As we head toward the second week of the state playoffs in south Florida, we are going to see some impressive talent all over Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
With several rematches taking place, the action will be heated and competitive as the race for the state championships are in high gear.
As we have done since August, we bring you the top programs in south Florida. Here is the way Week 2 of the state playoffs look like:
1. Miami Central Rockets (5A, 8-2). As the playoffs got started, head coach Roland Smith and his team rolled North Miami Beach for the second time this season – 49-6. THIS WEEK: A huge trip to No. 2 seed Plantation American Heritage on Friday. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of this game will play the winner of the No. 1 Miami Killian and No. 5 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan.
2. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (7A, 10-1). In winning for the 10th time this season, head coach Roger Harriott and his team beat Delray Beach Atlantic in the opening rough, 43-7. THIS WEEK: No. 4 seed and an old familiar face, Miramar, comes in for second round game. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of this game will take on either No. 2 seed Homestead or No. 6 Fort Lauderdale Dillard.
3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna Lions (3A, 7-1). As the No. 1 seed, head coach Dameon Jones and his team were off as they get ready for a sixth consecutive run at the state championships. THIS WEEK: For the second year, they will play host to No. 4 seed Miami Edison in Round 2. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner gets either No. 2 Florida Christian or No. 3 West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman.
4. Miami Killian Cougars (5A, 11-0). Head Coach Derrick Gibson and his team opened the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, beating Fort Myers Cypress Lake, 66-0. THIS WEEK: Beating Estero on the road, No. 5 seed Fort Lauderdale Stranahan will be the second-round opponent. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of this contest will face either No. 2 Plantation American Heritage or No. 3 Miami Central.
5. Homestead Broncos (7A, 10-1). In winning for the 10th time this season, head coach Philip Simpson and his talented team beat No. 7 seed Hollywood South Broward, 55-3. THIS WEEK: A huge second round showdown against No. 6 Fort Lauderdale Dillard at home. NEXT OPPONENT: Who ever emerges as a winner of this game will face either No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas or No. 4 Miramar.
6. Davie Western Wildcats (8A, 9-2). Head Coach Adam Ratkevich and his No. 1 seed team scored early and often in a 43-7 win over Parkland Douglas. THIS WEEK: A huge second round matchup with 8A power and No. 5 seed Miami Christopher Columbus, who won the Tri-County title last year and the state 8A crown the year before. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of this impressive game will get either No. 2 Miami Palmetto or No. 3 Deerfield Beach.
7. Fort Lauderdale Dillard Panthers (7A, 10-1). Hard to figure out why a team that has won 26 of 28 games, including a last-minute loss to powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas is being overlooked. They took care of business as a No. 6 seed, 42-0 over Fort Lauderdale on the road. THIS WEEK: Back on the road against for head coach Tyler Tate and his team at No. 2 seed Homestead. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of this second round game will have a date with either No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas or No. 4 Miramar.
8. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs (4A, 7-2). The defending state champions had the week off to get ready for the state playoffs. THIS WEEK: For the second time this year, head coach Matt Dubuc and his team will play host to Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, a 10-7 winner over Miami LaSalle. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of this second meeting of the season will get either No. 1 Miami Gulliver Prep or No. 4 Miami Booker T. Washington.
9. Deerfield Beach Bucks (8A, 9-2). For the second time in three weeks, interim head coach David Blackwell and his football beat district foe Boca Raton, 21-7. THIS WEEK: It’s a Thursday night trip to No. 2 seed Miami Palmetto in a game that promises to be very entertaining. NEXT OPPONENT: Which ever team comes out of this game will get No. 1 Davie Western or No. 5 Miami Christopher Columbus.
10. Plantation American Heritage Patriots (5A, 6-3). In beating district foe Boytnon Beach for the second time this season, 42-14, head coach Pat Surtain and his team are ready to make a statement. THIS WEEK: It’s the No. 3 seed, but the No. 1 team in south Florida, Miami Central, at home on Friday in one of the biggest games of the week statewide! Both teams were Top 15 nationally, heading into the 2021 season. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of this huge game will either get No. 1 Miami Killian or No. 5 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan.
11. Miami Gulliver Prep Raiders (4A, 7-1). Everything gets started for head coach Earl Sims and his team after the No. 1 seed, who had a bye in Week 1. THIS WEEK: It’s payback time on Friday as Booker T. Washington, a team that ended the season for the Raiders two years ago, will provide the opposition as a No. 4 seed. NEXT OPPONENT: Win this week and you either get either No. 2 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons or No. 6 Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest.
