The crazy thing about the sport of football is the actual time the sport is played.
From late August until late December, the attention falls on fields across the country. It’s a short window to accomplish things that last a lifetime.
Four months to etch your name among the best who have worn a uniform and played this amazing game.
After last week, we have just seven games left in the regular season in high school football. Seven games that we had waiting and worked hard for eight months.
To say that every quarter and each minute played is ultra important is truly an understatement.
Over the past four weeks – which includes one kickoff exhibition game – players have attempted to enhance their standing, while others have been out to put their names in front of colleges and universities and recruiting services and fan websites.
Those four weeks moved fast – and as we head toward Week 4 of the season – that window is starting to get smaller and the opportunity that was once larger than life is starting to close.
To explain to everyone that there are no weeks off – no matter what the competition – is a reality that continues to surface each week.
Prospects in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties must bring their “A” game every week, and with every matchup the spotlight becomes brighter.
This past week there were some showcase matchups that could have a bearing on what we will be watching in the state playoffs. Here are a few of those:
Coconut Creek 20, Davie Western 15. After a week off, the Wildcats were at home against a Cougar squad that has been showcasing a good team in the off season. Nothing is ever for sure as Coconut Creek came away with a huge early season victory on the road against a team that has been mentioned as a program to watch among 4M contenders statewide.
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 37, Cocoa 36. No matter if you are a national power and continue to dominate the state of Florida, you still must come to compete every week, and the four-time defending state champions found that out last Friday, narrowly escaping at home against a program with state-title pedigree as well.
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 61, Bergen Catholic, New Jersey 21. What happens when two national powers square off in a game that so many predicted to come down to the wire? It’s called respect and reality, and the Lions gave their visitors from the northeast a lesson on what it really means to be a major force on a national stage. This game was never close, and while those who vote and author national polls and rankings will never fully comprehend a win like this, let’s just say that very few teams in the nation can match what Chaminade-Madonna has put together!
Miami Central 38, Miami Booker T. Washington 28. This was a game where both teams were out show that they belonged in the spotlight. Even though the four-time defending state champion Rockets were coming off a rare loss, many who followed this game, truly felt that the Tornadoes had slowly become an equal – although they fell short. This could very well be the first of two meetings this season.
Miami Norland 54, Miami Southridge 6. The Vikings have been screaming and boasting all off-season that they are the best team in south Florida – and while they haven’t been challenged – their win against a much-improved Spartans’ squad was indeed a message that EVERYONE statewide heard loud and clear, especially after a season opener on the road against Lakeland.
While those were just a few games that everyone was keeping an eye on, here are some of the other results from Week 3:
Coconut Creek Monarch 52, Hallandale 0
Coral Gables 36, South Miami 6
Coral Springs 22, Hollywood Hills 20
Coral Springs Taravella 27, Pompano Beach 6
Delray Beach Atlantic 36, North Miami Beach 13
Doral Academy 35, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy 7
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian 50, Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 0
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 38, Fort Lauderdale Dillard 14
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 32, Deerfield Beach 14
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School 41, Marathon 7
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy 34, Bradenton Christian 10
Hialeah 53, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 0
Hialeah American 14, Miami Lakes Goleman 14 (POSTPONED)
Hollywood Avant Garde 19, Westland Hialeah 6
Hollywood South Broward 33, Sunrise Piper 12
Homestead 35, St. Petersburg Lakewood 7
Homestead Everglades Prep 32, Miami Florida Christian 23
Key West 44, West Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy 16
Lake Placid 22, Davie Nova 18
Miami Belen Jesuit 33, Somerset Silver Palms 21
Miami Braddock 34, Southwest Miami 28
Miami BridgePrep Academy 21, Miami Country Day 20
Miami Christopher Columbus 42, Tampa Jesuit 14
Miami Coral Reef 28, Hialeah Gardens 0
Miami Dr. Krop 40, Miami Jackson 6
Miami Edison 21, North Miami 19
Miami Ferguson 28, Miami Beach 14
Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace 41, Naples Lely 6
Miami Gulliver 17, Miami St. Brendan 13
Miami Immaculata LaSalle 28, Somerset Academy 13
Miami Palmer Trinity 23, Miami Archbishop Carroll 14
Miami Palmetto 38, Miami Killian 0
Miami Ransom Everglades 54, Coral Springs Charter 0
Miami Springs 20, Miami High 17
Miami True North Classical Academy 41, Tallahassee Maclay 13
Miami Varela 36, Miami Coral Park 0
Miramar 61, Coral Glades 0
Miramar Everglades 54, Cooper City 0
North Lauderdale Somerset Prep 24, Deerfield Beach Somerset Key 0
Pembroke Pines Charter 19, Coconut Creek North Broward Prep 14
Plantation 49, Parkland Douglas 3
Somerset South Homestead 33, Miami Sunset 6
South Plantation 46, Oakland Park Northeast 0
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy 21, Fort Lauderdale 20
Venice 63, Miami Northwestern 46
Weston Cypress Bay 45, Pembroke Pines Flanagan 14
WEEK 3 STANDOUTS
Every week, you know that Miami-Dade and Broward County will have more than their share of top performers. Here are a few to keep an eye on:
The Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna Lions made another national statement as quarterback C.J. Bailey completed 24-of-34 passes for 395 yards and the nation’s No. 1 WR Jeremiah Smith finished with 16 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns in a convincing win over Bergen Catholic of New Jersey.
Coconut Creek’s Martin Montero had 5 sacks, 4 tackles and 2 QB Pressures in a huge win over Davie Western.
Miami Edison 2025 RB Sterling “Juice” Joseph finished with 207 yards, 3 touchdowns.
Tyler Godfrey, WR, 2024 Miramar had 3 catches for 62 yards and 134 all-purpose yards.
Miami Norland junior quarterback Ennio Yapoor had 502 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns against Miami Southridge. That’s his second 500-yard game in three weeks.
Jad Rosario, PK, Miami Palmetto was 4/4 intended touchbacks (70, 66, 66, 62), 1/1 FG (35) and 5/5 extra points.
Fort Lauderdale 2026 QB Jayden Chico threw for 249 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
2027 RB Damien Grant, SW Ranches Archbishop McCarthy ran for 111 yards and a score to keep the Mavericks unbeaten.
Miramar 2024 QB Kael Alexander threw for 270 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Patriots first win of the season.
2027 QB Zac Katz continued to impress with a 19 for 24, 253 passing, 13 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns.
Pembroke Pines Charter QB Jayden Gonzalez, completed 12 passes for 210 yards, threw one TD and ran in a TD. The 6-3 Junior has thrown for 725 yards with 7 TDs in 3 games.
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy remained unbeaten as Anthony Barbar (18/23 for 268 yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and a 2-point conversion. He added 4 rushes for 25 yards and a rushing touchdown), D.J. Wimbley (7 catches for 147 yards, 2 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion), Evan Tempro (4 catches for 46 yards and 1 rush for 9 yards on offense. He added 7 tackles with a TFL on defense and had a game changing punt block for a safety) and Alonso Collins (10 rushes for 109 yards and caught 3 passes for 29 yards and a touchdown. He also added 4 tackles on defense).
PROSPECT SHEET: Statewide Coverage Daily. https://prepredzone.com/2023/03/statewide-daily-team-coverage/
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TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: September 11, 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
For the past 53 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields throughout the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. 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..