When they beat Hollywood South Broward and Fort Lauderdale Dillard in the state playoffs last season, head coach Philip Simpson and his Homestead Broncos were the talk of south Florida.
Winning 11 times a year ago was something that made football fans stand up and take notice. Then came the 56-7 loss to eventual 7A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas in the third round of the playoffs, breaking an 11-game winning streak and sending this program back to the drawing board.
What this off-season became was playing off that loss to the Raiders and finding a way to improve and get better. They did!
Coming into this evening’s (7:00) game against Southwest Miami, the Broncos sit at 3-0 – with wins over Miami Palmetto (19-7), longtime rival South Dade (47-0) and last week’s 24-14 win at state power St. Petersburg Lakewood showed the state and this football program that they are indeed for real.
After Southwest Miami, the schedule plays very much in their favor – with only Miami Christopher Columbus a major obstacle on the way to unbeaten regular season and a great seed in the newly formed Class 3M.
This team is loaded in every class – especially 2023 – with Ryan Bullard (RB, 5-10, 175), Richard Dandridge (WR, 5-10, 165), David Jester (DB, 6-3, 180), Javon Robinson (WR, 5-8, 160), Markwon Strong (DL/DE, 6-0, 250) and Marcus Woodley (LB, 6-1, 215).
The Broncos are also solid for the future – with 2024 standouts Lonnie Brady (OL, 6-4, 250), Isaac Brown (Athlete, 5-9, 180), Jameel Carter (OL/DL, 6-3, 285), Giovanne Eloissaint (OL, 5-11, 245), Friently Francois (OL, 6-6, 265), Robert Jeau (DB, 5-11, 175), Amen Mackey (OLB, 6-0, 190), Eduardo Nunez (LB, 6-1, 200), Rashawn Pittman (OL, 6-3, 295), Juan Ramirez (DT, 6-0, 255), Clinton Riley (RB, 5-9, 170), Jamari Stokes (WR/DB, 5-9, 160), Santonio Wallace (DB, 5-11, 175), Fraquan Warren (WR, 5-8, 155) and one of the most underrated quarterbacks in Joshua Townsend (5-10, 205).
Even the 2025 class is already making major contributions with James Gatewood (WR/DB/DE, 6-0, 180), Lance Grant (DB, 5-10, 175), Luis Pruneda (OL, 6-3, 250), Semaj Smith (DB, 5-9, 160) and one of the major rising stars in receiver Cortez Mills (6-0, 170).
In addition to the Broncos, here is a look at the games to keep an eye on today and Friday:
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Coconut Creek North Broward Prep (2-1) at Oakland Park Northeast (0-2)
Miami Jackson (1-1) at Hialeah Miami-Lakes (1-1), 3:30
Miami Braddock (2-0) at Miami Coral Reef (2-1), Tropical Park, 7:00
No. 1 Miami Central (2-0) at Miami Carol City (0-1), Traz Powell Stadium, 7:00
Miami Florida Christian (0-2) at Miami True North Classical Academy (1-2), 7:00
North Palm Beach Benjamin (0-3) at Miami Gulliver Prep (0-2), 3:30
Pompano Beach (3-0) at Boca Raton Saint John Paul II (0-2), 6:00
Sports Leadership & Management (0-2) at Fort Lauderdale Westminster (2-0), 7:00
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Clewiston (0-2) at Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (2-1)
No. 12 Coconut Creek (2-1) at No. 16 Plantation (2-1), 7:00
Cooper City (0-3) at Hollywood McArthur (1-1), 7:00
Coral Springs Coral Glades (0-2) at Valdosta, Georgia (4-0), 8:00
Davie Nova (1-2) at Hollywood Hills (1-1), 4:00
Davie NSU University (1-2) at Miami Country Day, 7:00
Delray Beach American Heritage (1-2) at Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, 7:00
Doral Academy (2-1) at West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (3-0), 7:00
Doral Ronald Reagan (0-2) at Miami Springs (1-2), 3:30
No. 3 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3-0) at No. 7 Davie Western (2-0), 7:00
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (1-2) at Lauderdale Lake Boyd Anderson (0-1), 7:00
Hialeah (2-0) at Miami Beach (1-2), 7:00
Hialeah Goleman (1-2) at No. 20 Westland Hialeah (2-0), Milander, 7:30
No. 17 Hollywood Avant Garde Academy (2-0) at Miami Dr. Krop (1-2), 7:30
Hollywood South Broward (1-1) at Hallandale (0-3), 7:00
No. 6 Miami Christopher Columbus (3-0) at Miami Palmetto (1-2), Tropical Park, 7:30
Miami Dade Christian (0-0) at Key West (1-2), 7:00
Miami Edison (1-1) at No. 9 Miami Northwestern (2-1), Traz Powell Stadium, 7:30
Miami Killian (0-3) at Homestead South Dade (0-1), Harris Field, 7:30
Miami LaSalle (2-0) at No. 13 Miami Booker T. Washington (2-1), Curtis Park, 7:30
No. 11 Miami Norland (2-0) at Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (2-1), 7:30
Miami Ransom Everglades (1-1) at Miami Palmer Trinity (1-2), 4:00
Miami Southridge (2-1) at Miami Belen Jesuit (2-1), 7:30
Miami Varela (0-3) at Miami Ferguson (2-1), 3:30
Miami Westminster Christian (2-0) at Somerset Academy South Homestead (2-1), 3:30
Miramar Everglades (2-1) at Deerfield Beach (1-2), 7:00
North Miami (0-3) at Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (0-3), 3:30
North Miami Mourning (0-2) at Hialeah Gardens (0-1), 3:30
Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer (1-2) at Pembroke Pines West Broward (1-1), Flanagan, 7:00
Palm Glades Prep (1-2) at Everglades Prep (0-2), 3:30
Parkland Douglas (1-1) at Jensen Beach (3-0), 7:00
Pembroke Pines Charter (1-1) at Coral Springs Taravella (0-2), 4:00
Pembroke Pines Flanagan (1-2) at Miramar (1-1), 7:00
Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (2-1) at Camden County, Georgia, 7:30
No. 5 Plantation American Heritage (4-0) at No. 2 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (3-0)
No. 19 Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (1-0) at Coral Springs (1-1), 7:00
Somerset Academy Silver Palms (2-1) at South Miami (2-0), 3:30
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (0-3) at Okeechobee (0-3), 7:00
St. Petersburg Northeast (2-1) at No. 4 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons. 7:00
Sunrise Piper (2-1) at Coconut Creek Monarch (2-1), 7:00
Tavernier Coral Shores (2-1) at Miami Sunset (1-2), 3:30
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2023-2026. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects
MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD TRANSFERS. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-continues-in-miami-dade-broward
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA FOOTBALL TEAMS. https://larryblustein.com/news/tracking-south-florida-2022
For the past 52 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..