While lightning, heavy rains and postponements will define the 2025 high school football season, the next few weeks will certainly tell the entire story.
With district games and playoff slotting at stake, every contest played will have a role in the post season.
While many programs have fallen short of the goals they set at the start of the season, other teams have overachieved and continue to make a serious run at a state title.
Miami-Dade and Broward Counties will heat up with prospects looking to impress college coaches while helping their respective programs achieve.
Here is a look at how the Top 20 teams in the two counties stack up as we head toward Week 9:
1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 6-1). The Raiders had the trip of a lifetime and defeated the NFL Academy in England, 41-38. THIS WEEK: 10/17 – No. 15 Coconut Creek Monarch. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 - @ No. 10 Plantation American Heritage.
2. Miami Northwestern (3A, 6-1). The Bulls wrapped up the district title with a 56-0 win against Key West. THIS WEEK: 10/17 – No. 8 Miami Palmetto (GMAC WEEK). NEXT WEEK: 10/24 – The regular season ends at Miami St. Brendan.
3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1A, 6-1). The Lions rolled to a 60-0 win against Pompano Beach Blanche Ely. THIS WEEK: 10/17 – Bye. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 - @ No. 11 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.
4. Miami Central (3A, 6-1). The Rockets bounced back with two wins this past week – 52-0 against Pompano Beach, and 59-6 against Fort Lauderdale Stranahan, officially wrapping up another district title. THIS WEEK: 10/18 – No. 5 Miami Southridge (GMAC WEEK). NEXT WEEK: 10/24 – Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy.
5. Miami Southridge (6A, 8-0). The Spartans took care of business twice last week – 28-21, finishing up a game with Miami Christopher Columbus, and 49-0 against Southwest Miami. THIS WEEK: 10/18 – No. 4 Miami Central (GMAC WEEK). NEXT WEEK: Bye.
6. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (4A, 8-0). One of the highest scoring teams in the state continued to roll along with a district-clinching 38-24 win against Lake Worth Dr. Joaquin Garcia. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 – Boynton Beach.
7. Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (5A, 7-0). The new kid on the block, the Lions continue to show why they will be a 5A program NOT to ignore as they beat Pembroke Pines Charter, 54-0. THIS WEEK: 10/17 - @Lakeland Lake Gibson. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 – No. 12 Miami Immaculata LaSalle.
8. Miami Palmetto (7A, 6-1). The Panthers were off this past week. THIS WEEK: 10/17 – No. 2 Miami Northwestern (GMAC WEEK). NEXT WEEK: 10/24 – Miami High.
9. Pembroke Pines West Broward (6A, 5-2). The Bobcats continued to roll along with a 54-0 district win against Miami Beach. THIS WEEK: 10/16 – Miramar. NEXT WEEK: 10/23 – Miami Dr. Krop.
10. Plantation American Heritage (4A, 4-3). The defending 4A state champion Patriots Made it three straight with a district win against Miami Norland, 42-21. THIS WEEK: 10/17 - @ No. 20 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 – No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
11. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2A, 5-2). The Chiefs made quick work of Deerfield Beach, 45-7. THIS WEEK: 10/16 - @Boca Raton. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 – No. 3 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.
12. Miami Immaculata LaSalle (2A, 7-0). The Royal Lions continued to roll along with a 49-12 win against Miami Springs. THIS WEEK: 10/18 – Miami St. Brendan. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 – No. 7 Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy.
13. Hollywood McArthur (5A, 5-2). The Mustangs came up with their third consecutive shutout, 44-0, against Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. THIS WEEK: 10/17 – Fort Lauderdale. NEXT WEEK: 10/23 – South Plantation.
14. Miami True North Classical Academy (1A, 4-2). The Titans won for the fourth straight time, 42-0, over Miami Jackson. THIS WEEK: 10/17 – Boynton Somerset Canyons. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 - @No. 17 Miami Christopher Columbus.
15. Coconut Creek Monarch (6A, 4-3). The Knights rebounded with a 46-0 district win against Coral Springs. THIS WEEK: 10/17 – No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 - @Sunrise Piper.
16. Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy (2A, 6-1). The Eagles soared to their fourth straight win, 28-7, against Coconut Creek North Broward Prep. THIS WEEK: 10/17 - @Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s Academy. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 - No. 20 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy.
17 Miami Christopher Columbus (7A, 3-5). The Explorers won their third straight, 45-7, against Coral Gables. THIS WEEK: 10/16 - Miami Norland (GMAC Week). NEXT WEEK: 10/24 – No. 14 Miami True North Classical Academy.
18. Coconut Creek (5A, 6-2). The Cougars dropped the district title game against state-rated Delray Beach Atlantic, 33-30. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 10/23 - Pompano Blanche Ely.
19. Plantation (4A, 4-3). The Colonels thrust themselves back in the district race with a thrilling 28-27 win against No. 20 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy. THIS WEEK: 10/17 – Pompano Beach Blanche Ely. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 – Miami Norland.
20. Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (4A, 5-2). The Mavericks dropped a tpough 28-27 district decision to No. 19 Plantation. THIS WEEK: 10/17 – No. 10 Plantation American Heritage. NEXT WEEK: 10/24 - @No. 16 Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy.
Here are some other programs that are still in the hunt:
Independent
Doral Ronald Reagan (5-1)
Fort Lauderdale University School (5-3)
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (6-1)
Miami Braddock (3-4)
Miami Coral Reef Football (6-1)
Miami Ferguson (4-1)
Miami Florida Christian (5-1-1)
Miami Varela (4-3)
1A
Miami Archbishop Carroll (5-0-1)
Miami Edison (2-4)
Miami Palmer Trinity (5-1)
Miami Westminster Christian (6-1)
2A
Miami Booker T. Washington (2-6)
Miami Carol City (5-3)
Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace 3-4)
Miami Gulliver Prep (4-2)
Miami Killian (4-2)
Miami Ransom Everglades (3-4)
North Miami Beach (4-3)
3A
Miami Springs (2-5)
Miami St. Brendan (4-3)
4A
Hialeah (6-2)
Miami Belen Jesuit (3-5)
Miami Norland (3-5)
5A
Homestead (1-6)
Miramar (3-4)
North Miami (5-3)
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3-4)
6A
Davie Nova (3-4)
Doral Academy (3-3)
Pembroke Pines Flanagan (5-2)
Miami Beach (1-5)
Miami Dr. Krop (1-5)
South Plantation (6-1)
Sunrise Piper (5-3)
7A
Coral Gables (3-2)
Coral Springs Coral Glades (4-2)
Davie Western (2-5)
Homestead South Dade (3-5)
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (4-3)
Weston Cypress Bay (4-3)
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
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFRMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
For the past 55 years, we have spent more 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 (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..