It’s all about competitive matchups this coming week – and the Top 20 will once again reflect the results.
With No. 1 Cardinal Gibbons facing a major gauntlet over the next month, it all starts this Friday night at home against No. 6 Plantation American Heritage.
No. 2 Miami Central and No. 9 Miami Northwestern will clash in their annual matchup on Friday at Traz Powell Stadium.
After an unexpected week off last week, No. 4 Chaminade-Madonna will face yet another stiff test on the road against defending 8A state champion Sanford Seminole, which has not lost a regular season game in nearly two years.
No. 5 Miami Gulliver Prep looks to remain unbeaten at home against No. 10 Champagnat Catholic.
Unbeaten No. 7 Miami Killian will play the always competitive Booker T. Washington Tornadoes as well.
Here is the way Week 6 stacks up:
1.Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs (4A, 4-0). After racing out to a huge lead, head coach Matt Dubuc and his team held on for a 31-21 win against Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian. THIS WEEK: A huge home game against No. 6 Plantation American Heritage on Oct. 1. NEXT OPPONENT: A home game Oct. 8 against Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest.
2. Miami Central Rockets (5A, 2-2). With a district game against No. 13 North Miami Beach called of because of Lightning, the game will be made up on October 23. THIS WEEK: It’s the annual showdown with No. 9 Miami Northwestern on Friday, Oct. 1 at Traz Powell Stadium. NEXT OPPONENT: A Thursday district home game on Thursday, Oct. 7.
3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (7A, 4-1). Coach Roger Harriott and his team jumped out to a big lead and then cruised to a 31-21 win over No. XX Western. THIS WEEK: Yet another home game against Cooper City in a district matchup on Oct. 1. NEXT OPPONENT: A road district game at South Plantation.
4. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna Lions (3A, 3-1). Because of Covid symptoms, this much anticipated “champions” matchup with No. 10 Champagnat Catholic never materialized. THIS WEEK: It gets no easier at all as a trip to play unbeaten defending 8A state champion Sanford Seminole is on tap for Oct. 1. NEXT OPPONENT: A Saturday night, Oct. 9 game at Fort Lauderdale.
5. Miami Gulliver Prep Raiders (4A, 4-0). In remaining unbeaten and keeping their regular season streak intact, head coach Earl Sims and his team rolled to a 43-0 win over Miami Dade Christian. THIS WEEK: It’s a game against two-time defending 2A state champion, No. 10 Champagnat Catholic. NEXT OPPONENT: At press time, the program was still searching out an opponent for Oct. 8.
6. Plantation American Heritage Patriots (5A, 1-2). Having been off for three weeks, with game cancellations, head coach Pat Surtain and this team prepared itself and stayed sharp for a huge game on Friday with No. 1 Cardinal Gibbons. THIS WEEK: At press time, no opponent has been found. NEXT OPPONENT: A trip to play 2A Power Jacksonville Trinity Christian on Oct. 8,
7. Miami Killian Cougars (5A, 5-0). In once against scoring 40 points, head coach Derrick Gibson and his team continued to roll as they are making a bid to be the top seed in the region, THIS WEEK: A home game against Miami Booker T. Washington on Oct. 1. NEXT OPPONENT: A Saturday night home game against Key West on Oct. 9.
8. Fort Lauderdale Dillard Panthers (7A, 5-0). In moving to their 23rd win in the past 24 games, head coach Tyler Tate and his team won a district game against South Plantation, 66-0. THIS WEEK: An away district game at Nova on Oct. 1. NEXT OPPONENT: After a hot start, the Panthers will take the week off.
9. Miami Northwestern Bulls (6A, 4-1). Coach Max Edwards and his team scored early and often in a 56-0 “Soul Bowl” win against Miami Jackson. THIS WEEK: The huge matchup against No. 2 Miami Central on Friday night at Traz Powell Stadium. NEXT OPPONENT: After a week off, it’s a district game against South Miami on Oct. 13.
