It was a long off season – with spring and summer events that got players and teams ready for the 2026 season.

Then, August arrived and it was time to kick things off as football programs throughout the state looked to realize their dreams and goals.

Twelve weeks of heated competition gook place – and when the dust had settled in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, several programs worked hard to be a part of the inaugural “Open Division” – which were to feature the eight “best” teams in the state, according to the computers at Max Preps.

Today, the Open Division will start with four schools from the Miami-Dade, Broward area along with several other teams in Classes 1A through 6A.

Here is a look at the first week of the state playoffs. Enjoy!

OPEN DIVISION

POOL A

ROUND 1

No. 5 Lakeland (5A, 9-1) at No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 10-0). A little throwback to the past two years when the nation’s No. 1 team dominated the Dreadnaughts in the state final – and while there are those who think that maybe it will be different this time around, and it may be, the Raiders come in as a favorite at home.

Both teams have enjoyed a competitive schedule – with a majority of Lakeland’s tougher games at home – while the Raiders did play No. 4 overall seed Chaminade-Madonna on the road.

LAKELAND

Lakeland Kathleen, W 47-0

Venice, L 32-25 (2 OT)

Kissimmee Osceola, W 40-6

Plantation American Heritage, W 21-16

Auburndale, W 49-14

Dover Specialty Fit Academy, W 58-0

Sebring, W 38-3

Bartow, W 40-7

Lakeland Lake Gibson, W 35-10

Orlando The First Academy, W 35-0

11/13 - @Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

FORT LAUDERDALE ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Davie Western, W 42-0

DeSoto, Texas, W 38-14

Miami Christopher Columbus, W 31-24

Fort Lauderdale Dillard, W 49-0

Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, W 40-7

Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, W 21-20

Hollywood McArthur, W48-0

Coconut Creek Monarch, W 71-20

Pembroke Pines Flanagan, W 56-12

Pembroke Pines West Broward, W 49-8

11/13 - Lakeland

No. 8 Venice (6A, 9-1) at No. 4 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (2A, 8-2). As many look at this as a bad matchup for the Indians, having to travel south and face a team that has been to 10-straight 1A state title games.

The Lions are loaded on offense – having more firepower than just about any team of the eight left. They have also played a challenging schedule – home and away. But Venice is one of those programs that deserved to be in this position and are well coached. They may have had the toughest schedule – especially on the road, facing two of the eight teams in the Open Division.

VENICE

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, Georgia, W 42-40 (OT)

Miami SportsEn Academy, W 64-8

Lakeland, W 32-25 (2 OT)

Lehigh, W 69-0

Cape Coral, W 63-21

Sarasota, W 57-33

Jacksonville Raines, L 20-17

Bradenton Lakewood Ranch, W 49-14

Sarasota Riverview, W 41-32

North Port, W 62-8

11/13 - @Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna

HOLLYWOOD CHAMINADE-MADONNA

Coconut Creek Monarch, W 49-22

Sierra Canyon, California, L 24-7

Plantation American Heritage, W 46-27

Miami True North Classical Academy, W 42-30

Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s, W 48-3

Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, L 21-20

West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman, W 20-7

Hollywood McArthur, W 47-12

Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, W 41-6

Coconut Creek, W 34-7

11/13 - Venice

POOL B

ROUND 1

No. 6 Miami Central (3A, 7-3) at No. 2 Miami Christopher Columbus (6A, 9-1). When these two programs met in the Greater Miami Athletic Conference title game, and despite the bad weather, the Explorers came out on top. Tis Columbus team has been impressive from the start – with the upset against then No. 1 Las Vegas Bishop Gorman that thrust them into the national spotlight during a three-hour stretch. They have been impressive all season.

The Rockets, while they made this eight-team event, may not have had the strongest program they have produced. Still, loaded with talent and well coached, they played a competitive schedule, including traveling to California and Georgia and impressed those who watched them. They understand that these three games will be challenging, but they feel that the “new” season will see different results. Time will tell!

