It has been something that Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach high school football teams, coaches and fans have talked about this past month.

The inaugural Tri-County Football Championship Series, which gave those teams, who didn’t opt into the state series, to play football, get some additional film and crown six champions.

What was thought of as something to help the athletes get extra college looks really more than served its purpose this Covid and pandemic season.

Teams who had never faced off against one another had the opportunity to extend their season and get some competition during a year where nobody thought it would be possible.

What the Tri-County event did was make the football season very interesting for those who were not included in the state series this weekend.

CAN THE TRI-COUNTY CONCEPT CONTINUE?

Through this pandemic there were so many things learned and accepted. One of those things was this first year playoff that included 48 schools.

If this is going to continue, we know that it’s not for the programs who make the playoffs each year, but for those who don’t – or compete in an independent league throughout the season – this Tri-County event is the perfect thing.

“What they can do is still have everyone play in their districts and in their leagues,” said Bill Daley, who served as Co-Chair of the event. “When the state series begins, so can the Tri-County teams. It’s sort of like the NIT in basketball. As these programs get better and make the state series playoffs, the use the Tri-County Championships for exposure and to get their programs better.”

With all games being played at Traz Powell Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, here is a look at the championship matchups:

6A-1A Gold – No. 4 North Miami Beach at No. 2 Fort Lauderdale Dillard, Thursday, 7:30. The surprising Chargers knocked off top seed Miami Killian and head coach Jeff Bertani and his team will now play first year head coach Tyler Tate and his gifted Panthers. Should be a classic.

6A-1A Silver – Miami Norland at Coconut Creek, Friday, 3:30 p.m.

7A Gold - No. 2 Plantation at No. 1 Delray, Friday, 7:30. This is matchup that everyone wanted to see in the finals. Two impressive programs that have talent, are well coached and could have easily made a dent in the state series like they do each and every season.

7A Silver – Fort Lauderdale at South Broward, Saturday, 11 a.m.

8A Gold – No. 3 Deerfield Beach at No. 1 Miami Christopher Columbus, Saturday, 7 p.m. This has the making of being one of the best games this season – at any level. Many felt that this would be the final – giving the 8A State Championship showdown between Kissimmee Osceola and Sanford Seminole a run for their money.

Keep in mind that head coach Dave Dunn and his Explorers are the defending state champions.

8A Silver – Boca Raton at Palm Beach Gardens, 3 p.m.

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