10. Hialeah Champagnat Catholic (2A, 3-1). That much-anticipated game with No. 4 Chaminade-Madonna never materialized, but head coach Hector Clavijo and his team moves on. THIS WEEK: Another huge test next Friday at 4A power and No. 5 Miami Gulliver Prep. NEXT OPPONENT: A trip to Naples and a game against Barron Collier.
11. Homestead Broncos (7A, 3-1). Since losing to Miami Palmetto by two points to start the season, head coach Phillip Simpson and his team have outscored the opponents, 130-20, including a 47-0 district win against Mater Academy. THIS WEEK: An away game at Miami Southridge on Oct. 1. NEXT OPPONENT: An Oct. 8 game at Hialeah.
12 Miami Edison Red Raiders (3A, 3-1). After being postponed on Thursday, head coach Luther Campbell and his team came back on Monday and took care of Booker T. Washington, 22-3. THIS WEEK: After Monday’s game, they will be off this week. NEXT OPPONENT: A trip to state 7A power Niceville on Oct. 8.
13. North Miami Beach Chargers (5A, 2-1). The district game against No. 2 Miami Central was postponed until Oct. 23. THIS WEEK: A trip to the No. 3 team in Georgia, Lee County, on Oct. 1 for head coach Jeff Bertani and his team. NEXT OPPONENT: A district game on Oct. 8 at Miami Springs.
14. Davie Western Wildcats (8A, 3-2). After a tough 31-21 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas, head coach Adam Ratkevich and his team have plenty of confidence. THIS WEEK: Back to district competition and a trip to unbeaten Weston Cypress Bay on Oct. 1. NEXT OPPONENT: A big non-district home game against No. 19 Coconut Creek.
15. Deerfield Beach Bucks (8A, 3-2). For the second time this season, this team was shutout on the road – the latest time last Friday at Rockledge, 7-0. THIS WEEK: Another district game – at home against Monarch on Oct. 2. NEXT OPPONENT: After a week off, it’s home district game against Coral Springs on Oct. 14.
16. Miami Palmetto Panthers (8A, 3-1). It was a controversial win, but it was a win – 7-3 over No. 17 Christopher Columbus in a key 8A game. THIS WEEK: A Thursday, Sept. 30 game at home against Southwest Miami. NEXT OPPONENT: A Thursday, Oct. 7 home game against South Dade.
17. Miami Christopher Columbus Explorers (8A, 1-3). It was a tough 7-3 setback against No. 16 Miami Palmetto, but head coach Dave Dunn and his team will move on. THIS WEEK: A home game against Monsignor Pace on Oct. 1. NEXT OPPONENT: A home game against Southwest Miami on Oct. 8.
18. Doral Academy Firebirds (7A, 5-0). A huge 37-6 win over Miami Southridge kept head coach Eddie Delgado’s team unbeaten. THIS WEEK: A home district game on Friday, Oct. 1. NEXT OPPONENT: After a tremendous start to the season, they will enjoy the week off.
19. Coconut Creek Cougars (6A, 3-1). A convincing 27-7 district win over Plantation put this team into the Top 20 for the first time this year. THIS WEEK: A Friday home game against Pompano Beach Blanche Ely on Friday. NEXT OPPONENT: A huge non district game on Oct. 8 at No. 14 Western.
20. Florida Christian Patriots (3A, 4-0). With a convincing 33-14 win over previously unbeaten Somerset Academy Pembroke Pines, head coach Joe Burmeister and his team stays in the Top 20. THIS WEEK: After an impressive start, the team will take the week off. NEXT OPPONENT: They will travel to play Miami Westminster Academy on Oct. 8.
ALSO KEEP AN EYE ON: Cypress Bay (8A, 4-0), Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (4A, 2-2), Hollywood Avant Garde Academy (2A, 3-0), Hollywood South Broward (7A, 4-1), Miami Booker T. Washington (4A, 2-3), Miami-Dade Christian (2A, 2-2), Miami High (8A, 2-1), Miami LaSalle (4A, 4-0), Miramar (7A, 1-2), Parkland Douglas (8A, 2-1), Plantation Colonels (6A, 1-1), Somerset Academy Pembroke Pines (4A, 3-1), Somerset Silver Palms (3A, 4-0), Westland Hialeah (Independent, 4-0).
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