MIAMI CENTRAL

Orange Lutheran, California, W 23-22

Miami St. Brendan, W 43-7

Buford, Georgia, L 18-7

Miami Jackson, W 54-18

Miami Northwestern, W 52-10

Miami Springs, W 34-0

Key West, W 63-7

Miami Christopher Columbus, L 28-3

North Miami Beach, W 55-0

Miami Carol City, L 27-10

11/13 - @Miami Christopher Columbus

MIAMI CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Miami Southridge, W 45-7

Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, W 33-28

Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, L 31-24

Miami Palmetto, W 34-7

Homestead South Dade, W 45-7

Homestead, W 58-0

Southwest Miami, W 53-0

Coral Gables, W 51-13

Miami Central, W 28-3

Miami Northwestern, W 30-7

11/13 -  Miami Central

STATE PLAYOFF GAMES ALSO TAKE CENTER STAGE

In addition to the Open Division games in the area for the first week, here is a look at the other state playoff games that will also be played tonight:

1A

REGION 4

QUARTERFINALS
No. 1 Miami True North Classical Academy (5-4). Bye

No. 5 North Palm Beach Benjamin (4-6) at No. 4 Miami Archbishop Carroll (8-1)

No. 7 North Lauderdale Somerset Prep (2-7) at No. 2 Fort Pierce John Carroll (6-3)

No. 6 Miami Palmer Trinity (4-6) at No. 3 Pahokee (6-4)

2A

REGION 4

QUARTERFINALS

No. 1 Miami Immaculata LaSalle (10-0). Bye

No. 5 Miami Gulliver Prep (7-3) at No. 4 Miami Westminster Christian (8-2)

No. 2 Miami Killian (8-2). Bye.

No. 6 Somerset Academy Silver Palms (4-6) at No. 3 Miami Ransom Everglades (9-1)

3A

REGION 4

QUARTERFINALS

No. 8 Miami Jackson (5-5) at No. 1 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (7-3)

No. 5 North Miami Beach (7-3) at No. 4 Belle Glade Glades Central (4-5)

No. 7 Key West (4-6) at No. 2 Fort Myers Bishop Verot (6-3)

No. 6 Miami Springs (8-2) at No. 3 Fort Lauderdale Dillard (6-4)

4A

REGION 4

No. 8 Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (7-3) at No. 1 Plantation American Heritage (6-3)

No. 4 Miami Norland (4-6) at No. 5 Delray Atlantic (7-3)

No. 7 Miramar (5-5) at No. 2 Miami Northwestern (6-4)

No. 3 Hollywood McArthur (3-7) at No. 6 Jensen Beach (8-2)

 5A

REGION 4

QUARTERFINALS

No. 8 Pembroke Pines Flanagan (1-9) at No. 1 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (4-6)

No. 5 Sunrise Piper (5-5) at No. 4 Miami Southridge (6-4)

No. 7 Deerfield Beach (6-4) at No. 2 Coconut Creek (8-2)

No. 3 Coconut Creek Monarch (5-5) at No. 7 Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (5-5)

6A

REGION 4

QUARTERFINALS

No. 1 Miami Palmetto (8-2) at No. 8 Jupiter (9-1)

No. 5 Homestead South Dade (4-6) at No. 4 Pembroke Pines West Broward (7-3)

No. 7 Wellington Palm Beach Central (7-3) at No. 2 Western Cypress Bay (10-0)

No. 3 Davie Western (7-3) at No. 6 Boca Raton Spanish River (5-4)

THURSDAY RESULTS

Independent League Pool A

SOUTH

Cooper City 49, Cape Coral Ida Baker 12

Fort Lauderdale 14, Oasis (Cape Coral) 9

Hollywood South Broward 45, Pembroke Pines Charter 0

Somerset Academy (Pembroke Pines) 48, Belen Jesuit (Miami) 35

4A-6A FIT

SOUTH

Kissimmee Gateway 35, Doral Academy 17

Lake Worth Park Vista 35, Miami Lakes Goleman 21

North Miami 20, Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast 17 (3 OT)

SUNSHINE STATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

Coral Shores (Tavernier) 27, North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek) 25

Jupiter Christian 27, Florida Christian (Miami) 21

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 56 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..