Once again last week, the attention was directly on south Florida high school football fields.
From Wednesday through Saturday – and Deerfield Beach to Florida City – Week 4 brought some quality games into the spotlight.
As the season continues to speed up, high school football is taking center stage, and that doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.
While several programs started district play, others are still in tune up mode.
Here are some of the games that pegged the meter:
Coconut Creek 36, Plantation 6. Surprise. Surprise! The Cougars have proven that they are for real – and if their lone, narrow loss at Georgia powerhouse Gainesville didn’t prove it, maybe last Thursday night’s domination against the Colonels will.
This four-year build that was started by current North Miami head coach Gerald Cox and continued by Johnnie Sloan has given this team something to be optimistic about. If you watched what they did during the off season then this is certainly to shock at all.
They dominate both sides of the line of scrimmage and that is a recipe for success.
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 28, Plantation American Heritage 16. With a Thursday clash with 2M national powerhouse Miami Central, head coach Dameon Jones and his Lions were faced with a third straight quality opponent. And after a 21-0 start, they were contested by an underrated Patriot team that will indeed be a factor in the race for a state championship.
A sold-out crowd watched two solid teams entertain all night long, and as the Lions picked up their second straight win in this series, this week’s contest against the Rockets will take a four-quarter effort.
Miami Christopher Columbus 15, Miami Palmetto 0. Not to say anything negative about anyone else in the race for a 4M state title, but if you are going to beat head coach Dave Dunn and his Explorers, you better run the ball and move offensively. If you don’t, there is no way that you will beat the defending state champions.
Even though the game was held up for nearly two hours because of bad weather, Christopher Columbus realized that it had a job to do with some more tests on the horizon.
Miami Edison 17, Miami Northwestern 7. Look who is 3-0! Head Coach Luther Campbell and his Red Raiders are no flash in the pan, and after beating the Bulls, there is a feeling that playing for a district title on Oct. 16 against Miami Booker T. Washington is a reality.
As the Red Raiders lost players who transferred out, Campbell replaced them and has a belief that if his team comes to play and limits mistakes, they have the talent to play!
WAIT. THERE ARE MORE
In addition to those spotlight games, Miami-Dade and Broward remained busy with other games that were just as important:
Coconut Creek Monarch 32, Piper 6
Coconut Creek North Broward Prep 45, Oakland Pak Northeast 0
Coral Gables 55, Miami Coral Park 6
Delray American Heritage 23, Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 14
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian 42, Clewiston 7
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy 42, Somerset Academy Key 14
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 38, St. Petersburg Northeast 16
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School 14, Boca Raton St. Andrew’s Academy 6
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 48, Davie Western 22
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 46, Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson 0
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy 42, Somerset Academy Key 14
Hialeah 35, Miami Beach 0
Hollywood Hills 22, Davie Nova, 6
Hollywood McArthur 64, Cooper City 0
Homestead 55, Southwest Miami 0
Jensen Beach 28, Parkland Douglas 0
Marathon 33, Miami Archbishop Carroll Sunset 6
Miami Archbishop Carroll 28, Miami Lakes Goleman 26
Miami Booker T. Washington 42, Miami LaSalle Immaculata 0
Miami Braddock 28, Miami Coral Reef 0
Miami Central, 14 Miami Carol City 0 (Game Will Be Resumed)
Miami Dr. Krop 40, Hollywood Avant Garde 6
Miami Jackson 56, Hialeah Miami-Lakes 0
Miami Lakes Goleman 18, American (Milander) 14
Miami Norland 42, Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace 7
Miami Ransom Everglades 34, Miami Palmer Trinity 26
Miami Southridge 25, Miami Belen Jesuit 12
Miami Springs 32, Doral Reagan 0
Miami St. Brendan 27, Miami Westminster Christian 8
Miami True North 55, Miami Florida Christian 0
Miramar 50, Pembroke Pines Flanagan 0
Miramar Everglades 70, Coral Springs Coral Glades 19
North Miami 31, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy 9
North Miami Mourning 21, Hialeah Gardens 6
North Palm Beach Benjamin 49, Miami Gulliver Prep 0
Pembroke Pines Charter 21, Coral Springs Taravella 0
Pembroke Pines West Broward 23, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer 3
Valdosta 55, Deerfield Beach 0
Weston Cypress Bay 20, Fort Lauderdale 6
MORE LOCAL TOP PROSPECTS SHINE
As we continue to cover Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, each week we shine the spotlight on some of the top performers.
Here are some from Week 4:
Four weeks into the 2023 high school football season and the talent level continues to rise. Here are over 100 top performers from this past week.
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy 2024 QB Anthony Barbar was 20/32 for 283 yards and 5 touchdowns. He hasn't thrown an interception this season. 2024 Athlete Evan Tempro had 6 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. He added 3 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and a sack.
Miramar 2024 QB Kael Alexander was 10 of 17 for 211 yards and 5 touchdowns.
2025 DL Coconut Creek Nimari Brantley had 8 tackles and 2 sacks in the Cougars win.
In Pembroke Pines West Broward’s win over Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer, the defense stood strong – with Jayden Stephens (7 total tackles, 1 assisted), Carlos Morales (10 total tackles, 4 assisted, 1 TFL 1 assisted sack 1 QB hurry), Luis Rojas (7 total tackles, 3 assisted, 2 sacks 1 assisted sack), Nico Vazquez (9 tackles, 3 assisted, 3 TFL, 1 QB hurry) and Max Taboada (5 total tackles, 1 TFL 2 sacks 1 QB hurry) leading the way. On offense, QB Jonathon Morillo (16/25 244 yards and 3 TDs, Josh Moore (7 catches 111 yds 3 TDs) and Jonathon Lawson (6 catches 75 yards).
Miami Edison 2025 RB Sterling “Juice” Joseph had 129 yards and a touchdown in a huge district win against Miami Northwestern.
Miami True North Academy 2027 QB Zac Katz continued to impress with a 10 or 14 performance that was good for 317 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Miami St. Brendan RB Widley Jean Francois carried the ball 19 times for 224 yards and a score.
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School remained unbeaten with a major win against Boca Raton St. Andrew’s Academy. RB Jacques Dixson (18 Carries for 105 Yards-, QB Jett Yurgealitis (13/23 for 204 and 2 touchdowns) and WR Belel “JuJu” Logan (Caught 2 balls for 116 and a pair of scores. OL Shane Martinez had 5 pancakes and 3 drive blocks.
Dylan Pelliccio, QB, Hollywood Hills had 217 yards passing, 50 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns.
Somerset Silver Palms had some quality performers for this week. 2026 QB Humberto Serrano (10/16, 140 2 touchdowns), Athlete Robert Reddish (3 receptions for 44 yards and a score. He also had an interception and a sack and forced fumble), Jayden Cruz (2 sacks and a forced fumble), Jordan Lyons (6 tackles and a blocked punt that he also recovered for a TD).
Samuel Mitchell IV, Pembroke Pines Charter, football: Mitchell IV recorded four sacks, six tackles including five for loss, forced four fumbles and recovered one to lead the Jaguars to a win over Coral Springs Taravella and the school's first-ever 4-0 start.
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: September 18, 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..