There was a time when you played Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson, you knew that the Cobras were going to give you four solid quarters.

Over the past decade, this once dominating football program has not been a force among south Florida programs. But that is changing.

Enter Kevin Claxton. A one-time all-state performer for the Cobras, he came back home to get this team back to where they were before he left to play and eventually coach at the University of Wisconsin.

What has happened this season may not be big news for some. But for the players, coaches, fans and administrators the 4-6 record was good enough for a second-place finish and a spot in the post season, which begins in two weeks.

The hard work put in has added up, turning around a 1-9 season.

Among the prospects who have helped point the Cobras in a positive direction include:

2026 - Deshawn Blair, who had a three Interception and a three touchdown game (2 pick 6’s) with over 220 yards in interception return yardage.

2027 - Tylin Brown is a playmaking linebacker/running back that will certainly make huge strides in the off season.

2027 - Demarcus Deroche is a big and fast athlete who has the potential to be a top 10 recruit. He is a three-sport athlete that will blow up this spring. He came over from Key West and is a two-way starter.

2027 - Devon Germielle has been the Cobras’ top pass rusher, coming up with 11 quarterback sacks, two interceptions and always around the ball.

2026 – A versatile (3 position) line prospect, the 6-foot-7 Dametrius Hixson is already getting P4 attention.

2027 – If you are looking for a versatile (LB/Hybrid Safety), Jeth McKinnis is going to be that type of a player. He is long and athletic.

2028 – Another freshman, Wendel Ostral could be one of the next top defensive backs in south Florida – with speed and athleticism. In middle school, he had one of the fastest times in the 100 meters.

2026 – One of the leaders this past season, quarterback Arron Power finished the year with 1,500 yards in his initial varsity year as a starter.

2027 - Semajay Robinson is a long ball hawking cornerback. He has five interceptions, two sacks and a “Pick 6” in his first full year at the varsity level. He moved down from Tallahassee this past summer and will be the next top secondary performer.

2028 – If the future is going to be bright for this program, prospects like Elijah Stitt will play a huge role. A unique athlete who can line up at multiple positions.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES BOYD ANDERSON

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..

Well, we officially have two weeks before the start of the 2024 high school football playoffs and several Miami-Dade and Broward Schools are tuning for a run at Pit Bull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University in December.

As many schools have realized a dream that they had after the end of the 2023 season, others will pretty much put the gear away until next spring in late April.

Here is a look at 20 Miami-Dade Broward Week 11 teams:

1 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (8-2, 1A). LAST WEEK: The Lions finished off the regular season with a convincing 62-17 win against No. 18 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA.

2. Miami Central (8-1, 3A). LAST WEEK: The Rockets won for the eighth straight time, 41-7, against Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA.

3. Miami Norland (7-2, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Vikings rebounded with a 37-20 win against Plantation. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA. 

4. Plantation American Heritage (5-4, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Patriots came up with a huge 42-38 win against No. 5 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA. 

5. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (7-3, 5A). LAST WEEK: The Raiders lost for the third time, 42-38, to No. 4 Plantation American Heritage. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA.

6. Miami Northwestern (6-3, 3A). LAST WEEK: The Bulls ended the regular season with a 54-7 win against Miami St. Brendan. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA. 

7. Miami Palmetto (6-2, 7A). LAST WEEK: The Panthers beat Miami High, 42-8. THIS WEEK: 11/1 - @Fort Myers Bishop Verot. NEXT GAME: 11/7 - @ No. 8 Miami Booker T. Washington. 

8. Miami Booker T. Washington (5-3, 2A). LAST WEEK: The Tornadoes beat Miami Ransom Everglades, 42-13. No. 9 Miami Southridge in a GMAC Week game, 27-14. THIS WEEK: 10/25 - @Miami Ransom Everglades. NEXT GAME: 11/7 – No. 7 Miami Palmetto.

9. Miami Southridge (7-2, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Spartans were off. THIS WEEK: 11/1 - @Homestead South Dade. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA. 

10. Pembroke Pines West Broward (7-2, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Bobcats wrapped up the district title with a 48-7 win against Miami Dr. Krop. THIS WEEK: 11/1 – No. 20 Davie Western. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA. 

11. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (7-2, 5A). LAST WEEK: The Tigers beat Coconut Creek, 31-14. THIS WEEK: 11/1 – No. 13 Coconut Creek Monarch. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA. 

12. Miami Christopher Columbus (6-3, 7A). LAST WEEK: The Explorers ended the regular season with a 35-6 win against Miami Archbishop Carroll. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA.

13. Coconut Creek Monarch (5-3, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Knights won the district with a 22-20 win over previously unbeaten, and No. 17 Sunrise Piper. THIS WEEK: 11/1 - @ No. 11 Pompano Beach Ely. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA.

