While the rest of Florida still has some impressive teams and players, Miami-Dade and Broward County remain at the top – statewide and nationally.

When we last left the 2022 season, Miami Central and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas finished the year unbeaten – and the Rockets brought home their fourth straight state title with a bonus of sharing a national crown.

As this week kicks off the much-anticipated season, there are the same programs who are still near the top – while a few new faces pop up into the elite category.

Now in our 53^rd year of ranking teams and players, the assignment is simple: produce and stay where you are, fall off and you will drop. There are far too many quality programs who have worked hard to improve.

Remember, this is only a starting point, and while there will be few changes, the Top 20 programs will be judged every week, and those teams who continue to win will be in the spotlight – locally, statewide and nationally.

In the next 18 weeks, from August to the last week of December, things will indeed change and when we come out with the final team rankings, you will see that the process works, and it doesn’t matter what position you start out at, where you end is what everyone will remember.

Here is a look at Week 1 Miami-Dade/Broward Top 20.

1. Miami Central (2M, 14-0). THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.

2. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3M, 14-0). THIS WEEK: Bellflower, St. John Bosco. NEXT WEEK: Fort Myers.

3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1M, 13-1). THIS WEEK: Baltimore St. Frances Academy. NEXT WEEK: at No. 9 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.

4. Miami Christopher Columbus (4M, 14-1). THIS WEEK: at Clearwater Academy International. NEXT WEEK: Miami Killian.

5. Homestead (3M, 11-3). THIS WEEK: No. 13 Miami Palmetto. NEXT WEEK: at South Dade.

6. Miami Norland (2M, 9-3). THIS WEEK: at Lakeland. NEXT WEEK: at Miami Carol City.

7. Plantation American Heritage (2M, 13-2). THIS WEEK: St. John’s, Washington, D.C. NEXT WEEK: No. 25 Jacksonville Trinity Christian

8. Davie Western (4M, 7-4). THIS WEEK: Milton, Georgia. NEXT WEEK: Bye.

9. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2M, 10-2). THIS WEEK: Cardinal Gibbons, Raleigh, North Carolina. NEXT WEEK: No. 3 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.

10. Miami Booker T. Washington (2M, 9-3). THIS WEEK: Miami Killian. NEXT WEEK: Miami Edison.

11. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3M, 10-1). THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: at Weston Cypress Bay.  

12. Miramar (3M, 10-2). THIS WEEK: Highland Springs, Virginia. NEXT WEEK: Bye.

13. Miami Palmetto (4M, 6-6). THIS WEEK: at No. 5 Homestead. NEXT WEEK: at St. Petersburg Lakewood.

14. Plantation (3M, 7-4). THIS WEEK: Hallandale. NEXT WEEK: at Fort Lauderdale Stranahan.

15. Miami Northwestern (2M, 6-5). THIS WEEK: at Vero Beach. NEXT WEEK: at Miami Jackson.

16. Miami Southridge (3M, 7-5). THIS WEEK: at Miami Jackson. NEXT WEEK: Miami Dr. Krop.

17. Coconut Creek (3M, 6-5). THIS WEEK: at Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. NEXT WEEK: at Gainesville, Georgia.

18. Coconut Creek Monarch (4M, 9-3). THIS WEEK: Cedar Grove, Georgia. NEXT WEEK: Delray Beach Atlantic.

19. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3M, 6-5). THIS WEEK: Fort Lauderdale Stranahan. NEXT WEEK: at Naples.

20. Pembroke Pines West Broward (4M, 6-5). THIS WEEK: Weston Cypress Bay. NEXT WEEK: at Daytona Beach Mainland.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH: Coconut Creek (3M, 6-5), Coconut Creek North Broward Prep (2M, 5-5), Cooper City (4M, 2-8), Coral Gables (4M, 5-4), Coral Springs (4M. 4-6), Coral Springs Coral Glades (4M, 2-8), Coral Springs Taravella (4M, 1-9), Deerfield Beach (3M, 3-8), Doral Academy (4M, 7-5), Fort Lauderdale (3M, 6-5), Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (2M, 8-3), Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest (2M, 8-3), Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (2M, 4-6), Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (1M, 6-2), Hallandale (2M, 2-8), Hialeah (3M, 4-5), Hialeah American (2M, 2-8), Hollywood Avant Garde (1M, 6-4). Hollywood Hills (3M, 4-6), Hollywood McArthur (3M, 5-5), Hollywood South Broward (3M, 5-5), Miami Archbishop Carroll (1M, 8-3), Miami Belen Jesuit (3M, 5-6), Homestead South Dade (4M, 2-7), Miami Braddock (Independent, 8-3), Miami Carol City (2M, 5-6), Miami Coral Park (Independent, 5-5), Miami Coral Reef (GMAC Independent Champion, 9-2), Miami Dr. Krop (3M, 7-5), Miami Edison (2M, 5-5), Miami Ferguson (Independent, 5-5), Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (2M, 5-5), Miami Gulliver Prep (2M, 5-5), Miami Immaculata LaSalle (2M, 4-6), Miami Ransom Everglades, (Independent, 6-3), Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (4M, 5-5), Miami Palmer Trinity (1M, 7-6), Miami St. Brendan (2M, 7-4), Miami True North Classical Academy (1M, 8-4), Miami Westminster Christian (1M, 6-3), Miramar Everglades (3M, 4-6), North Miami (3M, 5-6), North Miami Beach (2M, 4-6), Oakland Park Northeast (2M, 0-9), Parkland Douglas (8-4, 4M), Pembroke Pines Charter (3M, 6-4), Pembroke Pines Flanagan (4M, 2-8), Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (4M, 6-5), Pembroke Pines West Broward (4M, 6-5), Pompano Beach (Independent, 5-5), Somerset Silver Palms (2M, 3-6), South Miami (2M, 5-4), South Plantation (3M, 7-3), Sunrise Piper (3M, 5-4), Westland Hialeah (2M, 4-6), Weston Cypress Bay 4M, 6-5).

TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UP TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: August 22, 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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As we head toward the much-anticipated start of the 2023 high school football season this week, there are some programs who are taking a step back this Monday.

There was a time when a two-quarter fall jamboree was nothing more than a chance to get the rust off from a long off-season.

Playing just two quarters was a chance to see everyone, and no matter what happened, nobody really judged these teams for the upcoming season.

At a time when the internet captures just about everything that is being done – during the season and in the off-season, there are now kickoff classics that are being played, and no matter what anyone wants to tell you, they are being judged on what happens in this “exhibition game”.

From last Wednesday to this past Saturday night, teams from south Florida too part in these events with the idea of showcasing what they have on their roster for a season that starts this week.

Unlike the “old days”, what happens in these games is certainly an indication of what lies ahead. With so much going on during the off-season, working on your game – or craft as they refer to it now – is non-stop, and spring football as well as padded camps, scrimmages and other competitions to be in shape and never stray too far.

As pre-season rankings have started to come out – some valid and others just following the leader – programs are now being judged on anything they take part in.

Last week, schools such as top-rated Miami Central (2M, 14-0), Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1M, 13-1), Plantation American Heritage (2M, 13-2), Miami Norland (2M, 9-3), Homestead (3M, 11-3), Davie Western (4M, 7-4) and Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2M, 10-2) were being judged on what they did in their kickoff classics – while other programs wanted to show why they belong in the conversation.

Last year, Pompano Beach Blanche Ely finished 10-1 and came back this season ready to make that next step. Miramar (3M, 10-2), Miami Booker T. Washington (2M, 9-3), Miami Northwestern (2M, 6-5), Miami Palmetto (4M (6-6), Plantation (3M, 7-4) and Miami Southridge (3M, 7-5) wanted to use this past week as a tool to see what needs to be worked on for an upcoming season that will be competitive to say the least.

The kickoff classics were also a chance for programs on the bubble to start making fans believers. Programs like Coconut Creek Monarch (4M, 9-3), Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3M – 6-5) and Coconut Creek (3M, 6-5).

NOT JUDGING – BUT….

After traveling to Ocala to play Vanguard, the defending national champion Miami Central Rockets looked like one of the best defensive teams in Florida, but offensively, there is work to be done before a trip to play national power Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.

Chaminade-Madonna, Norland, Homestead and Western all made a statement like they are ready to play and make that run for a coveted state title - while Miramar, Miami Booker T. Washington, Miami Palmetto, Plantation and Miami Southridge wanted to use this past week as a tool to see what needs to be worked on for an upcoming season that will be competitive to say the least.

While they only had the chance to play less than a quarter, American Heritage showed that before this coming Saturday’s opener in the Broward National Football Showcase, they will need to tighten some things. So will Cardinal Gibbons, Blanche Ely, Northwestern, and Coconut Creek Monarch.

TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: August 21, 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..

Miami-Dade/South Broward Spring Top 20. https://larryblustein.com/news/miami-dade-south-broward-spring-top-20

When their comeback fell short in the 2M state title game against Miami Central last December, Mike Smith and his Plantation American Heritage Patriots quickly turned their attention to the 2023 season.

With a number of key spots to fill in the off-season, this program continued to reload and perform at a level they have for over the past two decades.

When head coach Tim “Ice” Harris and his Miami Booker T. Washington Tornadoes were derailed in the second round of the 2M state playoffs, there was a feeling that the job this program set out to do at the start of the year, was not complete.

