With the state playoffs on the horizon, football programs in south Florida will bring to a close the 2021 regular season.
With a few slots open for the playoffs that get started next week, this final week will see a majority of the programs with off weeks, getting their teams ready for the next five weeks that will once again produce a state champion in each of the eight classes.
With Miami Central, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna and Miami Killian all answering some challenges this past week – along with St. Thomas Aquinas, Homestead and Western taking care of business, the playoffs will certainly be very interesting – as we will break down over the next week.
For now, here is the way Week 11 stacks up:
1. Miami Central Rockets (5A, 7-2). Scored early and often in a convincing 49-6 win over No. 13 Miami Northwestern in the GMAC Football Week. Coach Roland Smith’s team is firing on all cylinders. THIS WEEK: After a strong stretch run, they will take the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
2. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (7A, 9-1). In winning for the 8th straight time, the team wrapped up another district crown with a 49-7 win against Nova. THIS WEEK: Coach Roger Harriott and his team will enjoy the final week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna Lions (3A, 7-1). In beating previously unbeaten St. Petersburg Lakewood, it was all about offense, defense and special teams in a 37-6 win at home. THIS WEEK: After an up and down season – as far as getting opponents to play, head coach Dameon Jones and his team will take the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
4. Miami Killian Cougars (5A, 10-0). The regular season came to an end for head coach Derrick Gibson and his team, beating Booker T. Washington, 21-9, as part of the GMAC Football Week. THIS WEEK: This week will be an off week as this team has worked hard to stay unbeaten. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
5. Homestead Broncos (7A, 8-1). In beating rival South Dade for the second time this season – 55-42 in the GMAC Football Week. THIS WEEK: Head Coach Philip Simpson and his team will enjoy the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
6. Davie Western Wildcats (8A, 7-2). In winning for the fifth straight time – fourth consecutive shutout – Coach Adam Ratkevich and his team rolled to a 63-0 win against West Broward. THIS WEEK: An away game on Friday at much improved No. 18 Miramar. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
7. Fort Lauderdale Dillard Panthers (7A, 8-1). You can call it a letdown after a close game against district champion St. Thomas Aquinas, but the 41-40 decision against Plantation could have gone either way for head coach Tyler Tate and his talented team. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with the Broward Soul Bowl against Blanche Ely on Saturday, Nov. 6 at Lockhart Park in Fort Lauderdale. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
8. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs (4A, 7-2). After upsetting Venice the week before, head coach Matt Dubuc and his team did what it took in a 44-8 win against Flanagan. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end on Friday, Nov. 5 at Boyd Anderson. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
9. Deerfield Beach Bucks (8A, 7-2). In winning for the fourth straight time – third consecutive shutout, interim head coach David Blackwell and his team rolled to a district title, 40-0, against Boca Raton. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with a Nov. 5 home game against Piper. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
10. Plantation American Heritage Patriots (5A, 5-3). Getting by Stranahan 35-0, head coach Pat Surtain and his team wrapped up yet another district title with a third straight victory. THIS WEEK: Will have the week off to get ready for the competitive playoffs. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
11. Miami Gulliver Prep Raiders (4A, 6-1). Coach Earl Sims and his impressive team continued to roll along with a 49-13 win at West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end on the road against Orlando Bishop Moore on Nov. 5. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
12. Miami Christopher Columbus Explorers (8A, 6-3). Ended the regular season with a thrilling GMAC Football Week 7A/8A title with a 10-7 win over No. 16 Miami Palmetto to even this year’s series at 1-1. THIS WEEK: The regular season is over for head coach Dave Dunn and his team with the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
13. Miami Northwestern Bulls (6A, 7-3). This team is now at a crossroad after last Thursday’s convincing 49-6 setback to No. 1 Miami Central as part of GMAC Football week. They head into the playoffs with plenty to prove during this tough season. THIS WEEK: Head Coach Max Edwards and his football team will have the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
14. Miramar Patriots (7A, 6-2). This team stayed hot, winning for the sixth straight time – against Miramar Everglades, 49-0. Coach A.J. Scott has given up one touchdown in the past 22 quarters. THIS WEEK: A key non-district home game against No. 7 Davie Western on Nov. 5. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
15. Miami Edison Red Raiders (3A, 6-3). Coach Luther Campbell and his football team continued the push for a playoff with a convincing GMAC Week win against Miami Norland, 46-7. They also beat Miami International Academy on Monday, 35-0. THIS WEEK: A Friday regular-season ending contest at No. 19 Miami Palmetto. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
16. Miami Palmetto Panthers (8A, 6-2). The tough 10-7 setback to No. 12 Christopher Columbus did nothing to ruin the No. 1 seed that head coach Mike Manasco and his team will have, heading into the playoffs. The game was part of GMAC Football Week. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end on Thursday, Nov. 4 at home against No. 15 Miami Edison. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
17. Hialeah Champagnat Catholic Lions (2A, 6-2). Head Coach Hector Clavijo and his two-time defending 2A state champions had last week off. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end for the two-time defending state champions with a Friday, Nov. 5 trip to Naples Lely. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
18. Florida Christian Patriots (3A, 8-0). Remained unbeaten with a hard-fought 25-19 setback to previously unbeaten Miami Ransom Everglades. THIS WEEK: Head coach Joe Burmeister and his team looks for a perfect regular season on Friday at home against Somerset Pembroke Pines. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
19. Miami LaSalle Royal Lions (4A, 9-0). After a tough game with Pine Crest the week before, head coach Helder Valle and his team shut down North Broward Prep, 48-0. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end on Friday, Nov. 5 against SW Ranches Archbishop McCarthy. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
20. Hollywood South Broward Bulldogs (7A, 7-1). In winning for the fourth straight time, 29-7, to Hollywood McArthur, head coach Charles McCrae and his team continued to have a banner season. THIS WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with a Nov. 5 home game against Cooper City. NEXT OPPONENT: The first round of the state playoffs will get started.
ALSO KEEP AN EYE ON: Coconut Creek (6A, 7-2), Doral Academy (7A, 7-1), Hialeah Goleman (Independent, 7-2), Hollywood Avant Garde Academy (2A, 7-0), Miami Dr. Krop Lightning (8A, 5-3), Miami Ransom Everglades (Independent, 7-1), Miami True North (6-2), Plantation Colonels (6A, 5-2), Westland Hialeah (Independent, 7-1).
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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