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(6) Central Rockets vs. (9) Chaminade-Madonna Lions
Thursday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7 p.m. *WarZone Game of the Week
This might be the most intriguing game of the weekend. There are multiple storylines and plenty of big-time individual matchups to watch.
And it’s the “WarZone Game of the Week” – which means there are a lot of bragging rights at stake.
Since it lost to Miami Northwestern last October, people have been trying to “throw away” Miami Central. Make no mistake, the Rockets are still very good and have plenty of athletes to roll out each week.
Chaminade is one of the top teams in South Florida – regardless of classification – and a team that we should watch closely all season. The Lions’ schedule will put them through the ringer and we’ll see what the team and the coaching staff is made of.
I love the running back showdown in this game. Chaminade’s Shaun “Worm” Shivers against Central’s James Cook – and Willie Davis and Amari Daniels.
Shivers is a home-run hitter. He can take one 80 on a defense with a smile on his face because of his elite speed.
Cook has plenty of backfield help, but he’ll be out to show people that he’s the No. 1 and that he’s a complete running back capable of carrying the team in big games.
I give Chaminade a lot of respect because of the immense talent it has on its roster. The Lions have the players to compete with anyone.
What makes me lean towards Central is the intangibles. The Rockets aren’t just going to roll over and let a team take them to task in Traz Powell Stadium. Also, Central’s coaching staff deserves a lot of credit for the way it prepares for opponents. Roland Smith and company have had weeks to prepare for this game and they’ll be eager to show everyone that the program hasn’t fallen off.
If it is rainy, I think that helps the Rockets more because it means they can line up and run the ball with Cook, Davis, Daniels and even with quarterbacks Tijuane Morten and Seth McGill.
Chaminade will stand toe to toe with Central, but I’m giving the Rockets a slight edge.
Bald Prediction = Central wins 18-17
