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This is not an official district. Remember, based on the guidelines of the FHSAA’s new playoff point system classes 4A through 1A do not have formed districts. Teams will only be grouped by their region in their respective class. For the sake of the preview and to give fans an idea of who their favorite teams will be competing against for a playoff spot this year – we grouped these teams together.
Coral Springs Charter Panthers
2016 Record: 4-5 (played in Gold Coast Conference)
Coach: Matt Garris
2017 Outlook: Coral Springs Charter played in the Gold Coast Conference in 2016 and found a marginal amount of success in that league.
The Panthers enter the 2017 season looking to capitalize on the arrival of senior running back Landan Thomas. Thomas’ family moved to Florida from Virginia and he has settled in with the Panthers.
A 5-foot-8, 170-pound versatile ball carrier – that can also line up as a pure receiver – will be the weapon senior quarterback Jordan Sepulveda and Coral Springs Charter’s offense needs this season.
People will be doing themselves a huge disservice by overlooking the Panthers. Look for sophomore offensive lineman Curtis Tucker (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) and 2019 defensive end Keshaun Paisley (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) to emerge as key players this season and beyond.
Belle Glade Glades Central Raiders
2016 Record: 6-5 (2016 District 4-7A runner-up)
Coach: Jessie Hester
2017 Outlook: Glades Central is one of the more storied programs competing at the “small school” level. Having produced several professional football players, this school that sits in the “Muck” of Belle Glade, Florida has been a football hotbed.
Because the area produces athletes at such a high clip, Glades Central has always been able to roll out roster well-stocked with athletes – and 2017 won’t be any different.
The Raiders crown jewel this season is 6-foot-6, 290-pound senior offensive lineman Willie Canty III. Rated a three-star recruit, Canty has offers from UCF, Florida International, Marshall, and Louisville.
2018 athlete (receiver/defensive back) Trey Green is another quintessential Glades Central-type player. He’s a speedy option at receiver and will now have the physical tools – thanks to a growth spurt to 6-foot-2 – to be a physical cornerback.
To put it all together for Raiders, the school brought back Jessie Hester to serve as its head coach. Hester, who replaced Rick Casko after three seasons, last coached Glades Central from 2008 to 2010 and compiled a 36-4 record in that span.
Coconut Creek North Broward Prep Eagles
2016 Record: 7-2 (played in Gold Coast Conference; League runner-up)
Coach: Rex Nottage
2017 Outlook: North Broward Prep, like Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, is a school that elected to play independently over the past couple of years and found almost immediate success.
One of the main reasons for that success, like McCarty, North Broward Prep is led by a veteran coach that knows how to build a program. Rex Nottage has led the Eagles since 2011 and has finished with six or more wins in four out of his six seasons at the helm.
The Eagles played in the Gold Coast Conference this past season and lost to Archbishop McCarthy in the league’s championship game.
For 2017, North Broward Prep will be looking to build on that momentum.
Like it has in year’s past, NBP has a cornerstone player that the team can orbit around. This year it is wide receiver Kevin Austin. Colleges from all over made the trek to see the 6-foot-4, 198-pound four-star pass catcher. Austin could very well be one of country’s best because of his ability to get open with crisp routes while also being physically gifted enough to make tough catches when he is in traffic. Notre Dame, Duke University, University of Miami and Tennessee are some of the schools vying for his services.
Senior quarterback Logan Shooster will have the luxury of throwing to Austin and commanding an Eagles offense that will be depending on junior running back James Bentayou to step up and has an underrated prospect in 6-foot-3 tight end Hunter Guinta.
Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest Panthers
2016 Record: 8-3 (played in Southeastern Football Conference; League runner-up)
Coach: Troy Harrison
2017 Outlook: Pine Crest is another program that enters the 2017 season looking to build off the momentum it gained while playing independently this past season.
The Panthers played in the Southeastern Football conference in 2016 and lost in the championship game to Palm Beach King’s Academy.
Head coach Troy Harrison enters his fourth year leading the program and he’ll be relying on a solid group of upperclassmen to provide leadership and to lay more groundwork foundation that the program can continue to build on down the line.
The team’s top receivers from 2016, junior Kadin Katsch and senior Bailey Finkelberg, return. The two combined for 770 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns this past season, but will have to work with a new signal caller in 2017.
Junior Kamran Kadivar will take the reins of the offense after the graduation of Jordan Schulefand.
Also look for senior linebacker Brett Elpert (6-feet, 205 pounds) to lead the Panthers’ defense this season.
Somerset Academy Pines Panthers
2016 Record: 1-9 (played in District 7-4A)
Coach: Chance Benton
2017 Outlook: Somerset Academy Pines played in the now defunct district 7-4A this past season and had a rough season – losing nine straight after winning the season opener – under new head coach Chance Benton.
Entering year two under Benton, the Panthers were active during the offseason to gain exposure and experience for their players entering the 2017 season.
Somerset Academy Pines’ talent cupboards aren’t bare.