14. Sunrise Piper (8-1, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Bengals dropped a tough 22-20 decision to No. 13 Coconut Creek Monarch on Thursday and the beat Fort Lauderdale 55-23 on Monday. THIS WEEK: 11/1 - @Hollywood South Broward. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA.

15. Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (6-2, 1A). LAST WEEK: The Spartans captured the district title with a 14-0 win against North Miami Beach. THIS WEEK: 11/1 - @Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman.

16. Hialeah (8-2, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Thoroughbreds wrapped up the regular season, winning for the sixth straight time, 34-7, against Miami Springs. THIS WEEK: The team will be off. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA.

17. Miami Carol City (6-3, 2A). LAST WEEK: The Chiefs continued to impress with a 20-3 win against Miami Belen Jesuit. THIS WEEK: 10/31 – North Lauderdale Somerset Prep. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA.

18. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (5-3, 2A). LAST WEEK: The Chiefs were beaten by No. 1 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, 63-17. THIS WEEK: 11/1 - @Miramar. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA.

19. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (5-2, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Panthers rebounded with a 23-0 win against Boynton Beach. THIS WEEK: 11/1 – Deerfield Beach. NEXT GAME: 11/4 - @Riviera Beach Suncoast.

20. Davie Western (5-4, 7A). LAST WEEK: The Wildcats moved into the Top 20 with a 36-0 win against Deerfield Beach. THIS WEEK: 11/1 - @ No. 10 Pembroke Pines West Broward. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs, TBA. 

KEEP AN EYE ON: Coconut Creek (3-4, 5A), Coral Gables (4-4, 7A), Davie Nova (6-3, 6A), Doral Academy (4-3, 6A), Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (7-3, 2A), Fort Lauderdale NSU University School (7-2, Independent), Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (4-4, 3A), Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (5-3, Independent), Hollywood South Broward (4-5, 6A), Homestead (4-4, 6A). Homestead South Dade (5-4, 7A), Miami Archbishop Carroll (6-4, 1A), Miami Florida Christian (8-1, Independent), Miami Edison (4-5, 1A), Miami Immaculata LaSalle (7-1, 2A), Miami Jackson (4-5, 3A), Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (4-5, 7A), Miami Ransom Everglades (5-2, 2A), Miami Springs (3-6, 2A), Miami True North Classical Academy (4-2, 1A), Miramar (5-4, 5A), North Miami (5-4, 5A), North Miami Beach (3-5, 2A), Pembroke Pines Charter (5-3, 5A), Pembroke Pines Flanagan (5-3, 6A), Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (5-3, 4A), Plantation (5-4, 4A). Weston Cypress Bay 4-4, 7A).

MONDAY, October 28

Davie Nova 21, Cooper City 11

Sunrise Piper 55, Fort Lauderdale 23

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

WEEK 7. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-7-st-thomas-aquinas-miami-central-hollywood-chaminade-madonna-remain-at-the-top

WEEK 8. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-8-head-to-head-matchups-are-key

WEEK 9. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-9-chaminade-madonna-moves-back-on-top

WEEK 10. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-10-highlights-some-crucial-miami-dade-broward-games

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..

When Plantation American Heritage and head coach Mike Smith knocked off national power Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 42-38, there were those who left the game on Friday evening with a sense that maybe the 305 and 954 had lost its luster as an area that featured some of the best programs in the country. Nothing could be further from the truth.

What has happened this season is all those quality programs that have been recognized as elite teams with amazing talent are playing each other, and that only enhances what everyone has been talking about for decades.

As other areas of the nation are boasting about one team or another,  Miami-Dade and Broward Counties have always churned out talent that not only advances to college, but also plays on Sundays as every NFL fan can see.

St. Thomas Aquinas, Chaminade-Madonna, American Heritage, Miami Northwestern, Miami Norland and Miami Central have all put an end to the talk about not playing a competitive schedule. Add in the Broward County National Showcase and no area – Texas, Georgia, California and Louisiana include – plays such a gauntlet every week.

With many teams across the nation boasting how great their programs are, it has often been said that if they had to play the schedule that south Florida teams must endure each and every week, they may not be as great as everyone believes.

American Heritage and Chaminade-Madonna have easily played one of the most challenging schedules in the country.

PATRIOTS BEAT THE RAIDERS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

To show the dominance of head coach Roger Harriott and his football team, when the Raiders lost to American Heritage, it was the first time in school history that it happened.

Big plays by FSU running back commit Byron Louis (three rushing scores), Texas junior quarterback commit Dia Bell and nationally rated athlete Malachi Toney certainly kept the 5-4 Patriots in the game from start to finish.

Lost in the win was the way that St. Thomas Aquinas senior quarterback Andrew Indorf and sophomore receiver Julius Jones Jr. stepped up to keep the team in the game to the final drive.

