When the 2025 high school football season began, the No. 17 Miami Norland Vikings and first year head coach Tyronn Johnson were picked as a team that would be a force in 4A.
At the same time, Miami Christopher Columbus and veteran head coach Dave Dunn were a program that would win the district, be a top seed in the region and once again pose a problem for defending state champion Venice in 7A.
Fast forward two months, and as we begin Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) Week, these two state powers will clash at 6 p.m. at Columbus in a game that should be a featured contest.
But instead of this being one of those games that everyone wanted to attend to see two of the best, both programs head into this matchup at 3-4. You heard it right – when the Vikings and Explorers kick things off, it will be a battle to reach the .500 mark in Game 8, which is almost unheard of from these two powers.
But while this has not been the best of seasons for either team, they are both very much alive in the race for a post-season appearance, giving both programs another shot to rebound when it counts.
MIAMI NORLAND VIKINGS
Lake Mary, L 30-29
Miami Carol City, W 42-13
Homestead South Dade, W 49-3
Miami Northwestern, L 49-21
Delray Beach Atlantic, L 43-20
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, L 21-14
Cocoa, W 28-6
Plantation American Heritage, L 42-21
10/16 - @Miami Christopher Columbus
10/24 - Plantation
MIAMI CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS EXPLORERS
Miami Southridge, L 28-21
Olney Our Lady of Good Counsel, Maryland, L 14-7
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, L 42-7
Miami Palmetto, L 24-21
Miami Northwestern, L 41-6
Homestead South Dade, W 42-34
Miami High, W 50-0
Coral Gables, W 45-7
10/16 - Miami Norland
10/24 – Miami True North Classical Academy
In addition to the Vikings and Explorers, here is a look at other Thursday games in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties:
THURSDAY, October 16
GMAC WEEK
North Miami vs. Booker T. Washington (Traz Powell), 7
Hialeah vs. Miami Killian (Milander), 7
Miami Dr. Krop vs. Miami Ferguson (Ives Park), 7
Coral Gables at Miami Beach (Memorial Stadium), 7
Miami Coral Reef vs. Miami Edison (Tropical), 7
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman at Miami Carol City (Betty T. Ferguson Stadium), 7
Miami Jackson at Doral Ronald Reagan, 3:30
Hialeah American at Homestead, (Harris Field), 3:30
OTHER GAMES
Boca Raton Spanish River at Doral Academy, 7
Coral Springs Coral Glades at Coral Springs Taravella, 6:30
Deerfield Beach at Delray Atlantic, 6:30
No. 11 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons at Boca Raton, 6:30
Miami Archbishop Carroll at Somerset South Homestead, 7
Miami Gulliver Prep at Miami Belen Jesuit, 7
Miami Ransom Everglades at Fort Lauderdale NSU University School, 6
Miramar at No. 9 Pembroke Pines West Broward (Flanagan), 7
Miramar Everglades at Pembroke Pines Charter, 6
North Lauderdale Somerset Prep at Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy, 7
Oakland Park Northeast at Riviera Beach Suncoast, 6:30
FRIDAY, October 17
GMAC WEEK
Hialeah Gardens at Miami Braddock, 3:30
Miami High at Miami Springs (Milander), 7
No. 2 Miami Northwestern vs. No. 8 Miami Palmetto (Traz Powell), 7:30pm
North Miami Beach at Homestead South Dade (Harris Field), 7
Southwest Miami at Miami Felix Varela, 3:30
OTHER GAMES
Boynton Beach Somerset Canyons vs. No. 14 Miami True North (Tropical), 7:30
Coconut Creek North Broward Prep at Coral Springs Charter, 7
Cooper City at South Plantation, 7
Coral Springs at Parkland Douglas, 7
Davie Western at Weston Cypress Bay, 7
Fort Lauderdale at No. 13 Hollywood McArthur, 7
No. 16 Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian at Boca Raton St. Andrew’s Academy, 6
No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas at No. 15 Coconut Creek Monarch (Coconut Creek), 7
No. 7 Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy at Lakeland Lake Gibson, 7
Hollywood South Broward at Davie Nova, 7
Homestead Everglades Prep at Miami Palmer Trinity, 4
Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson at Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (Dillard), 7
Miami Florida Christian at Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy, 7
Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace at Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, 7
Miami St. Brendan at No. 12 Miami Immaculata La Salle, 7:30
Orlando Lake Highland Prep at Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, 6
Pembroke Pines Flanagan at Hallandale, 7
No. 10 Plantation American Heritage at No. 20 Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy 7
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely at No. 19 Plantation (PAL), 7
Somerset Silver Palms at St. Petersburg Hollins, 7
Pompano Beach at Hollywood Hills, 4
SATURDAY, October 18
GMAC
No. 5 Miami Southridge vs. No. 4 Miami Central (Traz Powell), 7
WEDNESDAY, October 15
GMAC WEEK
Miami Coral Park 12, South Miami 8
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
For the past 55 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..