By Dave Brousseau
FORT LAUDERDALE – With starting junior quarterback Josiah Sanchious sidelined with an injury, Coconut Creek coach Chris Yeargin spent the week preparing 5-foot-9 senior wide receiver Everett Butler as the fill in quarterback against Cardinal Gibbons on Thursday.
Apparently, the experiment worked out just fine.
Butler, who passed 140 yards and rushed for another 71 yards, directed the Cougars over the final 1:58 left in the game putting his team into position for a game-winning field goal.
Senior place-kicker Jonathan Hernandez then calmly kicked the game-winning field goal from 34-yards as time expired for a 17-14 victory.
“For me I took the pressure for my team and play out of position to help my team win,” said Butler. “I was confident on that last drive as we practiced the two-minute drill every day. Today was my first day playing quarterback in high school football.”
“He [Butler] has been with us the last four years and knows how to win,” said Yeargin. “I take my hat off to the kid as he had practiced at quarterback for three days.”
Creek led 14-0 in the half following a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown by Isaiah Calixte with 1:39 left in the first quarter and a 5-yard scoring pass from Butler to Javian Francois just before the half.
The Chiefs (2-2) rallied from a 14-point deficit with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Senior quarterback Tyler Chance threw scoring passes of 22 and 16 yards to Jesse Azar and Javian Norwood respectively that tied the game at 14 with 1:58 to play. Chance finished the game with 242 yards passing.
Then Butler put the Cougars (3-1) into position to win and relied on Hernandez for the game winner.
Hernadez kicked the game-winning extra-point in a 33-32 victory over True North in the season opener with zeroes on the clock.
He did it again against Gibbons.
“That’s my first game winning field goal,” said Hernandez. “I trusted the kick from my training and pressure wise. I was just thankful for the opportunity.”
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
By Dave Brousseau
DEERFIELD BEACH – For much of the first half the Deerfield Beach High football team was clinging to a one-point lead over Hollywood Hills.
Insert senior Colin Dixon as the Bucks third quarterback of the night that sparked a drastic momentum shift. Three possessions later Dixon led Deerfield to consecutive touchdowns (two to end the first half and another to open the second half).
That proved to be the significant difference as the Bucks rolled to a 47-12 victory on Wednesday to earn their fourth consecutive victory to open the 2026 season.
Excluding the COVID shortened season, the four-game winning streak is the first for Deerfield since 2018. The streak however has come against teams with a combined record of 4-8 this season.
Dixon rushed for 90 yards on nine carries scoring on runs of seven and nine yards at the end and beginning of the second half consecutively for a 27-6 lead.
“We were struggling a little bit putting the ball in the air and Colin runs the ball pretty well,” said Deerfield Beach coach J.T. Thomas. “He’s a bigger kid and can run the ball who is a senior leader and I’m happy for him.”
“I really have to give all the compliments to my guys,” said Dixon, a transfer from Somerset Key. “My line blocked for me and wouldn’t be where we are today. It takes a team at the end of the day. But it was them that got me through today.”
The Bucks starting quarterback Elijah Stitt finished his night with a pair of scoring passes, the last to junior Brenton Jackson for 42 yards for a 40-6 lead.
Deerfield hosts rival Blanche Ely on Friday at 6 p.m. The Spartans will be at Fort Lauderdale Stranahan on Thursday.
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
While it was going to be tough to match what Miami Christopher Columbus experienced the past two weeks – playing two national No. 1 teams, last Thursday’s game with unbeaten Miami Palmetto may have been more important than squaring off with Las Vegas Bishop Gorman and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
What head coach Dave Dunn and his Explorers had to face was a key district game against the Panthers – a team that beat them twice last year.
While many felt this would be the most important game so far this season, Columbus went about their business and came away with a convincing 34-7 win and put themselves in a great position to make the inaugural “Open Division” – which features Florida’s top eight programs.
With the win, this is a nationally rated program that can control their own destiny the rest of the way.
While that contest certainly was the spotlight game of the week in Miami-Dade and Broward County, it wasn’t the only game that had plenty of meaning in Week 4.
Here are some other matchups that had some interest:
Buford, Georgia 18, Miami Central 7. The Rockets lost for the first time this season, but on the road against a Top 5 national program, they made a legitimate run at winning the game as they have played two high-profile rode contests. Keep an eye on head coach Derrick Gibson and this team the rest of the way.