12. Miami Christopher Columbus Explorers (8A, 7-3). Head Coach Dave Dunn and his talented team came out of the No. 5 seed to knock off No. 4 seed Miami Dr. Krop, 54-0. THIS WEEK: A huge game against No. 1 Davie Western in a much-anticipated showdown. NEXT OPPONENT: Come out of this as a winner and you get either No. 2 Palmetto or No. 3 Deerfield Beach.
13. Miami Northwestern Bulls (6A, 8-3). Head Coach Max Edwards and his team embraced the first round the playoffs with a convincing 71-19 win at home against Fort Myers. THIS WEEK: A trip across Alligator Alley to play No. 2 seed and unbeaten Naples. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of the game will get either No. 4 Coconut Creek or No. 8 Plantation.
14. Miami Palmetto Panthers (8A, 8-2). In opening with a 56-21 win against No. 7 Coral Springs Coral Glades, head coach Mike Manasco and his team started the race for an 8A state title. THIS WEEK: A home game on Thursday against a talented No. 3 Deerfield Beach team. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of this second-round matchup will square off against No. 1 Davie Western or No. 5 Miami Christopher Columbus.
15. Hialeah Champagnat Catholic Lions (2A, 7-2). The two-time defending state champions had a bye to start the playoffs. THIS WEEK: A home game for the No. 2 seed team against No. 3 Belle Glade Glades Day. NEXT OPPONENT: Head Coach Hector Clavijo and his team are hoping to get a shot at No. 1 seed unbeaten Hollywood Avant Garde Academy or No. 5 Fort Pierce John Carroll.
16. Miramar Patriots (7A, 7-3). After an exciting first round 28-20 win against No. 5 Doral Academy, head coach A.J. Scott and his team look to Round 2. THIS WEEK: A Friday night trip to familiar foe, No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of this contest will get either No. 2 Homestead or No. 6 Fort Lauderdale Dillard.
17. Miami Edison Red Raiders (3A, 7-4). Head Coach Luther Campbell and his talented team scored early and often in a 51-0 win over Somerset Academy South Homestead. THIS WEEK: A trip to play No. 1 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of this game will get a shot at No. 2 Florida Christian or No. 3 West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman.
18. Hollywood Avant Garde Academy Sharks (2A, 8-0). It’s been a great year for the No. 1 seed and head coach Daniel Luque, who had a first round bye. THIS WEEK: A game against a very tough No. 5 seed Fort Pierce John Carroll. NEXT OPPONENT: The winner of the first-round matchup between No. 4 Miami True North Classical and No. 5 Fort Pierce John Carroll.
19. Coconut Creek Cougars (6A, 9-2). Head Coach Johnny Sloane and his football team, which won the district title, won a playoff game for the first time in a while – beating No. 5 South Fort Myers, 36-12. THIS WEEK: It’s a rematch with district foe Plantation at home on Friday. NEXT OPPONENT: It will be either No. 2 Naples or No. 3 Miami Northwestern.
20. Plantation Colonels (6A, 9-2). Stunning the No. 1 seed Fort Myers Dunbar, 44-20, coach Steve Davis and his team continued to remain hot in the second half of the season. THIS WEEK: As a No. 8 seed, it will be a rematch on Friday at No. 4 Coconut Creek. NEXT OPPPONENT: The winner gets either No. 2 Naples or No. 3 Miami Northwestern.
FINISHED THE SEASON: Coral Glades Jaguars (8A, 6-3), Doral Academy Firebirds (7A, 8-2), Fort Lauderdale Flying Ls (7A, 6-3), Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Eagles (4A, 4-6) Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy Lions (2A, 7-3), Hollywood South Broward Bulldogs (7A, 8-2), Miami Dr. Krop Lightning (8A, 5-4), Miami LaSalle Royal Lions (4A, 10-1), Miami True North Titans (2A, 6-4), North Miami Beach Chargers (5A, 4-6), Somerset Academy South Homestead Hurricanes (3A, 5-4)
TRACKING POSITIONS: Keeping An Eye On The Football Talent In Miami-Dade & Broward Counties Year Round. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects
For the past 51 years, we have spent plenty of 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 (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..