers ended in the first round with a 21-14 loss to No. 17 Plantation. SEASON OVER.
Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (5A, 8-4). LAST WEEK: The Lions watched their season end in the opening round of the state playoffs to No. 13 Coconut Creek, 49-20. SEASON OVER.
Miami Edison (6-4). LAST WEEK: The Red Raiders started out the state playoffs with a 50-7 win against Miami Westminster Christian. THIS WEEK: No. 4 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (8-2). NEXT WEEK: Boca Raton St. Andrews (10-1) or No. 8 Miami True North (9-2).
Sunrise Piper (7-4). LAST WEEK: The Bengals started off the state playoffs with a 24-12 win against Pembroke Pines Flanagan. THIS WEEK: No. 5 Miami Southridge (10-1). NEXT WEEK: No. 14 Coconut Creek Monarch (7-4) or No. 6 Pembroke Pines West Broward (9-2).
Miami Christopher Columbus (4-7). LAST WEEK: The Explorers rolled to an opening win against Lantana Santaluces, 28-3. THIS WEEK: No. 9 Miami Palmetto (9-2). NEXT WEEK: No. 19 Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (7-4) at Boca Raton Spanish River (7-4).
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (7-4). LAST WEEK: The Gators won a post season contest, 30-28, against Homestead South Dade. THIS WEEK: Boca Raton Spanish River (7-4). NEXT WEEK: No. 19 Miami Christopher Columbus (4-7) or No. 9 Miami Palmetto (9-2).
Here are some other programs who worked hard this year:
INDEPENDENT
Doral Ronald Reagan (7-2). SEASON OVER
Coral Springs Charter (5-6). SEASON OVER
Fort Lauderdale University School (8-5). SEASON OVER
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (8-3). SEASON OVER
Hialeah Gardens (4-7). SEASON OVER
Miami Braddock (4-6). SEASON OVER
Miami Coral Reef Football (9-2). SEASON OVER
Miami Ferguson (5-3). SEASON OVER
Miami Florida Christian (7-2-1). SEASON OVER
Miami Varela (6-4). SEASON OVER
CLASS 1A
Miami Archbishop Carroll (8-3), SEASON OVER
Miami Palmer Trinity (7-3). SEASON OVER
Miami Westminster Christian (8-3). SEASON OVER
CLASS 2A
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy (7-4). SEASON OVER
Miami Booker T. Washington (2-8)
Miami Carol City (6-5). SEASON OVER
Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (4-7). SEASON OVER
Miami Gulliver Prep (6-4). SEASON OVER
Miami Ransom Everglades (7-4)
North Miami Beach (4-6)
CLASS 3A
Miami St. Brendan (4-7). SEASON OVER
Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (4-7). SEASON OVER
CLASS 4A
Hialeah (6-5). SEASON OVER
CLASS 5A
Miramar (4-7). SEASON OVER
North Miami (7-4). SEASON OVER
CLASS 6A
Davie Nova (5-6). SEASON OVER
Doral Academy (5-5). SEASON OVER
Pembroke Pines Flanagan (8-3). SEASON OVER
South Plantation (6-5). SEASON OVER
CLASS 7A
Coral Gables (4-5). SEASON OVER
Coral Springs Coral Glades (6-5). SEASON OVER
Davie Western (4-7). SEASON OVER
Homestead South Dade (5-6). SEASON OVER
Weston Cypress Bay (5-5). SEASON OVER
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD TOP 20
WEEK 1. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-1-top-20-miami-dade-broward-loaded-with-talent
WEEK 2. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-2-top-20-st-thomas-aquinas-moves-to-no-1
WEEK 3. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-3-local-teams-are-starting-to-emerge
WEEK 4. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-4-huge-games-will-test-local-teams
WEEK 5. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-5-new-teams-enter-an-elite-group
WEEK 6. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-6-district-games-will-put-distance-between-teams
WEEK 7. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-7-things-are-beginning-to-get-interesting-for-area-programs
WEEK 8. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-8-it-s-all-about-the-state-playoffs-now
WEEK 9. https://larryblustein.com/news/miami-dade-broward-week-9-playoff-slots-still-up-for-grabs
WEEK 10. https://larryblustein.com/news/miami-dade-broward-week-10-playoff-spots-up-for-grabs
WEEK 11. https://larryblustein.com/news/miami-dade-broward-week-11-teams-getting-ready-for-the-post-season
WEEK 12. https://larryblustein.com/news/miami-dade-broward-week-12-the-playoff-waiting-game-begins
WEEK 1 PLAYOFFS. https://larryblustein.com/news/miami-dade-broward-playoff-week-1-key-opening-round-games
2025 Road To Miami & The Villages Charter. https://larryblustein.com/news/2025-road-to-miami-the-villages-charter
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
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