Coconut Creek 17, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 14. After losing their first game the week before against Dillard, head coach Chris Yeargin and the Cougars got back on the winning track, handing the Chiefs their second tough loss. Coconut Creek has a tough schedule but has the talent to make a deep playoff run.
Cooper City 41, Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson 27. How about head coach Art Taylor and his 4-0 Cowboys who continue to get better each week. This is a program that has plenty of talent and are well coached.
Miami Springs 53, Miami St. Brendan 7. When T.Y. Hilton took over his alma mater, there was a belief that the one-time NFL standout receiver would turn his alma mater around. So far – so good for the Golden Hawks who are a perfect 4-0!
Plantation American Heritage 15, Jacksonville Trinity Christian 14 (OT). If there was a game that the two-time defending state champion Patriots needed to win – it was this contest on the road in Jacksonville. Head Coach Mike Smith and his program, who have Lakeland on the road this week, came away with a key overtime victory!
Weston Cypress Bay 59, Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman 13. One of the 6A programs that everyone talked about during the off season has lived up to their hype as head coach Darrell Strong and the Lightning moved to 4-0 and can control their own destiny the rest of the way.
Here is the way the other area programs stacked up in Week 4:
Boca Raton Spanish River 48, Davie Nova 0
Davie Western 18, Pembroke Pines West Broward 14
Deerfield Beach 47, Hollywood Hills 12
Doral Academy 42, Miami High 7
Doral Ronald Reagan 24, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 8
Fort Lauderdale 35, West Palm Beach Forest Hill 0
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School 51, Parkland Douglas 6
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 49, Fort Lauderdale Dillard 0
Fort Pierce John Carroll 50, North Lauderdale Somerset Prep 0
Greenacres John I. Leonard 21. Pompano Beach 18
Hallandale 36, Coral Springs 6
Hawthorne 16, Miami Northwestern 12
Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy 28, Miramar Everglades 0
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 42, Miami True North Classical Academy 30
Hollywood South Broward 44, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 8
Homestead Somerset Silver Palms 36, Southwest Miami 0
Homestead South Dade 48, Homestead 0
Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic 26, Miami Palmer Trinity 7
Lake Worth Park Vista 41, Coral Springs Coral Glades 13
Miami Archbishop Carroll 28, Hialeah American 27
Miami Belen Jesuit 37, Pembroke Pines Somerset 13
Miami Booker T. Washington 38, Miami Edison 0
Miami Braddock 50, Miami Coral Reef 14
Miami Dr. Krop 24, Hialeah Gardens 22
Miami Ferguson 30, Miami Sunset 0
Miami Immaculata LaSalle 33, Miami Gulliver Prep 13
Miami Killian 40, North Miami 0
Miami Norland 33, Miramar 0
Miami Varela 28, South Miami 16
North Miami Beach 31, Miami Jackson 0
Pembroke Pines Charter 26, Coral Springs Taravella 7
South Plantation 17, Plantation 14
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy 49, Community School of Naples 12
Sunrise Piper 45, Pembroke Pines Flanagan 22
Valdosta Lowndes County 42, Pompano Beach Blanche Ely 0
West Palm Beach The King’s Academy 10, Miami Beach 9
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For the past 56 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..
From the opening-night loss to West Boca Raton to last week’s fifth consecutive setback against rival Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, the 2026 high school football season has gotten off to a rocky start for Plantation American Heritage.
Despite an overtime win against East St. Louis in the Broward County National Showcase, the two-time defending state champions have not gotten out of the gate the way they expected.
While there have been injuries and several positions to fill, the Patriots need to get things turned around quickly.
While the newly-formed “Open Division” slipping away with each loss, the eye on another state title is very much in play – and it all starts this evening on the road in Jacksonville against Trinity Christian (2-1) at 7 p.m.
With Lakeland coming up next week on the road, head coach Mike Smith and this program can change their fortunes with a victory against the Conquerors.
This season has been frustrating for a number of reasons, and while they struggled last year before winning it all for the second straight year, there is a belief that things can turn around this evening.
