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One of the biggest stories floating under the radar is the battle for the District 16-6A winner. With the regular season nearing an end, only one school in this six team district has been all but eliminated. That leaves for a fitting end.
Killian (3-4, 1-2) the defending District champ, has the hardest road to defend their title. With their Friday night loss to South Dade (5-2, 2-1), the Cougars could make a giant leap back into the hunt if they defeat top ranked Southridge (6-0, 3-0) this week.
Killian has the playmakers on their offense to pull the upset, starting with Richard Leonard, Hosey Williams, DeAndre Mann, and Todd Bush. Leonard, an FIU commit, has impressive 4.4 speed and plays running back, receiver, cornerback and return kicks for the Cougars. He’s complemented by Southwest transfer Williams in the backfield, who earned 3,300 in his first three seasons.
Despite the amount of talent, South Dade was able to outmatch Killian in a 42-39 victory thanks to a last minute touchdown. The win keeps their playoff hopes alive but needs a Southridge loss to set a three-way tie including Homestead.
The Bucs lead a balanced offense with a solid air attack from quarterback Jovani McCray and ground game from Jeremy Hill and Jorell Miller. McCray’s effectiveness throwing the ball has kept South Dade in every game, including Columbus and Southridge. McCray has thrown 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions on the season. Six of those have been to his dependable receiver JJ Wharton, who has hauled in 16 catches for 344 yards.
So with all these talented offenses in District 16-6A, nearly anything can happen down the final stretch of three games. Killian can make things interesting with an upset of Southridge. South Dade will be starting the playoffs a couple weeks before most, when they face Homestead who is tied for second. Palmetto can open the can worms with matchups against Southridge and Homestead.
One thing is for sure, stay tuned for a wild ending in this district.
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Anytime the home team upsets a top 10 opponent to get their national credit back or the NFL team gets their overly deserved first win of the season in game four, you’d think that would be the focal point to a great football weekend.
But what this weekend showed this football purist is that South Florida’s high school football shared center stage with both those insane wins.
As exciting and thrilling it was to see the Hurricanes take down Oklahoma, and the Dolphins taking it to the Bills, one couldn’t overlook two games being played in stadiums not named Landshark Stadium. Ones that couldn’t find (or try) a corporation to purchase the rights to their amateur stadium.
I’m talking about the epic games played at Lockhart and Traz Powell.
On Friday Night, the most successful Florida program (judging playoff wins and games) put their and the Sunshine State’s reputation on the line against the best program outside of Texas and California. So when Byrnes and St. Thomas Aquinas decided to square off, what resulted were month-long banter from all 50 states declaring what exactly was at stake. Two BCS division coaches, who are in season, decided that on October 2, to personally travel down to watch this game. ESPN decided that of the 22 scheduled games this season; this would be the main entrée.
And 15,000 other people decided the same thing. Lines to park were backed up all the way to Interstate 95, taking well past kickoff to park every car. Once parked, fans (and broadcasters) sat back and witnessed one of the hardest fought games in memory, played by teenagers learning about life. And us to cheer them along.
As if my hangover of football would only be cured by time, it was starting to wear off when news of Miami Northwestern struggling against Booker T Washington knocked me back into intoxication. Northwestern, a team that’s won like 49 out of their last 50 games might lose. Impossible right…everyone was awaiting the stakes of Northwestern-Central but forgot that Booker T was no cupcake. And with BTW knocking off Northwestern, it brought a lot of noise. How much noise? Moments after Jacory Harris just got done defeating 8th ranked Oklahoma, and immediately after speaking well about former Sanford Seminole safety Ray-Ray Armstrong even though he beat Northwestern as a senior, a reporter asked Harris his thoughts on Northwestern losing.
Of course while Northwestern was playing Booker T, Jacory was playing in the ABC Primetime game. He didn’t know his powerhouse high school loss. So he blurted out, “You’re lying. Man you just ruined my night!”
It didn’t ruin high school football’s night or weekend in South Florida. In fact, the purity and talent of the sport only got magnified on a weekend that was thought to be dominated by Landshark Stadium.
Disagree? E-Mail Bri
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No question we are seeing the best offenses in South Florida history right now.
When Miami Central traveled north to take on Daytona Beach powerhouse Mainland, running back Brandon Gainer rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns on one of the top defenses in the state.
Just three games later Gainer already has crossed the end zone 10 times, nearing 500 yards of ground work. And he’s not in empty company either.
Columbus running back Jakhari Gore and Norland’s Duke Johnson have as many touchdowns as Gainer, and nearly two hundred more rushing yards. Hialeah’s Jerron Seymour leads the county with 706 yards….IN 4 games.
Northwestern’s Teddy Bridgewater broke the Dade record for touchdown passes in a game, the county didn’t even have enough time to write down the previous record because it was just hours old.
The night before Central’s Jeffrey Godfrey had the “previous” Dade record, tossing six touchdown passes Thursday against Miami Springs. Before that night you only had to look to 2007 when former Northwestern star Jacory Harris set the record in against Hialeah-Miami Lakes.
My point is that with all these potential record breakers we’re seeing at the high school level, the wealth of talent isn’t diminishing in South Florida, it’s expanding.
