South Florida has been spoiled through two weeks of the 2019 season. Week 2 gave us a classic battle of Miami Palmetto against the Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs, which ended after a thrilling 4th quarter at 23-21. Miami Central stole a signature W from Booker T, 32-29. Carol City couldn't knock off the beast that is Miami Northwestern, falling 10-0, and the Miramar-Dillard game lived up to hype with Dillard downing the Patriots 35-27.
After Week 2, The Crib is 48-11 (.771) and a nearly identical record of Week 1 going 24-5. I have some upset predictions for Week 2 and more than enough blowouts, as we are looking at our weakest series of games so far.
Let's get into the games and predictions.
GAME OF THE WEEK
#1 Columbus vs #14 South Dade: Our top team in South Florida rolls into a rematch of the playoff blowout in the third round last year (54-28, Columbus W). Columbus has rode Pittsburgh commit RB Henry Parrish through two games, rolling through Belen and out of town power Osceola, but a home grown threat lurks in Week 3. South Dade comes into our Game of the Week shutting out their first two opponents to the tune of 60-0. I like Columbus to keep their 8A dominance going.
Prediction: 24-7, Columbus
NOTABLE GAMES
#2 Miami Northwestern vs IMG Academy: Northwestern has the biggest argument for #1 on the Top 15 list. A win against nationally ranked IMG would put to rest any argument against them. Northwestern has shut out two top 15 teams (Gibbons and Carol City), further cementing their status as the top defense in South Florida. IMG is a national power that will test The West more than any team they have or will play this season. A borderline JUCO program, 3 deep with D1 talent across the depth chart, they are a daunting box to check off. I think Northwestern redeems themselves from their 34-7 loss to IMG last year and pulls of the huge upset.
Prediction: 26-21, Miami Northwestern
#5 Carol City vs #10 Miami Central: 30-21. That will be the narrative and motivation for Carol City going into this game. So many variables have changed from that dominant 2018 team that dissapointed in the playoffs. Freshman QB Kewone Jenkins, New Head Coach Josh Taylor and an offense centered around Alabama commit WR Thaiu Jones-Bell and RB Katravis Geter are the headlines for CC this year, and maybe not as good as last year, they are still an elite team. Central boasts a Utah commit (Katravis Marsh) and RB Amari Daniels as their new standouts. This should be another close Miami matchup, but I like Central's experience.
Prediction: 24-16, Miami Central
#7 University School vs McArthur: University School limps into this game against one of the most dangerous defensive units in not just Broward, but all of South Florida. U School went up 35-0 before almost choking away a W against a young and hungry Hialeah team (35-27 final). The reason for that comeback? Maybe backups were in. Maybe U School got too comfortable. Maybe Hialeah is the real deal. I'll chuck it up to the fact that All-State 2021 QB Nick Vattiato left this game early, and the U School motor doesn't run without their gunslinger. McArthur missed out on a salivating matchup with #15 Plantation because of the storm. A week to get RB Jaylen Taylor healthy and scheme for that U School offense minus Vattiato is enough for the Mustangs to steal the upset.
Prediction: 17-10, McArthur
Broward Games
#13 Deerfield Beach vs Ely: 61-7, Deerfield Beach
Douglas vs Cypress Bay: 42-0, Douglas
Flanagan vs Hollywood Hills: 35-21, Flanagan
Monarch vs Pompano Beach: 58-0, Monarch
#6 Western vs Miami Springs: 51-0, Western
Cooper City vs Nova: 28-0, Cooper City
Ft Lauderdale vs Archbishop of McCarthy: 35-7, Ft Lauderdale
#15 Plantation vs West Broward: 42-0, Plantation
South Plantation vs Coral Springs: 21-14, Coral Springs
Dillard vs Pahokee: 33-7, Dillard
#8 American Heritage vs Miramar: 45-27, American Heritage
Hallandale vs South Broward: 37-17, Hallandale
Stranahan vs Taravella: 16-12, Stranahan
#11 Cardinal Gibbons vs North Miami: 47-7, Cardinal Gibbons
#4 Chaminade-Madonna vs Miami Christian: 41-14, Chaminade
Coral Glades vs Northeast: 14-0, Coral Glades
Miami-Dade Games
Coral Reef vs Mater Academy: 45-0, Coral Reef
Miami High vs Southwest Miami: 56-0, Miami
#9 Miami Palmetto vs Hialeah: 35-14, Palmetto
Belen Jesuit vs Doral Academy: 35-28, Belen
Miami Norland vs American: 20-10, Norland
Monsigner Pace vs Naples: 27-21, Pace
South Miami vs Miami Beach: 41-14, South Miami
Southridge vs Coral Gables: 24-6, Southridge
North Miami Beach vs Bainbridge (GA): 49-0, Bainbridge
Killian vs Homestead: 14-7, Killian
Booker T Washington vs Miami Jackson: 56-12, BTW
#12 Gulliver Prep vs Pinecrest: 42-7, Gulliver
Edison vs Coconut Creek: 28-24, Coconut Creek
Champagnat Catholic vs Christ Presbyterian (TN): 35-31, Champagnat
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