Say what you want about the teams playing in the inaugural Tri-County Championships, but what ever you say, it had better include competition and getting additional game film.

We don’t have to continue to re-hash how the FHSAA and its board members completely excluded south Florida from the playoff picture – starting two months before Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach were ready. It’s a fact that has NO sound reasoning. But we’ve moved past that and will now concentrate on a healthy playoff system with some of the best teams in Florida taking part.

This first year of this Tri County event was made possible because of the higher ups in all three counties who didn’t want to see their athletes sit by and not have some exposure against top-flight opponents.

When Miami Norland and South Miami clash this evening (7:00) at Traz Powell Stadium, it will get the large slate of games started – on Friday and Saturday as well.

Broken down into three (8A, 7A & 6A-1A) classes, champions will be awarded in the gold and silver divisions, providing six teams with trophies and a perfect ending to a season that was anything but perfect.

Programs such as defending state champion Miami Christopher Columbus, Deerfield Beach and Western are as good as any 8A teams in Florida.

Add in 7A powers such as Delray Atlantic, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer and Plantation and you have a competitive 7A group.

1A-6A group is also loaded with impressive prospects and teams that could easily compete with any in the Sunshine State and beyond.

Miami Killian, Glades Central, Dillard and defending 4A state champs Miami Booker T. Washington are all solid and looking forward to this playoff series.

“A majority of the football teams playing in this event would have already finished the season,” said Shawn Cerra, Director of Broward County Athletics and Student Affairs. “These teams in this series will be playing right until Christmas. That is an exclusive opportunity for 48 teams to relish and enjoy.”

NORLAND VS. SOUTH MIAMI

This is a battle of two teams who have made the best of a tough situation, playing limited games.

The Vikings are trying to get back in the mix in 6A – while the Cobras are in Year 1 of a rebuilding phase that could produce something special over the next few years.

MIAMI NORLAND VIKINGS

Head Coach: Daryl Heidelburg

Record: 1-3 - Miami Killian (L 54-19), Miami Edison (L 47-7), Miami Booker T. Washington (L 32-7), Miami High (W 34-20).

Class: 6A

Players To Watch:

2021 - Byrese Berry, LB

2021 - Diori Conley, DB

2021 - Jayden Cordero, RB

2021 - Jeremiah Davis, LB

2022 - Horace Drake, TE/DE

2021 - Matthew Ellis, LB

2021 - Meldryk Glenn, DT

2022 - Jordan Graham, OL

2021 - Jeremiah Grebnijw, OL

2023 – Jamari Holliman, S

2021 - Baijar JeanPoix, SS

2022 - Levonte Jenkins, RB

2024 – Jeremiah Marcelin, DE

2021 - Tyresse McDonald, K/DE

2022 – Keyon Meza, WR

2021 - Shelton Miller, DB

2022 - Deon Parker, QB

2021 – Malik Pierre, OL

2021 - Antwon Robinson, DT

2021 – Sheldon Rountree, LB

2021 - T'yari Sherwood, QB/Athlete

2023 – Javin Simpkins, RB

2021 - Omari Stewart, WR

2022 – Amari Taylor, LB

2021 - Eric Williams, DB

2022 - Tyreke Williams, C

SOUTH MIAMI COBRAS

Head Coach: Arties Knight

Record: 3-1 – Miami Coral Reef (W 35-2), Miami Beach (W 48-6), Southwest (W 32-13), Miami Springs (L 21-12)

Class: 6A

Players To Watch:

2023 - Andry Aguilera, OL

2021 - Felipe Bentes, LB

2021 - Jacoby Bernadin, RB/CB

2021 - Isaiah Bien-Aime, DL

2022 - Brian Britton, TE/WR

2021 - Gabriel Castro, Athlete

2021 - Niejay Cobb, Athlete

2023 - Oviel Diaz, OL/DL

2023 - Artraviant Driver, OLB

2022 - Leron Dukes, CB

2023 - James Ferrell, DB

2022 - Angel Garces, LB

2023 - Ka'Marr Green, RB

2023 - Rodolpho Hernandez, LB

2023 – Kiran Joyner, CB

2021 - Kevin Luis, DL

2021 - Marco Luna, Athlete/PK

2021 – Andrew Matthews, WR/DB

2023 – Levi Miller, RB

2021 - Tavoris Miller, Athlete

2022 - Brian Pozo, OL

2022 - Carlos Rivas, C

2022 – Justin Rodriguez, OLB/SS

2022 - Alexander Sanchez, WR

2024 – Daris Swan, DT

2023 - Kaiden Thompson, DB

HUGE FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE

In addition to this evening’s South Miami-Norland game, there are some others – in this inaugural week of this Tri-County Championships. (Games Friday at 7 p.m. unless noted)

8A Gold Division Quarterfinals

Parkland Douglas at Miami Christopher Columbus

Coconut Creek Monarch at Homestead South Dade (Harris Field)

Jupiter at Deerfield Beach

8A Silver Division Quarterfinals

Wellington at Palm Beach Gardens

Miami High at Coral Glades

Coral Springs at Boca Raton

Pembroke Pines Flanagan at Coral Gables (Traz Powell), 3:30

7A Gold Division Quarterfinals

North Miami at Delray Beach Atlantic

South Plantation at Miramar

Hialeah American at Plantation (PAL)

Loxahatchee Seminole Ridge at Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer

7A Silver Division Quarterfinals

Fort Lauderdale at Royal Palm Beach

Hialeah at Miramar Everglades

Boca Raton Olympic Heights at Hollywood South Broward

6A-1A Gold Division Quarterfinals

Fort Lauderdale Stranahan at Miami Killian (Saturday, Traz Powell Stadium - 6)

Miami Booker T. Washington at Glades Central

Miami Carol City at North Miami Beach (Traz Stadium – 7)

Pahokee at Fort Lauderdale Dillard

6A-1A Silver Division Quarterfinals

Coral Springs Charter at Hallandale

South Miami at Miami Norland (Traz Powell Stadium – Thursday)

Riviera Beach Suncoast at Coconut Creek

Boynton Beach at Miami Springs (Traz Powell Stadium, 2)

OTHER GAMES TONIGHT

Hollywood Hills at Pompano, 7

Northeast at Pines Charter, 7

Piper at Cooper City, 6

West Broward at Boyd Anderson, 7

You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.