If south Florida wanted the spotlight shining on them in the first week of the 2023 high school football season, they certainly lived up to all that pre-season billing.
Whether it was at games throughout the region and state – or at the second annual Broward County National Football Showcase – teams and players showed why south Florida will once again rule the state – with many teams sending a valuable message.
Speaking about the showcase, once again that national attending was evident, especially on Saturday when ESPN and national coverage saw head coach Dameon Jones and his Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna Lions exploded in the second half and beat national power Baltimore St. Frances Academy, 35-14.
Even though St. Thomas Aquinas saw its nearly two-year winning streak come to an end in a 20-7 setback to Bellflower, California powerhouse St. John Bosco, the Raiders and head coach Roger Harriott found out what was needed to make an amazing run at winning another state title.
One of the programs who has had a rough week is head coach Mike Smith and his Plantation American Heritage Plantation, where one of its players nearly lost his young life last week, only to be saved in this life changing evening.
American Heritage rallied and beat St. John’s Prep School of Washington, D.C., capping off the showcase with a 45-20 win.
Other showcase games saw Davie Western and head coach Adam Ratkevich slosh their way to a 14-10 win over Georgia power Milton. Speaking of Georgia, Coconut Creek’s Monarch High and head coach Calvin Davis put it all together in a 50-42 win over Cedar Creek.
Head Coach Matt Dubuc watched his Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs come from behind to beat Cardinal Gibbons of Raliegh, North Carolina, 28-21.
Rounding out the 14-team event were the Miramar Patriots as head coach A.J. Scott and his Patriots hung tough with former Miramar standout Loren Johnson and his Virginia power Highland Springs – losing, 20-14.
NORLAND GETS EVERYONE’S ATTENTION
All off-season, there had been talk that Miami Norland and head coach Darryl Heidelburg would be a team that would not go easy in Class 2M.
On Friday night the Vikings opened the season in a place where the home team had won 95 percent of its home games in the past decade – and were coming off an unbeaten 4S state championship season.
The Vikings put it on the Dreadnaughts, scoring early and often and came home 1-0 with a convincing 48-34 decision.
OTHER LOCAL POWERS START THEIR SEASON OFF
As Norland and the showcase teams had plenty of the spotlight, and for good reason, other state-rated Miami-Dade and Broward schools also had their opportunity to get off to a 1-0 start.
Defending 4A state champion Miami Christopher Columbus and head coach Dave Dunn were on the road and beat a very sound Clearwater Academy International squad, 28-21
One of the programs that everyone will be watching, head coach Tim “Ice” Harris and his Miami Booker T. Washington Tornadoes beat Miami Killian 31-7.
Coach Mike Manasco and his Miami Palmetto Panthers showed how good they will be this season, coming away with a 13-12 victory at defending 3M state runner up Homestead.
Miami Southridge has built into a contender, and head coach Pierre Senatus and his Spartans rolled to a 43-14 against Miami Jackson.
Plantation and veteran head coach Steve Davis is one of those teams that a lot of people are sleeping om this season, but the Colonel’s 51-0 win against Hallandale will get the attention of many in 3M.
It was a tough opening for first year Miami Northwestern head coach Michaelee Harris, who saw his Bulls commit way too many penalties in a 19-13 road loss to Vero Beach 19.
WE ARE UNDER WAY
In addition to those games, south Florida was indeed busy on Week 1. Despite No. 1 Miami Central having the first week off as they get set to play at top-rated Las Vegas Bishop Gorman later this, there were some teams that jumped out to a 1-0 start.
Check out the winners:
Coconut Creek 6, Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson 0 (forfeit)
Coconut Creek North Broward Prep 46, Somerset Academy 13
Davie Nova 18, Pembroke Pines Flanagan 12
Delray Beach American Heritage 43, Miami Westminster Christian 34
Fort Lauderdale 20, Deerfield Beach 0
Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy 41, Pine Crest 0
Fort Lauderdale Dillard 26, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 16
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School 36, Coral Springs Charter 0
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy 41, Orlando Lake Highland Prep 2
Hialeah American 25, Coral Gables 6
Hollywood McArthur 26, Parkland Douglas 15
Hollywood South Broward 46, Doral Academy 0
Homestead South Dade 50, Miami Carol City 0
Miami Archbishop Carroll 42, Somerset Silver Palms 21
Miami Braddock 24, Mourning 14
Miami Dr. Krop 28, Miami High 14
Miami Edison 17, Hialeah 6
Miami Ferguson 47, Hialeah Gardens 0
Miami Gulliver Prep 17, North Miami 6
Miami Immaculata LaSalle 30, Palm Glades 0
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman 47, Hialeah Gardens 0
Miami Palmer Trinity 43, SmartEn Sports Academy 0
Miami Springs 13, Miami Beach 6
Miami St. Brendan 42, Miami Sunset 0
Miami True North Classical Academy 42, Coral Shores 7
Miami Varela 7, Everglades Prep 6
Miramar Everglades 35, Taravella 0
Niceville 29, North Miami Beach 0
Pembroke Pines Charter 42, Oakland Park Northeast 0
Pompano Beach 14, Marathon 13
Somerset South Homestead 20, Miami Florida Christian 7
South Miami 28, Miami Coral Reef 6
South Plantation 20, Coral Glades 14
Sunrise Piper 48, Cooper City 0
West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman 42, Monsignor Pace 17
Weston Cypress Bay 20, Pembroke Pines West Broward 7
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: August 28, 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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For the past 53 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields throughout the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. 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..