PLANTATION AMERICAN HERITAGE PATRIOTS
West Boca Raton, L 24-7
East St. Louis, Illinois, W 35-28 (OT)
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, L 46-27
9/11 - @Jacksonville Trinity Christian
9/18 - @Lakeland
9/25 – Miramar
10/9 – Miami Norland
10/16 – Miami True North Classical Academy
10/23 - @Hollywood McArthur
JACKSONVILLE TRINITY CHRISTIAN CONQUERORS
Jacksonville Ed White, L 42-40 (OT)
Jacksonville University Christian, W 14-8
Tallahassee Lincoln, W 48-28
9/11 – Plantation American Heritage
9/18 – Lake City Columbia
9/25 - @Jacksonville North Florida Educational Institute
10/2 - @Tampa Carrollwood Day
10/16 – Jacksonville Bolles
10/23 – Jacksonville Impact Christian Academy
10/30 - @Jacksonville Riverside
In addition to tonight’s matchup, here are the other games slated for today:
Community School of Naples at Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, 7
Miami Palmer Trinity at Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic, 6
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian at Clewiston, 7
THURSDAY
Buford, Georgia 18, Miami Central 7
Coconut Creek 17, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 14
Cooper City 41, Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson 27
Davie Western 18, Pembroke Pines West Broward 14
Doral Ronald Reagan 24, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 8
Fort Lauderdale 35, West Palm Beach Forest Hill 0
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School 51, Parkland Douglas 6
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 49, Fort Lauderdale Dillard 0
Greenacres John I. Leonard 21. Pompano Beach 18
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 42, Miami True North Classical Academy 30
Hawthorne 16, Miami Northwestern 12
Hollywood South Broward 44, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 8
Homestead Somerset Silver Palms 36, Southwest Miami 0
Homestead South Dade 48, Homestead 0
Miami Archbishop Carroll 28, Hialeah American 27
Miami Belen Jesuit 37, Pembroke Pines Somerset 13
Miami Booker T. Washington 38, Miami Edison 0
Miami Braddock 50, Miami Coral Reef 14
Miami Christopher Columbus 34, Miami Palmetto 7
Miami Dr. Krop 24, Hialeah Gardens 22
Miami Ferguson 30, Miami Sunset 0
Miami Immaculata LaSalle 33, Miami Gulliver Prep 13
Miami Killian 40, North Miami 0
Miami Norland 33, Miramar 0
Miami Varela 28, South Miami 16
Pembroke Pines Charter 26, Coral Springs Taravella 7
South Plantation 17, Plantation 14
Sunrise Piper 45, Pembroke Pines Flanagan 22
West Palm Beach The King’s Academy 10, Miami Beach 9
Weston Cypress Bay 59, Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman 13
WEDNESDAY
Hallandale 36, Coral Springs 6
Deerfield Beach 47, Hollywood Hills 12
Mater Academy 28, Everglades 0
NMB 31, Miami Jackson 0
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For the past 56 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..
Two weeks ago, Miami Christopher Columbus upset then No. 1 Las Vegas Bishop Gorman in a nationally televised ESPN 2 game as part of the elite Broward County National High School Football Showcase.
Last week, head coach Dave Dunn and his Explorers took the new national No. 1 team, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, down to the wire before losing, 31-24.
While it may not have the national following that the past two weeks have, this evening’s (7:00) contest against unbeaten Miami Palmetto may be the most important contest this program has played so far this season.
Losing twice to head coach Mike Manasco and the Panthers last season, this district game that has been moved to Southridge High, is something that could go a long way in determining which south Florida 6A power has the inside track in the newly formed “Open Division”.
While the 2-1 Explorers have received an amazing amount of publicity with its retooled team, which includes several elite prospects, the Panthers have remained in the background and have done no talking or providing any bulletin board material.
This is easily the Game of the Week – with both teams circling this date back when the game was announced.
Win or lose, this should be the first of two meetings!
MIAMI CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS EXPLORERS
Miami Southridge, W 45-7
Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, W 33-28
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 31-34
9/10 - @Miami Palmetto
9/18 - @Homestead South Dade
9/24 – Homestead
10/1 – Southwest Miami
10/9 - @Coral Gables
10/16 – GMAC Week
10/23 - @Miami Northwestern
MIAMI PALMETTO PANTHERS
Miami Killian, W 35-0
Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy, W 42-7
Miami Southridge, W 28-6
9/10 – Miami Christopher Columbus
9/18 – Coral Gables
9/25 – Southwest Miami
10/9 – Homestead
10/16 – GMAC WEEK
10/22 - @Homestead South Dade
10/30 - @Naples
Coconut Creek at Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, 7. With both teams coming off close losses last week, this becomes a very important game. The Chiefs knocked off the Cougars on the road last season. Both programs have solid defenses and have been tested so far.
