As we head toward the final week of the 2025 high school football season we have more than a good read on which area programs will be putting up the equipment on Saturday – and those who will start getting ready for the state playoffs.

For six-time defending state champion Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, a 19-12 road win against Plantation American Heritage showed the 5A Raiders that they are ready to defend – with 1A power Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna coming up this Friday at home.

The Lions rolled to a 47-0 win against 2A Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, who will also bne headed to the state playoffs next week.

Defending 3A state champion Miami Northwestern (9-0) ended the regular season with a 49-0 district win against Miami St. Brendan.

With one final game this week remaining against Miami Carol City, 3A Miami Central (7-1) picked up another win, 39-0, in district play against Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy.

After suffering their first loss of the season, 6A Miami Southridge was off this past week as they get ready for their regular season finale against Homestead South Dade. The Spartans will be the No. 1 seed when the state playoffs begin.

With a perfect season on the line this week against Deerfield Beach, 4A Fort Lauderdale Dillard rolled to a district-clinching 41-13 win against Boynton Beach to move to 9-0.

One of the hottest programs – Pembroke Pines West Broward flexed some more muscle with a convincing 49-0 district win against Miami Dr. Krop moving to 7-2 and will be a force when the playoffs start in 6A.The McArthur Mustangs (7-2) have completed their turnaround this season as they will also be a team to keep an eye on in 5A. They already lost to No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in district play and believe they have closed the gap on the Raiders if they should meet again.

While they are a huge surprise to many around south Florida and across the state – because many just do not get out and watch enough programs in person, 1A Miami True North Classical Academy (6-2) is a team that continues to turn heads – and while this may not be the year they knock off Chaminade-Madonna, the Titans won their sixth straight this past week – beating a slumping Miami Christopher Columbus Explorers team.

Miami Palmetto (7-2) will be looking for a strong finish this week against Fort Myers Bishop Verot and will be the top seed in 7A next week. Can the Panthers finally break through?

Another program that turned heads with their play this year are the Mavericks of Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (7-2). A surprising district champion in 4A, many are still not taking this program as a serious state contender, that would be a mistake. This is a well coached and very talented team.

Because the “experts” in south Florida continue to live in the past and only watch the fringe teams from afar, Miami Immaculata LaSalle has really taken everyone by storm in 2A, and the Royal Lions are looking for a perfect 10-0 season in the final week of the season after knocking off rising 5A team Hialeah Gardens Maters Academy this past week.

Another dangerous team come playoffs will be Miami Norland that climbed back to the .500 (5-5) level this past week with a one-point district thriller against Plantation and will be a force in 4A as a potential spoiler.

Speaking of dangerous, Coconut Creek (7-2) could be a team in the state playoffs that won’t go down easy. The Cougars battled state-rated and unbeaten Delray Atlantic in the district title game, losing 33-30 a few weeks ago and will be a program to watch in 5A.

We all know that Class 6A will be the most competitive come state playoff time and Coconut Creek Monarch (5-4) may come in as the most battle tested, winning yet another district title this past week over Sunrise Piper. The Knights played a very competitive schedule and it is starting to show as nothing will intimidate them.

Despite their loss to No. 3 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna to end the regular season, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (6-3) could be that thorn as one of the top seeds in 2A. The Chiefs have played up and down football during the season but are capable of raising the bar.

Speaking of being able to raise the bar, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (7-2) had been the talk of teams in south Florida most of the season, but the Lions have slipped the past two weeks. Do they have enough left in the tank to be a force in the post season? They end with Miami Jackson this week.

After losing a thriller, 19-12, to top-rated Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, the defending state champion Plantation American Heritage Patriots head into the post season with a rare losing (4-5) record. But they have shown when healthy they can play with anyone and will still be a team to watch in 4A.

Plantation’s one-point loss to Miami Norland this past week certainly stung, but the 5-4 Colonels still believe that they can be a force in the post-season. After this week’s annual meeting with longtime rival South Plantation, they will see what happens in the “new season”.

In a year where turning your back on teams that may not be popular to many has become fashionable, the Miami Killian Cougars (7-2) will enter the 2A state playoffs as a truly dangerous program with a chance to make life tough on several schools.

 

Here is a look back at how the Miami-Dade and Broward programs did this past week:

Boca Raton St. Andrew’s 41, Miami Gulliver Prep 6

Boca Raton St. John Paul II 56, Deerfield Beach Somerset Key 12

Coconut Creek 45, Pompano Beach Blanche Ely 6

Davie Nova 19, Coral Springs Coral Glades 10

Davie Western 20, Deerfield Beach 7

Doral Academy 74, Southwest Miami 6

Fort Lauderdale 3, Coral Springs 0

Fort Lauderdale NSU Nova Southeastern 23, Delray Heritage 21

Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 20, Coconut Creek North Broward Prep 14

Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 44, Pompano Beach 7

Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy 48, Somerset South Homestead 0

Hallandale 34, Pembroke Pines Charter 20

Hialeah 38, Miami Springs 0

Hialeah American 35, South Miami 0

Hialeah Gardens 28, Hialeah Miami Lakes 0

Hollywood Hills 43, Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson 37 (OT)

Hollywood McArthur 55, South Plantation 0

Homestead South Dade 23, Coral Gables 0

Key West 54, Miami Jackson 6

Lake Worth Dr. Joaquin Garcia 41, Oakland Park Northeast 0

Miami Braddock 38, Miami Sunset 0

Miami Coral Reef 28, Miami Ferguson 0

Miami Edison 52, Homestead 20

Miami Florida Christian 21, Miami Beach 13

Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace 29, North Miami Beach 28 (OT)

Miami Immaculata LaSalle 21, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy 18

Miami Killian 55, Homestead Somerset Silver Palms 6

Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman 56, Coral Springs Taravella 0

Miami Palmer Trinity 39, Miami Archbishop Carroll 29

Miami Palmetto 43, Miami High 7

Miami Ransom Everglades 35, Miami Booker T. Washington 0

Miami True North Classical Academy 34, Miami Christopher Columbus 15

Miami Varela 27, Miami Coral Park 13

Miami Westminster Christian 42, Fort Myers Gateway Charter 0

Miramar 26, Miramar Everglades 0

Parkland Douglas 28, Coral Springs Charter 6

Pembroke Pines Flanagan 32, Hollywood South Broward 29

Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy 38, Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian 7

Weston Cypress Bay 34, Cooper City 27

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

For the past 55 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..