For nearly three quarters last Saturday afternoon, it looked like California’s national powerhouse Mater Dei would have its way with Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
With an ESPN national audience looking on, the No. 1 team in the country – the defending national champion Monarchs – were in total control, but the Raiders refused to quit and came roaring back, eventually losing 26-23, but in the process turned plenty of heads.
The six-time defending state champions showed why they are one of the top teams in the country, and while they came away with a loss and started 0-1 for the second straight year, this team is indeed talented and deserves to be the No. 1 program in south Florida after the first week.
With losses by Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna and Miami Northwestern, this program slid into the top spot.
Here is a look at Week 2 in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties:
1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 0-1). Six-time defending state champions dropped a thrilling ESPN contest to the No. 1 team in the country, 26-23. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 7 Miami Christopher Columbus.
2. Plantation American Heritage (4A, 1-0). The defending state champion Patriots came from 28-0 down to beat Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep, 31-28 on ESPN 2. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – No. 4 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.
3. Miami Northwestern (3A, 0-1). The Bulls dropped their opener at home against California Trinity League power Orange Lutheran, 17-15. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Venice. NEXT WEEK: 9/4 – Miami Carol City.
4. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1A, 0-1). The Lions were soundly beaten in the Broward National Showcase by powerhouse Baltimore St. Frances Academy, 42-13. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Hollywood McArthur. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 2 Plantation American Heritage.
5. Miami Central (3A, 0-0). Game against Jacksonville Raines was cancelled. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – No. 18 Miami Edison. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Miami Booker T. Washington.
6. Miami Christopher Columbus (7A, 1-0). The Explorers beat No. 7 Miami Southridge in a three-quarter game that started last Thursday, resumed Saturday and finished with another few lightning delays on Monday, 14-7. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Our Lady of Good Counsel, Maryland. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – No. 2 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
7. Miami Southridge (6A, 0-1). Dropped a 14-7 decision to No. 6 Miami Southridge in a game that was called in three quarters. THIS WEEK: 8/28 - @Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman. NEXT WEEK: 9/4 - @ No. 10 Miami Palmetto.
8. Miami Norland (4A, 0-1). The Vikings blew a large lead on the road against 7A power Lake Mary and lost, 30-29. THIS WEEK: 8/28 - @Miami Carol City. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Homestead South Dade.
9. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (4A, 1-0). The Panthers showed why they will be one of the best teams in the state this year when they shut out Orlando Dr. Phillips in the Broward National Showcase, 39-0. THIS WEEK: Fort Lauderdale Stranahan. NEXT WEEK: Fort Lauderdale Northeast.
10. Miami Palmetto (7A, 0-0). Game against Homestead was postponed due to bad weather and will be made up on Oct. 6. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Miami Booker T. Washington. NEXT WEEK: 9/4 – No. 7 Miami Southridge.
11. Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (4A, 1-0). If you wanted to know about the Mavericks, maybe you learned something from last week’s 42-35 Broward National Showcase win against Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Community School of Naples. NEXT WEEK: 9/4 - @Miami St. Brendan.
12. Plantation (4A, 1-0). The Colonels started the season off with a huge 18-0 win against Davie Western. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Miramar. NEXT WEEK: 9/4 - @ No. 15 Pembroke Pines West Broward.
13. Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (5A, 1-0). The Lions opened the Tim “Ice” Harris era with a 34-12 win against Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy. THIS WEEK: 8/28 - @Doral Academy. NEXT GAME: 9/5 – Hialeah Gardens.
14. Coconut Creek Monarch (6A, 0-1). The Knights started the season in the Broward National Showcase for the second straight year, dropping a 34-15 decision to Jacksonville Bolles, 34-15. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Deerfield Beach. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Ramsey John Bosco, New Jersey.
15. Pembroke Pines West Broward (6A, 0-1). Even though they dropped their opener against national power Corner Canyon, Utah in the Broward National Showcase, the Bobcats had some positive moments. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Camden County, Georgia. NEXT WEEK: 9/4 – No. 12 Plantation.
16. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2A, 0-1). The Chiefs dropped an exciting Broward National Showcase game to Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, 42-35. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Hollywood South Broward. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian.
17. Miami Edison (1A, 1-0). The Red Raiders started the season off on a positive note with a 45-0 win against Hialeah American. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – No. 5 Miami Central. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Miami Killian.
18. Sunrise Piper (6A, 0-1). The Bengals began the season with a 31-6 setback in the Broward National Showcase to Peachtree Ridge, Georgia. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Coconut Creek. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @South Plantation.
19. Hollywood McArthur (5A, 0-0). Head Coach Robert Ortega and his team had the first week of the season off. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – No. 4 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Miramar.
20. Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (7A, 1-0). The Gators started off the season with a convincing 62-21 win on the road at Key West. THIS WEEK: 8/28 – No. 7 Miami Southridge. NEXT WEEK: 9/4 - @Hialeah American.
Here are some other programs that you will be hearing from this coming season:
Independent
Fort Lauderdale University School (1-1)
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (1-0)
1A
Miami Archbishop Carroll (0-0)
Miami True North Classical Academy (0-1)
2A
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (1-0)
Miami Booker T. Washington (0-1)
Miami Carol City (1-0)
Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (0-0)
Miami Gulliver Prep (0-0)
Miami Immaculata LaSalle (1-0)
North Miami Beach (0-1)
3A
Miami St. Brendan (0-0)
4A
Hialeah (0-1)
Miami Belen Jesuit (0-1)
5A
Coconut Creek (1-0)
Miramar (0-1)
North Miami (1-0)
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (0-0)
6A
Doral Academy (0-0)
Miami Dr. Krop (0-0)
Pembroke Pines Flanagan (0-0)
7A
Davie Western (0-1)
Homestead South Dade (1-0)
Weston Cypress Bay (1-0)
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