We waited eight plus months for the start of the 2022, and when they kick things off this week across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties we will be close to the halfway point.

While early games may not have meant anything to some, the contest now being played could be the difference of playing into November and December or putting the gear away at the end of the regular season.

As you have already noticed, each and every week brings some new matchups that truly captured the attention of not only south Floridians, but have been the talk nationally as well.

As we head toward Week 5, here is a look at how programs are doing in this region:

1. Miami Central (2M – 3-0). THIS WEEK: A home game against No. 7 Fort Lauderdale Dillard on Sept. 24. NEXT GAME:  An away game on Sept. 30 against North Miami Beach. LAST WEEK: The Rockets only needed one half to beat Miami Carol City, 34-0.

2. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1M – 4-0). THIS WEEK: Thursday, Sept. 22 at Miami Gulliver Prep at 3:30. NEXT GAME: A home game on Sept. 30 against Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast. LAST WEEK: The Lions stayed unbeaten with a thrilling home win against No. 6 Plantation American Heritage, 42-34.

3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3M – 4-0). THIS WEEK: The team returns home for a Friday, Sept. 23 game against Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast. NEXT GAME:  A home game against No. 14 Miramar on Sept. 30. LAST WEEK: The Raiders went on the road and took care of No. 10 Davie Western, 30-0.

4. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2M – 4-0). THIS WEEK: A trip to Key West on Friday to play the Conchs on Sept. 23. NEXT GAME: It’s a huge home game on Sept. 30 against No. 6 Plantation American Heritage. LAST WEEK: The Chiefs got it going on both sides of the ball in a 34-6 win against St. Petersburg Northeast.

5. Miami Christopher Columbus (4M – 4-0). THIS WEEK: Another road game on Thursday, Sept. 22 at No. 8 Miami Northwestern. NEXT GAME: An away game on Friday, Sept. 30 against Miami High. LAST WEEK: The Explorers continued to turn heads as they beat No. 17 Miami Palmetto, 23-10.

6. Plantation American Heritage (2M – 4-1). THIS WEEK: They will take this week off after five straight games. NEXT GAME: A huge road game at No. 4 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons on Oct. 7. LAST WEEK: The Patriots lost for the first time this season in a thrilling game against No. 2 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, 42-34.

7. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3M – 2-1). THIS WEEK: It’s No. 1 Miami Central on Friday, Sept. 23. NEXT GAME: A home game on Sept. 30 against Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. LAST WEEK: The Panthers had the week off.

8. Miami Northwestern (2M – 3-1). THIS WEEK: A key Thursday night (Sept. 22) home game against No. 5 Miami Christopher Columbus. NEXT GAME: The team will take the week off. LAST WEEK: The Bulls took care of Miami Edison, 42-22.

9. Homestead (3M, 4-0). THIS WEEK: The Broncos will take the week off. NEXT GAME: A home game against South Miami on Sept. 30. WEEK: The Broncos only needed one half to get by Southwest Miami, 44-0.

10. Davie Western (4M – 2-1). THIS WEEK: The team will return home to play Coral Springs Taravella on Sept. 23. NEXT GAME: It’s back on the road on Sept. 30 at Sunrise Piper. LAST WEEK: The Wildcats dropped their first game of the season at home against No. 3 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 38-0.

11. Miami Norland (2M – 3-0). THIS WEEK: An away game against Hialeah American on Friday, Sept. 23. NEXT GAME: The team will enjoy the week off to get ready for No. 12 Miami Booker T. Washington the following week. LAST WEEK: The Vikings won for the third straight time, beating Miami Monsignor Pace, 29-12.

12. Miami Booker T. Washington (2M – 3-1). THIS WEEK: Coach Ice Harris and his team will be off. NEXT GAME: It’s a “neighborhood rivalry” at home against Miami Jackson on Sept. 29. LAST WEEK: The Tornadoes took it to Miami LaSalle, 41-19 as they continue to improve.

13. Fort Lauderdale (3M, 3-0). THIS WEEK: An away contest on Friday, Sept. 23 at Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. NEXT GAME: A game at No. 18 Blanche Ely. LAST WEEK: The Flying Ls had the week off.

14. Miramar (3M, 2-1). THIS WEEK: A trip to Coral Springs on Sept. 23 to play Coral Glades. NEXT GAME: A huge away game against No. 3 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas on Sept. 30. LAST WEEK: The Patriots put it all together in a 38-0 win against Pembroke Pines Flanagan.

15. Plantation (3M – 3-1). THIS WEEK: This team will enjoy the week off. NEXT GAME: A rivalry game at home on Sept. 30 against South Plantation. LAST WEEK: The Colonels kept it going with a key win against No. 16 Coconut Creek, 21-14.

16. Coconut Creek (3M – 2-2). THIS WEEK: A home game against No. 19 Pompano Beach Blanche Ely on Friday, Sept. 23. NEXT GAME: They will have the week off. LAST WEEK: The Cougars fell for the second straight time against No. 15 Plantation, 21-14.

17. Miami Palmetto (4M, 1-3). THIS WEEK: A trip to play at unbeaten Vero Beach on Sept. 23. NEXT GAME: A Thursday home game against Coral Gables on Sept. 29. LAST WEEK: The Panthers lost to rival No. 5 Miami Christopher Columbus, 28-10.

18. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3M, 2-0). THIS WEEK: Yet another road game against No. 16 Coconut Creek on Sept. 23. NEXT GAME: A home game against unbeaten and No. 13 Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 30. LAST WEEK: The Tigers shut down Coral Springs, 42-0.

19. Hollywood Avant Garde (1M, 2-1). THIS WEEK: Another away game on Sept. 23 in Boca Raton against St. John Paul II. NEXT GAME: A home game on Sept. 29 against Ocoee Legacy Charter. LAST WEEK: The Sharks were upended by Dr. Michael Krop, 24-20.

20. Miami Southridge (3M, 3-1). THIS WEEK: A big Friday home game against Doral Academy. NEXT GAME: The team will have the week off before a tough stretch run. LAST WEEK: The Spartans moved into the Top 20 for the first time this year with a 30-17 win against Miami Belen Jesuit.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH: Coconut Creek Monarch (4M – (3-1), Coral Gables (4M, 2-0), Deerfield Beach (3M, 2-2), Doral Academy (4M, 2-2), Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (2M, 3-1), Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest (2M, 3-1), Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (2M – (2-2), Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (1M, 3-0), Hialeah Barbara Goleman (4M, 2-2), Hollywood South Broward (3M, 2-1), Miami Archbishop Carroll (1M, 3-0), Miami Belen Jesuit (3M, 2-2), Miami Braddock (Independent, 3-0), Miami Carol City (2M, 0-2) Miami Dr. Krop (3M, 1-2), Miami Edison (2M, 1-2), Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (2M, 2-2), Miami Gulliver Prep (2M – (0-3), Miami Immaculata LaSalle (2M, 2-1), Miami Jackson (2M, 2-2), Miami St. Brendan (2M, 1-2), Miami Westminster Christian (1M, 3-0), Miramar Everglades (3M, 2-2), Miami Ferguson (Independent, 3-1), North Miami Beach (2M – (1-2), Parkland Douglas (4M, 1-2), Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (4M, 2-2), Pembroke Pines West Broward (4M, 1-2), Pompano Beach (Independent, 3-1), South Miami (2M, 3-0), South Plantation (3M, 4-0), Sunrise Piper (3M, 2-2), Westland Hialeah (2M, 2-1). Weston Cypress Bay (4M, 1-2).

TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2023-2026. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects

For the past 52 years, we have spent plenty of 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 (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..