The midpoint of the 2019 season is here, and class favorites seem to be falling weekly. No new faces introduce themselves to the Week 6 rankings, but consistent shakeup is a given for the South Florida football landscape. A quick recap of the Top 15 of Week 5 was redemption for STA, a beating for The West by an out of state opponent, The Nade Boyz and Gibbons escape Palm Beach battles with huge victories, and U School continues their run at dominance with a win over a State Championship contender.
Lets get into the rankings!
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (3-0)
Previous Ranking: 1
Week 5: W, 36-0 vs Miramar
Week 6: vs #14 Carol City
The Raiders continue to steam roll through the early part of their schedule, taking care of business against a young Miramar team that was hoping lighting would strike twice. STA, a national power, isn't one to be surprised twice by teams, and Coach Harriott couldn't allow another Miramar upset (Miramar shocked Aquinas in 2017, 44-27) if they hope for a shot at a 2019 State Championship. Week 6 has a new challenge, one the Raiders have struggled with over the years, a Miami power (losses to Booker T and Central over the last few years). Carol City has to ride up to STA, but with elite talent on both sides of the ball and thirsting for redemption after starting 2-3, CC is going to be a worthy challenger this Friday.
2. Miami Central (4-1)
Previous Ranking: 3
Week 5: W, 44-14 vs Miami Edison
Week 6: vs Belen Jesuit
The Roc Boys absolutely dominated Uncle Luke and his rising Edison team Friday. Central's only loss has come at the hands of Maryland juggernaut St. Frances in Week 1, running through ranked squads such as BTW and Carol City, and outscoring Southridge and Edison 79-14. A tuneup game against Belen should give the Rockets time to get healthy prior to their battle against Northwestern on 10/4.
3. Chaminade-Madonna (4-1)
Previous Ranking: 7
Week 5: W, 17-14 vs Atlantic Delray
Week 6: Bye
Chaminade goes into their bye with a huge victory over the top team in Palm Beach. Relying on UM commit Thad Franklin at QB since their loss to Carol City, 2022 QB Brady Kelly should be an upgrade for the Lions. Kelly, injured through the first part of the season, is a pocket passer who helps open up some running lanes for Franklin and give their elite receiving corp something to work with. Vero Beach and Miami Central are still left on the schedule, so things need to start clicking on offense soon for the Lions.
4. Miami Northwestern (3-2)
Previous Ranking: 2
Week 5: L, 48-21 vs Lowndes (GA)
Week 6: Bye
Northwestern, ranked #22 in the country just last week, giving the Bulls their second loss national power in three weeks. Still showcasing the best defense in the area, and talented play-makers scattering their offense such as 2020 RB Nathaniel Noel, The West should be able to regroup after the bye and be ready for a equally as dangerous Miami Central team in Week 7.
5. American Heritage Plantation (3-1)
Previous Ranking: 4
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: @ Coral Reef
American Heritage is gaining steam and looking to be the team to beat in 5A. A win in a couple weeks against Cardinal Gibbons would be a huge step towards becoming the favorite. This week is an mismatched Coral Reef team that should allow for some young players not named Mark Fletcher Jr. to gain much needed experience.
6. South Dade (4-0)
Previous Ranking: 5
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: @ Coral Reef
South burst onto the scene with their win over Columbus in what feels like forever ago in Week 3. Following it up with a struggle against Miami Norland and bye week, and you get a loss of hype. The Bucs are real though, and are sitting atop the 8A totem pole at 4-0 and soon to be 5-0. Their next challenge comes at the end of the year with a three game stretch of Carol City, Miami Palmetto and an away game against Hialeah.
7. University School (4-1)
Previous Ranking: 8
Week 5: W, 26-13 vs Champagnat Catholic
Week 6: Bye
Two wins against quality opponents (Western and Champagnat) cements U School's spot in the top 10. We could have been looking at a 5-0 start had QB Nick Vattiato never gotten injured, but 4-1 with wins over Pahokee, Hialeah, Western, and Champagnat earns you serious respect, and my pick to win 4A.
8. Cardinal Gibbons (4-1)
Previous Ranking: 9
Week 5: W, 33-0 vs American Heritage Delray
Week 6: Bye
Since everyone declared the sky was falling for Gibbons in Week 1, they have rallied to a 4-1 record at the halfway point. The 2021 connection of Brody Palhegyi and Troy Stellato looks to be one of the most prolific Broward has seen. The signature Air Raid offense that Coach DuBuc calls will be challenged in the next couple weeks with American Heritage and McArthur visiting. Those two battles will dictate the Chiefs place in these rankings...and potential State Championship run.