Both the Patriots and Tornadoes have high hopes for this season and will start things off in a kickoff classic tonight (7:30) at Traz Powell Stadium as each team gets a look at the players who will indeed fuel the 2023 season.

Is it out of the question to think this could possibly be a 2M state title game preview?

AMERICAN HERITAGE 2022 RESULTS (13-2)

Valdosta Lowndes County, W 38-20

Los Alamitos, California, W 56-27

Lakeland Lake Gibson, W 42-14

Belle Glade Glades Central, W 56-0

Chaminade-Madonna, L 42-34

Cardinal Gibbons, W 21-2

Western, W 42-18

Stranahan, W 24-0

Naples, W 35-17

Hallandale, W 63-0

STATE PLAYOFFS

Inlet Grove, W 43-7

Boynton Beach, W 49-0

Cardinal Gibbons, W 31-20

Jacksonville Bolles, W 21-14

2M STATE TITLE GAME

Miami Central, L 38-31

2023 SCHEDULE

9/1 – Jacksonville Trinity Christian

9/8 – Belle Glade Glades Central

9/15 – Chaminade-Madonna

9/29 – Cardinal Gibbons

10/6 – Western

10/13 – Stranahan

10/20 – Naples

10/27 - Hallandale

MIAMI BOOKER T. WASHINGTON 2022 RESULTS (9-3)

Miami Killian, W 48-14

Miami Edison, W 28-20

Miami Central, L 36-19

Miami LaSalle, W 41-19

Miami Carol City, W 26-6

Miami Jackson, W 36-15

Miami Norland, 41-23

Miami Northwestern, L 26-7

Miami Southridge, W 35-21

Westland Hialeah, W 35-8

STATE PLAYOFFS

Miami Carol City, W 27-12

Miami Norland, L 14-7

2023 SCHEDULE

8/26 – Miami Killian

8/31 – Miami Edison

9/8 – Miami Central

9/14 – Miami LaSalle

9/22 – Miami Carol City

9/28 – Miami Jackson

10/5 – Miami Norland

10/12 – Miami Northwestern

10/20 – GMAC WEEK

10/26 – Westland Hialeah

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

Miami Florida Christian 21, Southwest Miami 0

Miramar 21, Miami Edison 0

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Davie Western 47, Parkland Douglas 2

Dillard 16, Deerfield Beach 0

Hollywood McArthur 13, Davie Nova 0 (Ended in 2nd Quarter)

Homestead 23, Clearwater Academy International 21

Miami Belen Jesuit 30, Miramar Everglades 6 (Called at Half)

Miami High 26, Miami Ferguson 6 (Called at half).

Miami Killian 16, Weston Cypress Bay 6

Miami Palmetto 35, Doral Academy 3

Pembroke Pines West Broward 28, South Plantation 0 (Called at Half)

Plantation 45, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 45

FRIDAY, August 18

Coconut Creek Monarch at Coconut Creek, 7

Coconut Creek North Broward Prep at Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy, 7

Coral Springs Taravella at Cooper City, 6

Fort Lauderdale NSU University School at SW Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, 7

Fort Lauderdale Stranahan at Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace, 7:30

Hialeah American at Harmony, 7

Hialeah Miami-Lakes at Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (Milander), 7:30

Lauderdale Lakes at Coral Springs Coral Glades, 7

Marathon at Miami Varela, 3:30

Miami Archbishop Carroll at Miami Gulliver Prep, 3:30

Miami Braddock at Hollywood Hills, 4

Miami Carol City at Miami Southridge, 7:30

Miami Central at Ocala Vanguard, 7

Miami Dr. Krop at Pembroke Pines Flanagan, 7

Miami Norland at Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, 7

Miami Springs at Hollywood South Broward, 6

Miami Sunset at Lasalle 3:30

Miami True North Academy at South Miami (Tropical), 7

North Miami at Immokalee, 7

North Miami Mourning at Miami Beach, 3:30

Oakland Park Northeast at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30

Somerset vs. Hollywood Avant Garde (Ansin Park), 7

Somerset Pembroke Pines at Coral Shores, 7

Somerset Silver Palms at Homestead South Dade (Harris Field), 7:30

TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: August 18, 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..

It’s been nearly one year since Chaminade-Madonna traveled to Traz Powell Stadium to take on Miami Northwestern.

It was a matchup that many had looked forward to as two of south Florida’s powerhouses were getting together and putting it on the line.

After the Thursday meeting was called because of Lightning, the contest was moved two days later, and while it wasn’t the same atmosphere as it would have been on that Thursday, the Lions came out and took it to the Bulls and never looked back.

Beating them in every phase of the game, Chaminade-Madonna took home a convincing 42-14 and used it as a springboard to yet another state title – beating Clearwater Central Catholic in the 1M title state championship game in Tallahassee.

