As we finished the sixth week of the 2023 season, there is one thing that is evident: the games are getting more exciting.
As district and regional playoffs seeding on the line, you are now seeing the best of the best in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, and as you take a look at overall state rankings, the teams in this area are very much among the best.
Over the next few weeks, the games that will take place will border on epic as the Race For Tallahassee will be fully under way.
This past week, there were a few games locally that grabbed the spotlight.
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 35, Coconut Creek 27. The nation’s No. 3 rated Lions were back on the road again, and this time against a program that nobody had a clue about.
What head coach Johnny Sloan and his Cougars have done this season is turn heads and proving that every team on their schedule need to open their eyes and put egos away.
This 3M team gave Chaminade-Madonna all they could handle before falling.
The Lions, who had a few players out for the game, saw the 4-2 Coconut Creek team continue to make plays in what could be the final test that the Lions will face this season.
Head Coach Dameon Jones and his team will be at least four touchdown favorites in every game the rest of the way – including the 1M state championship.
The Cougars still have a few key games left in the regular season but have to feel confident heading into the state playoffs in the next month.
Miami Braddock 29, Miami Ferguson 26. Who would believe that two independent teams from west Miami would not only play one of the most exciting games of the season, but easily one of the most well attended.
The Bulldogs (4-1) scored with less than two minutes left and came away with an impressive win in this rivalry that dates back over the past 20 years.
Head Coach J.T. Torres and Braddock continued to fight their way back against a talent Falcon team that had started off 4-0 under the school’s only coach ever, Gene Chew.
This game saw Ferguson senior running back Manuel “Manny” Rodriguez go over the 200-yard mark in a losing effort.
Miami Northwestern 7, West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman 2. How do you come up with your biggest win of the season against a top 10 rated Florida school? DEFENSE! The Bulls raced to their second win of the season under first year head coach Michaelee Harris as they continued to make life on the Crusaders, who had won 14 consecutive regular season games.
Northwestern, who lost a key district game to Miami Edison, still has a chance to make the playoffs, but must beat Booker T. Washington and Miami Immaculata LaSalle in district play, and the rivalry game against Miami Central this week.
THERE WERE MORE GAMES THAT MEANT A LOT
In addition to those exciting games, there were others that took place – involving Miami-Dade and Broward schools:
Coconut Creek Monarch 45, Boca Raton Olympic Heights 0
Coral Springs Charter 50, Coral Springs Taravella 36
Davie Western 49, Sunrise Piper 0
Doral Academy 21, Miami Lakes Goleman 16
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian 53, Riviera Beach Inlet Grove 13
Fort Lauderdale Dillard 7, Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson 0
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School 35, West Palm Beach Oxbridge 0
Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 36, Oakland Park Northeast 8
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 38. Miramar 6
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 34, Hallandale 0
Hialeah 51, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy 7
Hialeah American 20, Miramar Everglades 10
Hialeah Gardens 32, Westland Hialeah 14
Hollywood Avant Garde 35, Lake Worth Dr. Joaquin Garcia 0
Hollywood McArthur 41, Hollywood Hills 13
Marathon 14, Miami Florida Christian 12
Miami Archbishop Carroll 49, Homestead Everglades Prep 0
Miami Belen Jesuit 44, Southwest Miami 0
Miami Booker T. Washington 37, Miami Jackson 0
Miami Central 54, North Miami Beach 0
Miami Christopher Columbus 44, Miami High 0
Miami Edison 28, Miami Immaculata LaSalle 0
Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace 48, Miami Carol City 0
Miami Gulliver Prep 20, Miami Killian 14
Miami Palmer Trinity 39, Somerset South Homestead 32
Miami Palmetto 35, Coral Gables 0
Miami Ransom Everglades 27, Tavernier Coral Shores 22
Miami Westminster Christian 42, Goulds Palm Glades 0
North Miami 48, Miami Beach 0
Parkland Douglas 23, Coral Springs 14
Pembroke Pines Flanagan 40, Cooper City 0
Pembroke Pines West Broward 56, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy 0
Plantation 72, South Plantation 0
Plantation American Heritage 48, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 7
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely 39, Fort Lauderdale 17
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy 37, Pompano Beach 6
West Boca Raton 36, Deerfield Beach 0
West Palm Beach Forest Hill 48, Wellington 14
Weston Cypress Bay 35, Coral Springs Coral Glades 0
TOP PROSPECTS SHINE IN WEEK 6
As Week 6 finished up, there were some locals who came up with some quality performances.
Coconut Creek Monarch, with starting QB A.J. Harrison out of action, looked to a trio of freshmen to win this past week. Jack Spaeder, Jaeden Phillips and Mason Hall combined for 5 touchdowns.
Coconut Creek put their program on the map in a loss to national power Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna as Martin Montero had 10 tackles 5 TFL 3 sacks 4 QB pressures and a force fumble.
Manny Rodriguez, Miami Ferguson RB ran for 215 yards and 2 scores in a tough loss to rival Miami Braddock.
Miami Westminster Christian Edge Daniel Fernandez had 4 solo tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and a sack.
Tyler Godfrey, Miramar, had a huge game in a loss to Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. He ended with 8 catches for 151 yards.
In a loss to Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, 2026 QB Jayden Chico from Fort Lauderdale completed 16 passes for 191 yards and a TD.
Shane Martinez, 2027 Fort Lauderdale NSU University School OL had 7 pancakes and 3 drive blocks.
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: October 2, 2023. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects COLLEGE COACHES ARE WATCHING ALL THE TIME, SO LET’S KEEP UPDATING – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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