College coaches know that, ESPN knows that, plenty of people are beginning to know that. And the most exciting part about that, it’s happening right in our own backyard.
Disagree? E-Mail Bri
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When do you go for two? Well if in doubt, just go to the playmakers.
That must have been running through the brain of Deerfield Beach's head coach Adam Ratkevich as the scoreboard showed 28-27 Cypress Bay. Rewind to when Deerfield started their drive following a 5 yard quarterback draw by the Lightning's Zac Greene. Trailing by a touchdown with your star quarterback Donte Dotson on the sidelines with an injury, the endzone seemed miles away.
Khambrel Garland was the quarterback that stepped up for the Bucks. With a quick array of draws and slants, Deerfield was marching down the field. The untested Garland took his Bucks 65 yards capped off by a 2 yard touchdown run. So kicker Diego Ramos, the hero from a week ago with a game winning kick under his belt, was poised and ready to tie the game with 30 seconds left. Only his number wasn't called this week.
Dotson struggled to watch his offense march down the field while he was on the sidelines. Banged up shoulder and all, Dotson must have know he'd get his shot at glory. So on a night that Deerfield totaled 426 yards of offense, two more yards seemed like a gimmie. Dotson strapped his helmet on, got the play from Ratkevich and was asked to make a move.
Right call. Right player. Wrong move.
Dotson took a QB rollout to the left side and had every Lightning beat except for corner Kendall Fullington. Dotson had eluded every player on the Lightning defense up to this point so it seemed like he'd get past for the touchdown. But rather than cut upfield like Dotson had done so marvelously, he lowered his shoulder and tried to bullrush over Fullington.
It didn't work.
But it leaves you with respect and appreciation for Ratkevich to roll the dice and let his players leave Weston with a victory. One things for sure, they didn't leave ashamed of themselves. Good call going for the win Bucks.
Disagree? E-Mail Bri
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Rain Delays. Rain Delays. Rain Delays. As common as can be every Friday night in South Florida.
It seemed like the storylines from every Dade and Broward game this past week was the delayed start of nearly each game. Cypress Bay, St. Thomas, Gulliver Prep, Lockhart….nearly all these events have seen a delay or cancellation of a game within the first two weeks of this 2009 season. And no there isn’t anything you can do about…or can you?
The visiting Boyd Anderson Cobras had to wait nearly two hours Friday night at Brian Piccolo stadium before kicking off to St. Thomas at 9:04 PM. Several lightning strikes in the area caused fans to wait in the parking garage and the Raiders and Cobras to…well….just wait. Imagine how much of a challenge that presents to both coaches. Keeping your players focused and ready to play once the skies become clear. It can really separate some distance between two teams.
But being a head coach in Broward County means you got to be prepared for those situations. Those two hours you need to have your players not goofing off….staying hydrated….and ready to play a full four quarters. It sounds simple but don’t forget these are 15-17 year old boys. Imagine around 5 o’clock getting your pads, cleats, and jersey ready to go hit someone after coming off the bus. Only to see an empty field and stands.
At that point the head coach better have a good plan in order to keep his kids from dropping off, and it seemed like each coach did. Of all the games that got delayed, the games were competitive at the half. The Deerfield-Dillard game was close up until the final kick. But the low scores throughout South Florida had to be a testament of the weather.
Quarterbacks couldn’t grip the ball. Running backs couldn’t cut near as sharply. And wide outs were dropping the slippery football like it was rubbed down in Crisco.
So with very little control over the conditions of the field, I hope each coach in South Florida has a detailed game plan for both dry and wet (even soaked) conditions…or else your preparations are pointless.
Disagree? E-Mail Bri
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After watching the number three high school team in the nation, I was surprised to see the method of their success.
Miami Northwestern has all the records in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida. 3 straight trips to the state championship game. 37 straight wins. 8 players starting at the University of Miami. And a head coach with 150 wins.
But with all the success the Bulls have had recently, its street ball at its finest. Now I know what you‘re saying and no there isn’t anything wrong with letting the leash loose on your talented players. It was fun to watch them, but it leaves you to think what happens when their opponent fights back. There will come a time this season (maybe in the playoffs) when Miami Northwestern will face an equally talented team who execute their routes better and don’t give the Bulls a mental edge.
Maybe I’m just old school but there’s something more likeable about a program that doesn’t move the chains from broken plays. Doesn’t mean they’ll win, but it means they’re doing more Monday to Thursday. Allow me to explain.
Friday Night’s game showcased Teddy Bridgewater and the best offensive line in the state, clearly oversized over the Chiefs. All on of the big yard plays for the Bulls, Bridgewater sat in the pocket, stepped up to avoid the sack and either threw it up for a receiver to make a play or dart for a 20 yard run. The plays worked, but what happens when that defensive end clips a foot? Or if that corner comes down with the ball? Throws your game plan out the door. Give them the ball tied, two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, and I don’t think that style can move the chains in a high pressured situation.
Maybe it was just Friday night, or maybe it’s their style of football. But it only works against a weaker team. A team doesn’t have to be better than Northwestern, just more prepared. Now don’t get me wrong, Coach Billy Rolle has these players focused and disciplined. But what happens when the team on the other sideline is just as focused and disciplined….and prepared? More reason to watch their battle against district rival Central.
Disagree? E-Mail Bri
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