Senior quarterback Aarmando McGhee (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) and senior running back Zamar Miller (5-foot-11, 235 pounds) and senior receiver Kareem Ritch (6-foot-2, 170 pounds) all have the statures to be impact players as do 6-foot-6, 275-pound junior defensive lineman Vashon Bailey and 6-foot-6, 260-pound senior offensive lineman Ricardo Barrow.
Davie University School Sharks
2016 Record: 7-3
Coach: Daniel Luque
2017 Outlook: The adage that says “big things come in small packages” was made for programs like University School.
After being built from the ground up by former head coach Roger Harriott – to the tune of national rankings, dozens of top-notch recruits, multiple state title game appearances, and a 2012 Class 3A title – U-School and head coach Daniel Luque is trying to chart another course towards the championship waters.
Luque, who was a part of Harriott’s staff during the program’s heyday, is a smart, young coach that can motivate his players while he and his coaching staff teach the game and develop players.
Even after the Sharks lost a significant amount of talent to transfer, U-School was able to amass a 7-3 record this past season. Two critical losses in the district 7-4A race cause the Sharks to miss the playoffs.
Optimism should be quite high for U-School entering the 2017 season.
The program received an influx of talented incoming freshmen, many of whom came from some of South Florida’s premier youth league teams – like 2021 quarterback Nick Vattiato – and it returns a talented core of players that should be in line for productive years this season.
Junior running back Kenny McIntosh receives much of the attention – and rightfully so. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound four-star recruit is the youngest brother of college stars R.J. McIntosh (University of Miami defensive lineman) and Deon McIntosh (Notre Dame running back) and appears to be on his way to playing major college football in a couple of years.
The youngest McIntosh racked up over 1,200 yards of total offense and 10 total touchdowns this past season and should once again be the Sharks’ offensive bell cow.
Also returning is quarterback George Bubrick. The 6-foot-2 senior was an All-Broward County selection this past season after he threw for 2,028 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Bubrick’s top two receivers from 2016 are back, too. Juniors Joshua Sanguinetti and Jordan Irizarry represent nearly 1,200 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns that will once again be in the Sharks offense.
U-School’s young defense will be buoyed by sophomore defensive end Jalen Reeves and junior defensive back Jonathan Higgins along with Sanguinetti, who also can line up as a cornerback.
Bald Prediction
This is not an official district and all of these teams are “on their own” when it comes to making the playoffs since there will be no automatic district champion bids.
From this unofficial grouping, I see three playoff teams.
Glades Central, University School and North Broward Prep all possess schedules that have a good mix of winnable and challenging games.
Playoff Teams: Glades Central, University School, North Broward Prep
Bold Prediction
University School’s George Bubrick will once again be amongst Broward County’s leading passers. Considering the numbers he put up in 2016 and the fact that his top two receivers return this season – it’s not a farfetched idea to think he’ll repeat those kinds of stats.
Group MVP
Kevin Austin is definitely the player with the most value for his team. Without Austin, North Broward Prep’s offense wouldn’t be nearly as potent as it is with him lined up on the outside.
Defenses have to account for Austin every play and even with all the extra attention that gets paid to him, he still makes plays for his team.
Top Players
Aarmando McGhee – Somerset Academy Pines
Anquan Garland – Coral Springs Charter
Bailey Finkelberg – Pine Crest
Brett Elpert – Pine Crest
Curtis Tucker – Coral Springs Charter
Delonus Kabir – Glades Central
Francisco Rivera – Coral Springs Charter
George Bubrick – University School
Hunter Guinta – North Broward Prep
Isaiah Pierre – Somerset Academy Pines
Jalen Reeves – University School
James Bentayou – North Broward Prep
James Davis – Glades Central
Jeremy Czerenda – University School
Jordan Irizarry – University School
Jordan Sepulveda – Coral Springs Charter
Joshua Sanguinetti – University School
Justin Doles – North Broward Prep
Kadin Katsch – Pine Crest
Kamran Kadivar – Pine Crest
Kareem Ritch – Somerset Academy Pines
Kenny McIntosh – University School
Keshaun Paisley – Coral Springs Charter
Kevin Austin – North Broward Prep
Kirby Burns – North Broward Prep
Kortney Ware – Glades Central
Landan Thomas – Coral Springs Charter
Logan Shooster – North Broward Prep
Michael Egozi – Pine Crest
Michael Hurt – University School
Nicholas Rendon – North Broward Prep
Nick Vattiato – University School
Omar Afaghani – Glades Central
Ray Smith – Somerset Academy Pines
Reynald Fleurival – Coral Springs Charter
Ricardo Barrow – Somerset Academy Pines
Robert Fatovic – Pine Crest
Steve Barrett – Glades Central
Trey Green – Glades Central
Vashon Bailey – Somerset Academy Pines
Wilkevious Davis – Glades Central
Willie Canty III – Glades Central
Zamar Miller – Somerset Academy Pines
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