COCONUT CREEK COUGARS
Plantation, W 48-0
Miami True North Classical Academy, W 33-32
Fort Lauderdale Dillard, L 25-20
9/10 - @Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons
9/18 - @Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson
10/2 – Coconut Creek Monarch
10/9 - @Pembroke Pines Flanagan
10/16 – Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy
10/24 – Sunrise Piper
10/30 – Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna
CARDINAL GIBBONS CHIEFS
Miramar – W 14-7
Hollywood McArthur, W 47-41 (2 OT)
Coconut Creek Monarch, L 20-13
9/10 – Coconut Creek
9/18 – Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna
9/25 – Plantation
10/1 – Fort Lauderdale Dillard
10/9 - @Fort Lauderdale Stranahan
10/16 - @Pembroke Pines Flanagan
10/30 – Sunrise Piper
Miami Central (2-0) at Buford, Georgia (2-0), 7:30. While the Rockets won on the road in California against a solid program, this will be the biggest test of the season against one of the best teams in the country. Being on the road will be a huge challenge, but the Rockets are up for the challenge.
MIAMI CENTRAL ROCKETS
Orange Lutheran, California, W, 23-22
Miami St. Brendan, W 43-7
9/10 - @Buford, Georgia
9/19 – Miami Jackson
9/25 - @Miami Northwestern
10/3 - @Miami Springs
10/8 -Key West
10/16 – GMAC Week
10/22 – North Miami Beach
10/30 - @Miami Carol City
BUFORD WOLVES
Gainesville, Georgia, W 39-19
Mallard Creek, North Carolina, W 41-7
9/10 – Miami Central
9/18 - @Grayson
9/25 - @Seckinger
10/9 - @Dacula
10/16 – Collins Hill
10/23 - @Mill Creek
10/30 – Discovery
11/6 – Central Gwinnett
In addition to tonight’s matchups, here are the other games slated for today:
Coral Springs Taravella at Pembroke Pines Charter, 6
Davie Nova at Boca Raton Spanish River, 7
Doral Ronald Reagan at Hialeah Miami Lakes, 3:30
Greenacres John I. Leonard at Pompano Beach, 7
Hialeah American at Miami Archbishop Carroll, 3:30
Homestead South Dade vs. Homestead (Harris), 7
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan at Hollywood South Broward, 6:30
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas at Fort Lauderdale Dillard, 7
Lake Worth Park Vista at Coral Springs Coral Glades, 7
Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson at Cooper City, 7
Miami Braddock vs. Miami Coral Reef (Tropical), 7:30
Miami Dr. Krop at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30
Miami Edison vs. Miami Booker T. Washington (Traz), 3
Miami Gulliver Prep at Miami Immaculata LaSalle, 7
Miami High at Doral Academy, 7
Miami Killian vs. North Miami (Ives), 3:30
Miami Northwestern at Hawthorne, 7
Miami Springs at Miami St. Brendan, 7
Miami Sunset at Miami Ferguson, 3:30
Miami True North Classical Academy at Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, 6:30
Miami Varela vs. South Miami (Tropical), 3:30
Miramar vs. Miami Norland (Traz), 7
Parkland Stoneman Douglas at Fort Lauderdale NSU University School, 7
Pembroke Flanagan at Sunrise Piper, 7
Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy at Miami Belen, 7
Pembroke Pines West Broward at Davie Western, 7
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely at Valdosta Lowndes, Georgia 7
South Plantation vs. Plantation (PAL), 7
Southwest Miami at Homestead Somerset Silver Palms, 7
Weston Cypress Bay vs. Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (Milander), 7
West Palm Beach Forest Hill vs. Fort Lauderdale (Lockhart), 7
West Palm Beach The King’s Academy vs. Miami Beach (Memorial), 7
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Community School of Naples at Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, 7
Miami Palmer Trinity at Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic, 6
Plantation American Heritage at Jacksonville Trinity Christian, 7
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian at Clewiston, 7
WEDNESDAY:
Hallandale 36, Coral Springs 6
Deerfield Beach 47, Hollywood Hills 12
Mater Academy 28, Everglades 0
NMB 31, Miami Jackson 0
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
For the past 56 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..