Fall brings us Halloween, Thanksgiving, 20 pound weight gains, and a new high school football season. 2019 looks to be one of elation and mystery. Reclassification from the FHSAA has flipped the landscape of Florida football on its head. The SEC of South Florida, 6A District 16 that was Miami Central, Miami Northwestern, Carol City, and Norland, has been dismantled down to the Rockets and Vikings. Chaminade-Madonna no longer has free rein of 3A with Jacksonville Trinity Christian joining the fun. 4A is now the cream of the crop, as Cardinal Gibbons, Gulliver Prep, Carol City, Miami Booker T. Washington, and Davie University School are all battling for a chance at a state title.
The excitement of this new South Florida landscape is almost as high as the anticipation for Week 1 of the season. Let’s get into the games and predictions.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Deerfield Beach @ Carol City: A rematch of the slug fest in the rain two years ago, Carol City is looking to redeem themselves from the 6-2 loss and from a failed playoff run last season. The Carol City redemption tour of 2019 is not without challenges. Head Coach Benedict Hyppolite leaves the program to take the Offensive Coordinator position under Ice Harris at Florida Memorial and projected starting QB Cedquan Smith (Miramar transfer) left to Western High in the summer. Deerfield goes in with questions as well. A 12-10 preseason loss to Delray Atlantic had people wondering how an offense with 12 D1 prospects managed just two scores. Going into this game, Deerfield dominates the depth comparison and probably wins the coaching matchup. 2020 FSU commit Jaylan Knighton and crew will put enough on the scoreboard to get the W.
Prediction: 17-7, Deerfield Beach
NOTABLE GAMES
Cardinal Gibbons @ Miami Northwestern: Northwestern shocked the world in 2018, winning States after going 5-5. Another gauntlet of a regular season will prepare the Bulls for the (much easier) playoffs, and it starts week 1. Gibbons graduated a whole team of talent, but brings back a team that still should contend for a ring in 2019. The only issue, 2021 QB Brody Palhegyi goes into this weekend questionable. QB question marks and lack of depth makes this a route for Northwestern.
Prediction: 38-10, Northwestern
St. Thomas Aquinas @ De La Salle (CA): STA is ranked #1`in the country, not surprising considering the rich history of the program. History is also not in De La Salle's favor matchup-wise. The Spartans took an L from the hands of the Raiders in 2011. One of the most well coached teams Aquinas will play this year, it won't be enough as STA will bully De La Salle in the trenches.
Prediction: 35-7, St. Thomas Aquinas
Miami Central vs St. Frances Academy (MD): Miami Central mirrors Northwestern with one of the toughest schedules in the country. The Rockets start the season off against the #2 team in the country, and that might be too low for the Panthers. Loaded with top prospects and a coach who is 33-2 since he's taken the job, The Rockets are an underdog, an unfamiliar position for them. St. Frances squeaks this one out late.
Prediction: 28-24, St. Frances Academy (MD)
Chaminade-Madonna @ McArthur: Two years ago, this game would have been a joke. Coach Pierre Senatus has done a remarkable job resurrecting the program and the Mustangs are a serious threat to make some noise in 7A this year. Chaminade is a back-to-back State Championship squad that reloads with the best of them, as well. I think McArthur's youth on defense makes containing 2021 Miami commit Thad Franklin impossible. Close game but the Lions start off the season 1-0.
Prediction: 31-21, Chaminade-Madonna
Monsigner Pace @ American Heritage Plantation: Coach Mario Perez takes over a Pace program with some of the most elite talent in 2022 (DE Shemar Stewart and LB Semaj Flagg). Perez has assembled a solid coaching staff and brought in enough talent to be a playoff threat this season. Heritage is a program in a different stage. The Patriots are still one of the most talented programs in Broward, but depth is not what it once was, and the transfer bug bit Heritage this off-season. A Spartan defense that will surprise people this year, slows 2023 RB Mark Fletcher and 2020 WR Douglas Emilien enough to make this homecoming for Coach Perez a happy one.
Prediction: 21-20, Monsigner Pace
BROWARD GAMES
Western @ Everglades: 35-0, Western
University School @ Pahokee: 34-14, University School
Dillard @ Piper: 56-7, Dillard
Plantation vs Taravella: 36-14, Plantation
Miramar @ Miami Norland: 21-14, Miami Norland
Westminster Academy @ Pembroke Pines Somerset: 35-28, Westminster Academy
Cooper City vs Ridley: 36-20, Ridley
Coral Springs vs West Broward: 17-6, Coral Springs
Douglas @ Orlando Colonial: 28-24, Douglas
Hollywood Hills @ Pompano Beach: 28-0, Hollywood Hills
Nova @ Monarch: 45-14, Monarch
Miami Christian @ Calvary: 28-17, Miami Christian
Blanche Ely @ Northeast: 24-7, Blanche Ely
Archbishop McCarthy @ South Broward: 21-10, South Broward
MIAMI-DADE GAMES
Champagnat Catholic @ New Smyrna Beach: 30-10, Champagnat
Gulliver Prep vs Coral gables: 27-13, Gulliver
Southridge @ St. John's: 38-14, St. Johns
Braddock vs Coral Reef: 28-21, Braddock
Southwest vs Coral Park: 26-7, Southwest
Hialeah vs Hialeah Miami Lakes: 49-14, Hialeah
Krop vs Miami Beach: 17-13, Krop
North Miami Beach @ Enterprise: 24-14, Enterprise
LaSalle @ Coral Shores: 20-12, LaSalle
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