9. Deerfield Beach (3-2)
Previous Ranking: 10
Week 5: W, 42-0 vs Oak Ridge
Week 6: vs Boca Raton
The ol' Beach Boys are on the rise again. 3-0 in their last three games with a differential of 137-0, The Bucks have escaped their brutal first half of the season with a chance at an 8-2 record. New starting QB, 2020 Tulane commit Michael Pratt, has given Deerfield hope going into district play and the annual St Thomas Aquinas game, which should be a top 10 battle.
10. Booker T. Washington (4-1)
Previous Ranking: 14
Week 5: W, 41-0 vs North Miami
Week 6: @ IMG Academy
Traveling to IMG this week, hoping to redeem South Florida after Northwestern failed to rise to the occasion, Booker T has been a revelation this season. Losing arguably their best player and Head Coach in the off-season, the only blemish for the Tornadoes is a tough loss to Central. Sticking a fork in Columbus a couple weeks back put BTW back in contention for 4A, but a win over IMG would put them back in the national spotlight.
11. Miami Palmetto (4-1)
Previous Ranking: 11
Week 5: W, 42-6 vs Southridge
Week 6: vs Southwest
It wasn't that long ago Palmetto was a rocket of hype in 8A, but the Panthers will have to wait about a month before they can resume their rise to the top of the 8A polls. Still exhibiting the ability to play nasty defense and break off huge plays on offense, Palmetto will need a signature win before the regular season ends to solidify themselves as a real contender.
12. Western (3-1)
Previous Ranking: 12
Week 5: W, 56-0 vs Cooper City
Week 6: @ Cypress Bay
The Crib's pre-season 8A State Champion has underwhelmed against the two best teams on their schdule so far (pre-season vs Palmetto, 14-9 loss to U School) but a QB change (Freshman Collin Hurst) seems to have sparked the Wildcat offense, as Hurst nearly led a comeback against University School and put up 56 points against local rival Cooper City. STA is the next chance for Western to prove themselves, and they might be in better shape even with the youngster.
13. Gulliver Prep (5-0)
Previous Ranking: 13
Week 5: W, 49-17 vs Kings Academy
Week 6: Bye
5-0 is a great start for Gulliver, but their schedule keeps them low in the rankings. As talented as anyone in South Florida, the Raiders have taken care of business so far, not allowing more than 17 points in a game. A potential 10-0 candidate could be the dark horse in 4A that takes out the usually popular, premier porgrams such as BTW, Cardinal Gibbons, Carol City, and U School.
14. Carol City (2-3)
Previous Ranking: 6
Week 5: L, 42-21 vs Trinity Christian
Week 6: @ #1 St. Thomas Aquinas
Carol City has tumbled down the rankings since beating Deerfield in Week 1. Leadership, both in the coaching ranks and on the field seems to be lacking so far this season. Refs saved the Chiefs from being 1-4 so far, basically handing Carol City the game against Chaminade, and it just hasn't been close in their three losses, being outscored 101-47. They're still one of the most talented teams in the area, but have such a tough schedule (STA, Vangaurd, Edison, and South Dade remaining) a possible losing record could be on the table for the Chiefs.
15. (tie) Plantation (4-0)
Previous Ranking: 15
Week 5: W, 41-3 vs Everglades
Week 6: @ Ft. Lauderdale
Steve Davis has led another successful campaign at Plantation, but with just three teams with winning records on the schedule, its hard for the Colonels to gain deserved respect. Enough offensive talent to hang with anyone, two of their toughest games are up next. Ft. Lauderdale comes in 3-1 and was a playoff squad in 2018. St. Thomas comes in for the district championship next week, the true test for this Plantation team.
15. (tie) McArthur (2-1)
Previous Ranking: 15
Week 5: W, 37-0 vs South Broward
Week 6: vs Miramar
McArthur is starting to show some offensive chops, putting up 37 points last week. A rise in the rankings is very much possible with three quality games against Cardinal Gibbons, Miramar, and Coconut Creek in the second half of the season. McArthur could be dangerous if their dominant defense gets any support from their offense counterparts in those three games.
First 5 Out (NO ORDER)
Edison
Monarch
Douglas
Champagnat
Dillard
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