If you follow high school football, you know all about the 2020 season.
When it came to south Florida, the options were thin and if you made a decision to go ahead and play for a state title, you may end up with less games. For Miami Palmetto, the gamble turned out to be an experience.
As the only 8A school to take part in the series – south of Port St. Lucie in Class 8A, the Panthers and head coach Mike Manasco went for it all – and it almost paid off.
Other than an early season 17-7 setback to Miami Northwestern, Palmetto rode the train until the final stop.
With a win over Homestead, they entered the state series at 1-1, so a loss would end the season after just three games.
Despite losing their starting quarterback in the playoff opener against Orlando Dr. Phillips, Palmetto won, 10-0. They followed up the next week with a win at Orlando Lake Nona, 9-6. They beat Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast in overtime, 22-21, and Vero Beach, 10-7.
The “glass slipper” fell off in the state semifinal against Kissimmee Osceola when they dropped a 9-3 decision.
This season, while still a bit strange, has been just as unpredictable – as they head into tonight’s (7:30) first round playoff game against Coral Springs Coral Glades with a 7-2 record.
PALMETTO PANTHERS (7-2)
Homestead, W 21-19
Miami Killian, L 35-21
Miami Coral Reef, W 42-0
Miami Christopher Columbus, W 7-3
Southwest Miami, W 42-6
Homestead South Dade, W 52-7
Miami Southridge, W 41-0
GMAC WEEK - Miami Christopher Columbus, L 10-7
Miami Edison, W 14-6
CORAL GLADES MAKING HISTORY
When Cameron Thomas arrived on campus a few years back, he vowed to change to culture of Coral Glades football – and he has not disappointed.
While the Jaguars are still a work in progress, Coach Thomas has made it fashionable to play for this program, and as they continue to grow and mature, this is yet another Broward County program that you will need to keep an eye on.
CORAL SPRINGS CORAL GLADES JAGUARS (6-2)
Coral Springs, W 42-6
Davie Western, L 44-0
Coral Springs Taravella, W 38-6
Pembroke Pines Flanagan, W 30-16
Pembroke Pines West Broward, W 27-21
Weston Cypress Bay, W 42-6
Coral Springs Charter, W 62-15
Parkland Douglas, L 47-29
REGION 4
No. 8 Parkland Douglas (6-3) at Davie Western (8-2)
No. 5 Miami Christopher Columbus (6-3) at No. 4 Miami Dr. Krop (5-3)
No. 6 Boca Raton (8-2) at No. 3 Deerfield Beach (8-2)
No. 7 Coral Springs Coral Glades (6-2) at No. 2 Miami Palmetto (7-2)
CENTRAL-NMB IN A DISTRICT REMATCH
The other game on tap today will be a 3:00 contest at Traz Powell Stadium and a district rematch when two-time defending state champion Miami Central and North Miami Beach get together.
The Rockets have put things into gear, and despite being a No. 3 seed, believes that its first year in 5A will be as productive as all those in 6A under head coach Roland Smith.
MIAMI CENTRAL ROCKETS (7-2)
St. John Bosco, Ca., L 35-12
Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, L 21-20
Miami Booker T. Washington, W 51-7
Miami Springs, W 55-0
Miami Northwestern, W 24-21
Hialeah-Miami Lakes, W 56-0
Miami Edison, W 45-6
North Miami Beach, W 41-6
GMAC Week – Miami Northwestern, W 49-6
For the Chargers, veteran head coach Jeff Bertani continues to do what he’s done for nearly three decades as a head coach in Miami-Dade County: develop and get these student/athletes ready for the next level – and beyond.
NORTH MIAMI BEACH CHARGERS (4-4)
North Miami, W 31-18
Sanford Seminole, L 38-0
Hialeah-Miami Lakes, W 41-0
Lee County, Georgia, L 68-49
Miami Springs, W 49-6
Miami Booker T. Washington, L 25-0
Miami Central, L 41-6
GMAC Week – Miami Carol City, W 24-14
REGION 4
No. 8 Fort Myers Cypress Lake (5-4) at No. 1 Miami Killian (10-0)
No. 5 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (6-4) at No. 4 Estero (7-3)
No. 6 North Miami Beach (4-4) at No. 3 Miami Central (7-2)
No. 7 Boynton Beach (7-3) at No. 2 American Heritage (5-3)
TRACKING POSITIONS: Keeping An Eye On The Football Talent In Miami-Dade & Broward Counties Year Round. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects
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