In addition to that contest, here is a look at some of the other games from Week 10:

Coconut Creek Monarch 22, Sunrise Piper 20

Coconut Creek North Broward Prep 21, Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 7

Coral Springs Charter 26, Parkland Douglas 6

Davie Nova 20, Coral Springs Coral Glades 0

Davie Western 36, Deerfield Beach 0

Doral Academy 55, Southwest Miami 14

Fort Lauderdale 40, Coral Springs 20

Fort Lauderdale Dillard 23, Boynton Beach 0

Hallandale 34, Pembroke Pines Charter 27

Hialeah 34, Miami Springs 7

Hialeah American 35, South Miami 0

Hialeah Gardens 40, Hialeah Miami Lakes 0

Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 62, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 17

Hollywood McArthur 23, South Plantation 21

Homestead 27, Miami Edison 12

Homestead Everglades Prep 42, Somerset Academy South Homestead 6

Homestead South Dade 38, Coral Gables 0

Key West 24, Miami Jackson 19

Lake Worth Dr. Joaquin Garcia 35, Oakland Park Northeast 14

Miami Beach 20, Goulds Palm Glades 8

Miami Booker T. Washington 42, Miami Ransom Everglades 13

Miami Carol City 20, Miami Belen Jesuit 3

Miami Central 41, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy 7

Miami Christopher Columbus 35, Miami Archbishop Carroll 6

Miami Coral Reef 22, Miami Ferguson 21 (OT)

Miami Country Day 23, Fort Myers Canterbury 14

Miami Florida Christian 38, Miami SmartEn Sports 0

Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace 14, North Miami Beach 0

Miami Gardens TRU Prep 34, Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy 7

Miami Gulliver Prep 34, Fort Lauderdale NSU University School 17

Miami Immaculata LaSalle 34, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy 14

Miami Norland 37, Plantation 20

Miami Northwestern 54, Miami St. Brendan 7

Miami Palmer Trinity 10, Hialeah IBF 0

Miami Palmetto 42, Miami High

Miami Sunset 20, Miami Braddock 15

Miami True North Classical Academy 35, Miami Westminster Christian 0

Miramar 39, Miramar Everglades 8

North Lauderdale Somerset Prep 36, Hollywood Avant Garde 22

Pembroke Pines West Broward 48, Miami Dr. Krop 7

Pompano Beach Blanche Ely 31, Coconut Creek 14

Somerset Silver Palms 33, Miami Killian 27

Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy 31, Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian 28

Weston Cypress Bay 46, Cooper City 33

MONDAY, October 28

Davie Nova vs. Cooper City, 7

Fort Lauderdale vs. Sunrise Piper, 5

Westland Hialeah vs. Miami Springs, 3:30

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..

By Dave Brousseau * BCAA Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE – The St. Thomas Aquinas football team learned a hard-fought lesson in their 42-38 loss to American Heritage on Friday.

If the Raiders (7-3) want to extend their state record of five consecutive state championships and 25 straight playoff victories, they’ll need to perform better, especially on defense.

The three regular season losses tied for the most since the 2013 season.

”Need to reflect what exactly what we need to improve on.” said St. Thomas Aquinas coach Roger Harriott. “The most obvious thing is we just didn’t finish, and they did.

We’ve got to move forward. Our losses have been frustrating, and it’s been tough to digest. We need to make the necessary corrections.”

The Patriots (5-4) victory was the first over the Raiders after three previous all-time meetings.

American Heritage led 21-17 at the half following a 15-yard scoring pass from Dia Bell to Malachi Toney and a Nicholas Romero 38-yard field goal for Aquinas.

Bell, a University of Texas commit, would prove too much for the Raiders defense to handle. He completed 19 of 22 passing attempts for 266 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 117 yards on just eight carries and another score for the Patriots.

Senior running back Byron Lewis added 141 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard reception and another touchdown. Toney had nine catches for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns

Overall, the Raiders defense allowed 567 yards in the loss.  

Andrew Indorf also had a strong performance for the Raiders, finishing 26 of 42 for 315 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 34 yards on six carries and a touchdown.

“We were sloppy on the offensive side of the ball and we can win games like that,” said Indorf. “No team that we have played has been better than us. We haven’t played our best game yet.”

Indorf also moved closer to the Raiders all-time career passing record. His 4670 yards is 282 yards short of surpassing the all-time Raiders record of 4951 set by Zion Turner (2019-21)

Sophomore wide receiver Julius Jones Jr. caught seven passes for 97 yards and a pair of second half touchdowns.

For the first time in 88 games that the Aquinas defense allowed 40 plus points in a loss and most allowed since a 43-27 loss to Miami Central in 2018.

The regular season loss was the first since winning six straight last game of regular season. The last loss was a 44-27 to Miramar in 2017.

Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.