Tonight (7:00), while it’s just a kickoff classic, the Lions once again return to Traz Powell Stadium.

While the Bulls have a tough opener on the road in Vero Beach, and the Lions will faceoff with national powerhouse St. Frances Academy on ESPN, this game means more than people think. It's an opportunity for Chaminade and head coach Dameon Jones to show why they are favorites to win another state crown – while first year head coach Michaelee Harris is out to get his alma mater off to a great start in his first game.

In addition to this game, there are other quality matchups tonight to get the year under way:

CHAMINADE-MADONNA 2022 (13-1)

St. John’s Washington DC, W 35-28

Fort Lauderdale Dillard, W 49-28

Miami Northwestern, W 42-14

Miami Gulliver Prep, W 28-0

Deerfield Somerset Academy Key, W 90-0

Hollywood Avant Garde, W 63-0

Boca Raton St. John Paul II, W 63-0

Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast, W, 45-6

STATE PLAYOFFS

Avant Garde, W 48-0

West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman, W 49-16

Miami True North Classical Academy, W, 56-0

Clearwater Central Catholic, W 49-14 (1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP)

GEICO BOWL, LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, L 49-14

LIONS 2023

8/26 – St. Frances Academy, Maryland

9/1 – Cardinal Gibbons

9/8 – Bergen, Catholic. New Jersey

9/15 – Plantation American Heritage

9/21 – Miami Central

9/29 – Coconut Creek

10/7 – Dillard

10/21 – Hollywood Avant Garde Academy

10/26 – Boca Raton St. John Paul II

11/3 – St. Petersburg Lakewood

MIAMI NORTHWESTERN 2022 (6-5)

Venice, W 32-26

Miami Jackson, W 44-0

Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, L 42-14

Miami Edison, W 42-22

Miami Christopher Columbus, L 23-19

Miami Central, L 42-7

Miami Booker T. Washington, W 26-7

Homestead, L 44-28

Miami Immaculata LaSalle, W 44-0

STATE PLAYOFFS

Miami Gulliver Prep, W 39-0

Miami Central, L 34-30

BULLS 2023

8/25 – Vero Beach

8/31 – Miami Jackson

9/9 – Venice

9/14 – Miami Edison

9/21 – Miami Christopher Columbus

9/29 – West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman

10/6 – Miami Central

10/12 – Miami Booker T. Washington

10/27 – Miami LaSalle Immaculata

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

Miami Florida Christian 21, Southwest Miami 0

Miramar 21, Miami Edison 0

TONIGHT’S GAMES

Clearwater Academy International, at Homestead (Harris), 7

Coral Springs Taravella at Cooper City, 6

Davie Western at Parkland Douglas, 6

Deerfield Beach at Dillard, 6:30

Greenacres John I. Leonard at Palm Glades, 3:30

Hollywood McArthur at Davie Nova, 7

Miami Ferguson at Miami High (Curtis), 7

Miami Killian at Weston Cypress Bay, 7

Miami Palmetto at Doral Academy, 7

Miramar Everglades at Miami Belen Jesuit, 7

Plantation at Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, 7

South Plantation at Pembroke Pines West Broward (Everglades), 7

FRIDAY, August 18

Coconut Creek Monarch at Coconut Creek, 7

Coconut Creek North Broward Prep at Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy, 7

Fort Lauderdale NSU University School at SW Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, 7

Fort Lauderdale Stranahan at Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace, 7:30

Hialeah American at Harmony, 7

Hialeah Miami-Lakes at Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (Milander), 7:30

Lauderdale Lakes at Coral Springs Coral Glades, 7

Marathon at Miami Varela, 3:30

Miami Archbishop Carroll at Miami Gulliver Prep, 3:30

Miami Booker T. Washington at Plantation American Heritage, 7

Miami Braddock at Hollywood Hills, 4

Miami Carol City at Miami Southridge, 7:30

Miami Central at Ocala Vanguard, 7

Miami Dr. Krop at Pembroke Pines Flanagan, 7

Miami Norland at Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, 7

Miami Springs at Hollywood South Broward, 6

Miami Sunset at Lasalle 3:30

Miami True North Academy at South Miami (Tropical), 7

North Miami at Immokalee, 7

North Miami Mourning at Miami Beach, 3:30

Oakland Park Northeast at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30

Somerset vs. Hollywood Avant Garde (Ansin Park), 7

Somerset Pembroke Pines at Coral Shores, 7

Somerset Silver Palms at Homestead South Dade (Harris Field), 7:30

TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: August 16, 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..

Transfer Season Heats Up In Miami-Dade & Broward. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-heats-up-in-miami-dade-broward

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..

Miramar, Miami Edison Get Things Going This Evening. https://larryblustein.com/news/miramar-miami-edison-get-things-going-this-evening