It’s hard to believe that we are now seven weeks into the football season here in south Florida and things are starting to take shape.

If you follow what we do over the course of a season, each week we adjust the rankings, and while many want to see their teams in the spotlight, the only ranking that truly counts is the one that comes out in late December.

This is just an opinion based on seeing teams and having a valid ground to compare.

Here is a look at 20 Miami-Dade Broward Week 7 teams:

1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5-1, 5A). LAST WEEK: The Raiders flexed some muscle in a dominating 50-15 win at previously unbeaten Orlando Bishop Moore. THIS WEEK: 10/4 – Hollywood Hills. NEXT GAME: @No. 3 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (FIU).

2. Miami Central (4-1, 3A). LAST WEEK: The Rockets took the week off. THIS WEEK: 10/4 – A major 3A matchup with rival No. 6 Miami Northwestern. NEXT GAME: 10/10 – Fort Lauderdale Stranahan.

3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (4-2, 1A). LAST WEEK: The Lions went on the road and beat Davie Western, 23-9. THIS WEEK:  10/5 - @ No.8 Coconut Creek Monarch. NEXT GAME: 10/11 – A home game at FIU against No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

4. Miami Norland (4-1, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Vikings opened district play with a 49-16 win against No. 20 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy. THIS WEEK: 10/4 - @Cocoa. NEXT GAME: 10/12 – No. 5 Plantation American Heritage.

5. Plantation American Heritage (3-3, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Patriots opened district play with a 35-0 win against previously unbeaten No. 11 Plantation. THIS WEEK: They will be off.  NEXT GAME: 10/12 - @ No. 4 Miami Norland.

6. Miami Northwestern (3-2, 3A). LAST WEEK: The Bulls cruised in the annual Soul Bowl against Miami Jackson, 48-6. THIS WEEK: 10/4 – A huge contest with No. 2 Miami Central. NEXT GAME: 10/11 @Key West.

7. Miami Southridge (5-1, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Spartans won the district title with a 17-14 win against No. 18 Homestead. THIS WEEK: 10/5 - @Miami Edison. NEXT GAME: 10/10 – Miami Southwest.

8. Coconut Creek Monarch (4-1, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Knights rolled to a Monday night win against Coral Springs, 52-0. THIS WEEK: 10/5 – No. 3 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. NEXT GAME: 10/18 - @ No.1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

9. Miami Christopher Columbus (3-2, 7A). LAST WEEK: The Explorers rolled to a district win against Homestead South Dade, 42-15. THIS WEEK: 10/3 - @Miami High. NEXT GAME: 10/10 – Coral Gables.

10. Sunrise Piper (5-0, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Bengals continued their hot starts with a 21-20 win against No. 17 Pompano Beach Blanche Ely. THIS WEEK: 10/4 - @Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. NEXT GAME: 10/10 – Fort Lauderdale.

11. Plantation (4-1, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Colonels lost for the first time this year to No. 5 Plantation American Heritage, 35-0. THIS WEEK: 10/5 - @ No. 15 Pompano Beach Blanche Ely. NEXT GAME: 10/10 – No. 20 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy.

12. Miami Palmetto (3-2, 7A). LAST WEEK: The Panthers beat Coral Gables in a district game, 35-0. THIS WEEK: 10/4 @Homestead South Dade. NEXT GAME: 10/17 – Miami Edison.

13. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (4-1, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Panthers had their game with Riviera Suncoast postponed due to Hurricane Helene. THIS WEEK: The team will take the week off. NEXT GAME: 10/10 - Lake Worth Dr. Joaquin Garcia.

14. Pembroke Pines West Broward (4-2, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Bobcats beat Miramar Everglades, 48-0. THIS WEEK: They will have the week off. NEXT GAME:  10/11 - @Miami Beach.

15. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (4-2, 5A). LAST WEEK: The Tigers bounced back in a big way, 70-0, against Deerfield Beach. THIS WEEK: 10/5 – No. 11 Plantation. NEXT GAME: 10/19 – The Broward Soul Bowl against No. 13 Fort Lauderdale Dillard.

16. Miami Booker T. Washington (3-2, 2A). LAST WEEK: The Tornadoes rebounded from their loss to Lakeland with a 62-7 win against Miami Springs. THIS WEEK: 10/4 - @Vero Beach. NEXT GAME: 10/10 - @ No. 18 Homestead.

17. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (3-2, 2A). LAST WEEK: The Chiefs won another nail biter against previously unbeaten and No. 19 Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian, 36-35. THIS WEEK: 10/4 - @Hallandale. NEXT GAME: 10/10 – Deerfield Beach.

18. Homestead (2-3, 6A). LAST WEEK: The two-time defending state runner up Broncos fell below the .500 mark with a 17-14 loss to district foe No. 7 Miami Southridge. THIS WEEK: 10/4 - @Doral Academy. NEXT GAME: 10/10 – No. 16 Miami Booker T. Washington.

19. Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (5-1, 2A). LAST WEEK: The Eagles lost for the first time this season – to No. 17 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, 36-35. THIS WEEK: 10/4 – Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace. NEXT GAME: 10/10 – Coconut Creek North Broward Prep.

20. Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (4-1, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Mavericks lost for the first time in a year in a half to No. 4 Miami Norland, 49-16. THIS WEEK: The team will take off after a successful start. NEXT GAME: 10/10 @ No. 11 Plantation.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Coconut Creek (1-3, 5A), Coral Gables (2-1, 7A), Davie Western (1-4, 7A), Deerfield Beach (1-3, 5A), Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (1-3, 3A), Doral Academy (2-2, 6A), Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (3-2, Independent), Hialeah (4-2, 4A), Hollywood South Broward (1-4, 6A), Homestead South Dade (2-3, 7A), Miami Archbishop Carroll (5-1, 1A), Miami Carol City (1-4, 2A), Miami High (3-2, 7A), Miami Edison (2-2, 1A), Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (3-2, 1A), Miami Immaculata LaSalle (3-1, 2A), Miami Jackson (2-3, 3A), Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (4-1, 7A), Miami Ransom Everglades (3-0, 2A), Miami Springs (3-1, 2A), Miami True North Classical Academy (2-2, 1A), Miramar (1-3, 5A), North Miami (3-3, 5A), North Miami Beach (2-3, 2A), Pembroke Pines Charter (3-1, 5A), Pembroke Pines Flanagan (1-3, 6A), Weston Cypress Bay (2-2, 7A).

WEEKLY RANKINGS

PRE-SEASON. https://larryblustein.com/news/miami-dade-broward-pre-season-top-20-st-thomas-begins-at-no-1

Week 2. https://larryblustein.com/news/miami-dade-broward-week-2-top-20-st-thomas-remains-on-top

Week 3. https://larryblustein.com/news/miami-dade-broward-week-3-top-20-surprises-shake-things-up

WEEK 4. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-4-things-are-getting-very-interesting

WEEK 5. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-5-local-rankings-change-from-week-to-week

WEEK 6. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-6-district-play-has-started-in-miami-dade-broward

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 54 years, we have spent more 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 (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..